Monday officially (per US Government standards) marked the 71st celebration of Columbus Day, a holiday that I certainly didn't get off work for, and it's likely that you didn't either. In fact, unless you work in a public school, a bank, or are gainfully employed by the government, you probably hauled yourself to work with the rest of us. But that doesn't stop the Columbus Citizens Foundation from organizing their annual parade up Fifth Avenue, which went down today before hundreds of proud Italian-Americans.
The New York Times today wrote in their City Blog of the conflict between those celebrating the start of modern day America and others remembering those who suffered from the culture clash that one Cristoforo Colombo wrought on his newly discovered shores. According to some, the anti-Columbus sentiment grows every year. Even Google, which tends to celebrate every holiday by reworking the Google logo, chose Paddington Bear's birthday instead! Regardless, a whole slew of New Yorkers enjoyed the parade, saw celebrity dog art(?!), and saved some bucks on those Columbus Day mattress sales.
As for me? I'm not one to rain on your parade, but when I'm stuck in the office on the day we're celebrating the very fact that my country was found, I can't help but look grimly out the window as the band goes marching by. But still, and as Joe Biden would say, "God love ya, Cristoforo Colombo". Learn more about Columbus Day at History.com's Columbus Day mini-site.
