Iowa State Legislators: Change Columbus Day to Discovery Day
The Issue
This petition proposes changing the name of the federal holiday, Columbus Day, with a more historically accurate and culturally sensitive title. Even though Christopher Columbus can be praised for his spirit of exploration and navigational skills, we believe the national holiday, “Columbus Day,” should no longer be named after one, rather controversial, individual. Instead, a more inclusive title, “Discovery Day,” would better recognize and honor ALL Americans (e.g., explorers, researchers) who, through their spirit of exploration and discovery, have helped to build America.
Additional reasons for renaming the federal holiday, “Columbus Day,” include the following:
• A more inclusive name (i.e.,“Discovery Day”), would allow U.S. citizens, including our nation’s indigenous populations, to honor all the brave men and women whose dedication to the spirit of exploration and discovery have helped to shape our great nation. (Precedence for this change, also based on inclusiveness, was set on June 1, 1954, when Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day).
• Renaming this holiday would allow communities, schools, and news media across our country to choose which individual(s) they wish to honor in any given year. Italian-American communities might continue with their usual celebrations in honor of Christopher Columbus. The renaming of this federal holiday would allow Americans from all different ethnic and religious backgrounds to observe this national holiday in a more meaningful and culturally sensitive fashion.
• The stated purpose of observing Columbus Day is historically inaccurate. The US Code, Title 36, Section 107* states that people of the United States are invited to observe Columbus Day…”with appropriate ceremonies that express the public sentiment befitting the anniversary of the discovery of America.” Presently, historians agree that Native Americans lived on the continent thousands of years before the Norse or Columbus arrived. In regards to the United States, Christopher Columbus never set foot on territory in North America.
We ask you to join us in support of this moral petition, by adding your signature to ours.
Petition Closed
The Issue
This petition proposes changing the name of the federal holiday, Columbus Day, with a more historically accurate and culturally sensitive title. Even though Christopher Columbus can be praised for his spirit of exploration and navigational skills, we believe the national holiday, “Columbus Day,” should no longer be named after one, rather controversial, individual. Instead, a more inclusive title, “Discovery Day,” would better recognize and honor ALL Americans (e.g., explorers, researchers) who, through their spirit of exploration and discovery, have helped to build America.
Additional reasons for renaming the federal holiday, “Columbus Day,” include the following:
• A more inclusive name (i.e.,“Discovery Day”), would allow U.S. citizens, including our nation’s indigenous populations, to honor all the brave men and women whose dedication to the spirit of exploration and discovery have helped to shape our great nation. (Precedence for this change, also based on inclusiveness, was set on June 1, 1954, when Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day).
• Renaming this holiday would allow communities, schools, and news media across our country to choose which individual(s) they wish to honor in any given year. Italian-American communities might continue with their usual celebrations in honor of Christopher Columbus. The renaming of this federal holiday would allow Americans from all different ethnic and religious backgrounds to observe this national holiday in a more meaningful and culturally sensitive fashion.
• The stated purpose of observing Columbus Day is historically inaccurate. The US Code, Title 36, Section 107* states that people of the United States are invited to observe Columbus Day…”with appropriate ceremonies that express the public sentiment befitting the anniversary of the discovery of America.” Presently, historians agree that Native Americans lived on the continent thousands of years before the Norse or Columbus arrived. In regards to the United States, Christopher Columbus never set foot on territory in North America.
We ask you to join us in support of this moral petition, by adding your signature to ours.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on January 23, 2013