Comments on: Murderously My Family http://theoryculture.com/2007/10/murderously-my-family/ theory as culture, culture as theory Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:17:23 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Theory . Culture · Columbus and Memory http://theoryculture.com/2007/10/murderously-my-family/comment-page-1/#comment-364 Theory . Culture · Columbus and Memory Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:40:11 +0000 http://theorymyculture.wordpress.com/2007/10/08/murderously-my-family/#comment-364 [...] years ago, I posted this reflection on Columbus Day. I was prompted to the reflection in part by an ongoing tiff with the very idea of Columbus Day, [...] [...] years ago, I posted this reflection on Columbus Day. I was prompted to the reflection in part by an ongoing tiff with the very idea of Columbus Day, [...]

]]> By: chughes http://theoryculture.com/2007/10/murderously-my-family/comment-page-1/#comment-265 chughes Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:51:18 +0000 http://theorymyculture.wordpress.com/2007/10/08/murderously-my-family/#comment-265 In the Bay Area of California, there is a counter-Columbus holiday called Indigineous Peoples' Day, in memory of those cultures forever changed, some destroyed, by the act of colonialism. i like the idea. In the Bay Area of California, there is a counter-Columbus holiday called Indigineous Peoples’ Day, in memory of those cultures forever changed, some destroyed, by the act of colonialism.

i like the idea.

]]> By: Jay http://theoryculture.com/2007/10/murderously-my-family/comment-page-1/#comment-266 Jay Tue, 09 Oct 2007 01:59:05 +0000 http://theorymyculture.wordpress.com/2007/10/08/murderously-my-family/#comment-266 I usually don't read the Times anymore, but I chanced upon it and that article when I was loitering in the Prescott House Office and I was hoping you'd write something up about it: "On the other hand, an association with Colombo DNA would cement Italy’s national pride in a man who remains a hero to many, complaints from American Indians he slaughtered, Africans he enslaved and Vikings who got there first notwithstanding." That's it. That's the only mention in the whole article about the atrocities committed by him and his legacy. It's treated as an aside. A qualification. <i>"Notwithstanding"</i>. I'm half-Italian, so I've been trying to start up a group of Italians Against Columbus Day. I think that could potentially be really powerful: the power of disavowing one's own legacy/history and denying its legitimacy. Of course, I don't want to ignore history, because I think it's important that we always remember the horrendous acts throughout human history. Which leads me to my question for you. Which do you think is more appropriate: To abolish Columbus Day or to make "Columbus Day" into "Native American History Day" (or something similar)? Or, more openly, what do you think is the best course of action for addressing Columbus Day? I usually don’t read the Times anymore, but I chanced upon it and that article when I was loitering in the Prescott House Office and I was hoping you’d write something up about it:

“On the other hand, an association with Colombo DNA would cement Italy’s national pride in a man who remains a hero to many, complaints from American Indians he slaughtered, Africans he enslaved and Vikings who got there first notwithstanding.”

That’s it. That’s the only mention in the whole article about the atrocities committed by him and his legacy. It’s treated as an aside. A qualification. “Notwithstanding”.

I’m half-Italian, so I’ve been trying to start up a group of Italians Against Columbus Day. I think that could potentially be really powerful: the power of disavowing one’s own legacy/history and denying its legitimacy.

Of course, I don’t want to ignore history, because I think it’s important that we always remember the horrendous acts throughout human history. Which leads me to my question for you. Which do you think is more appropriate: To abolish Columbus Day or to make “Columbus Day” into “Native American History Day” (or something similar)? Or, more openly, what do you think is the best course of action for addressing Columbus Day?

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