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Lenny Ortiz, no hometown listed, writes:

WHY?
Why do those of Italian decent celebrate Columbus Day? We all know that Columbus was born in Italy, however this is his only connection to the country. Columbus settled in Portugal at the age of twenty after a shipwreck. After many attempts to persuade Portugal’s king to fund his ventures to the West Indies, he moved to Spain. The Spanish crown furnished the money to fund Columbus’ West Indies adventure. On October 12, 1492, he landed in The New World near the current Bahamas. Columbus also traveled to Cuba and Haiti. Columbus made four trips to the New World, not once ever exploring anywhere close to the current United States. Vikings explored and landed in the same region, finding the indigenous people 400 years before Columbus. Why is it that decedents from the Vikings who are American’s, do not have a holiday?
Conquistadors like Cortes and Pizarro commanded Spanish armies against the Aztec, Mayan and Inca’s, which eventually wiped most of the indigenous nations of New Spain or current day Mexico. Current American Latinos have been known to side with the Native American to protest Columbus Day events. Why would anyone with a Spanish surname in the United States protest against or deny their heritage? It was the Spanish who invaded and murdered the indigenous people of Mexico. Mexican’s since Spain’s invasion speak Spanish and have taken Spanish family names. Many Mestizo’s since the 1500’s have traveled deep into the southwestern United States to include parts of Canada and Alaska. Spain gave up control in 1821 and Mexico lost control of most of the land in the current United States in 1848. There is little evidence that the Spanish or Mestizo’s ever killed Native American’s during their occupation of the American southwest.
There is a million cases that the European Anglo settlers who arrived in America murdered vast amounts of Native American’s beginning with the founding of Jamestown up until the late19th Century. The United States government is responsible for the slaughter of the Native American due to many events like Westward Expansion. The government forcing the Indian onto reservations or offering small amounts for the land is the tragedy those of us who have Spanish surnames and have Mestizo blood should be protesting along with the Native American against the government, not Italian community or Columbus.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

Well they could hardly celebrate Al Capone Day or Lucky Luciano day.

I want to know why we are forced to celebrate Cinco De Mayo? Useing the same logic in the comment letter. Thbere is no way Cinco De Maheim should be allowed either. This is America not Mexico nor Spain, or France ... the three countries invovled with cinco de mahiem.

Why bother celebrating St. Patricks day. After all he was Irish and a Catholic to boot. Are there not more religions besides catholism in America?

We celebrate Columbus day as an official date where a certain individual is given credit of discovering this continent. Although historical facts show that not only the Vikings but Chinese were here a hundred years prior.

With the cry for diversity coming from certain sections of the populance it seems that INTOLERANCE of others is the real goal being pushed.

That if you you do not go along with thiere idea of things you are not allowed free expression of the non left version of things.

Lenny Ortiz asks, Why do those of Italian decent celebrate Columbus Day?

The following from Wikipedia's entry on lynching might help to explain why Italians latched onto Columbus Day.

"While the vast majority of lynchings were of blacks, during the 1800s and early 20th century, Italian-Americans were the second most common target of lynchings. On March 14, 1891, eleven Italian-Americans were lynched in New Orleans after a jury found them not guilty in the case of the murder of a New Orleans police chief David Hennessy. The eleven were falsely accused of being associated with the Mafia. This incident was the largest mass lynching in U.S. history. Lynchings of Italian-Americans occurred mostly in the South but also occurred in New York, Pennsylvania, and Colorado.

From the turn of the century until WWII Italian-Americans were vilified by many anti-immigration advocates. Columbus was simply a famous Italian who mainstream Americans could respect. Celebrating Columbus Day was an attempt to both show pride but also to stave off the hatred of the anti-immigration zealots of the early 20th Century. People like just sayin show that many Americans still harbor animosity towards Italians even today.

Myself and my Italian family never cared much for Columbus Day. Colorado Italians seem to be more focused on the holiday than Italians in Chicago, New York or San Francisco.

Nonetheless I understand the origins of the holiday. Decades before Americans could celebrate immigrants or anything that was different, Americans were able to celebrate Columbus.

2:49,
You're right. They can do away with Cinco
De Mayo.

REAL Mexicans do not have a Cinco de Mayo celebration. Here in the USA, it is just another reason to get drunk, cruise and other things. If those of Mexican decent really want to celebrate a true holiday, September 16 is Mexican Independence Day.

As for Italians looking up to a citizen...as stated, Italy turned its back on Chris so he went to the Spanish. As for Al Capone.... this is a true slap in the face to say someone like Al Capone or Vito Corleone is what Itailian-Americans are all about is very cruel.

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