Many of you have the day off today thanks in part to Christopher Columbus' journey in 1492, but today we want to ask whether today's holiday should be shared with other explorers in human history.
That's what one petition on the White House website is asking President Obama to do, citing the president's words praising Neil Armstrong after his death earlier this year.
What do you think? Should Columbus and Armstrong be viewed as equals in a holiday that celebrates human exploration? Should Armstrong, and other explorers get separate holidays of their own?
Or should Columbus Day remain the same, or for that matter, should Columbus not get a holiday due to claims of his legacy on Native American populations and actions after his voyages that led to his dismissal as governor of Hispaniola and arrest in 1500?
Tell us what you think in the comments.
robert wilson
3:07 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Other the appeasing native Americans what other purpose would it serve?
dennis1
5:18 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
We should establish an Explorers Day on July 20 (the date we first walked on the moon) and include Columbus, Lewis&Clark and many others on that date. It would also let us have another summer holiday.
Tom Gilroy
5:33 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Stop rewriting history. It was Christopher Columbus who discovered America. He was a fearless explorer who went were others had no gone before in spite of the forecast dire consequences. No changes!
Andrew Sylvia
7:30 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Hi Tom, I can't have an opinion for or against the holiday idea here, but the part on Columbus' later life is factually accurate. Whether it has a significant impact on his earlier achievements is again a matter of opinion.
Brian Herzog
11:03 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
If we could move Thanksgiving to extend the holiday shopping season, I think we can rename Columbus Day in order to be more nationally and historically inspiring. America is a nation of explorers, and celebrating and encouraging that drive is a great idea.
Benjamin Tracy
8:14 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
I agree with Tom, regardless of Columbus' motives or what he did when he got here, he did change the world and make a place for all of us to have what we have today. We should be thankful for that.
Dick
12:26 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Anything Obama has to say,or suggest should be totally ignored
Vintner's-Circle-Cornerstone-Square
12:52 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
This is one instance, where I can't believe I'm saying this, but evolving this holiday to include the broader experience of American "exploration" might be a good thing - especially considering the prism of political correctness through which many now view Columbus specifically, and much of our history in general. I'm not saying we shouldn't give him his due, but other than the boldness to explore, he did little in the way of the founding of "America". While so much of our history is denigrated, perhaps we can inspire future generations by keeping the spirit of exploration alive. Re-branding this holiday to keep it current, might be one way to do so. The only problem I can see, is defining a threshold of what should be included as "discovery" and "exploration". If we keep it focused on scientific/geographic/space exploits, and avoid social issues, then perhaps it would be manageable.
Michelle
7:30 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
How could Christopher Columbus have "discovered" America when Native Americans had already been living here for millenia? I think a more accurate rename would be "Lost Italian Explorer Day" since he was really looking for India.
jmcgruff
12:34 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
No
DE
10:44 am on Friday, October 12, 2012
No, leave Columbus Day as it is. I'm proud of him being Italian as he was.