Today is the holiday commonly celebrated as "Columbus Day." Recently, it's also come to be known as "Indigenous Peoples' Day."
As someone of mostly Italian-American heritage, I am conflicted. I mean, for years I like many others of my background, thought of this day as "our" day, when we celebrated our pride in our heritage. There are parades, parties and lots of eating and drinking.
I enjoyed those things, even though I knew Columbus didn't "discover" America (people were already living here) and doubted that he was the first person to arrive here after crossing the Atlantic. Plus, he didn't even get here on purpose.
Our culture has turned out Michelangelo, Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci, Dante, Verdi, Sophia Loren and Tullio Campagnolo--and we celebrate a guy who got lost? That never made any sense to me.
Now, calling this "Indigenous Peoples' Day," I can understand. Of course, I have no business being any part of a celebration, as I have no Native American blood in me. I do, however, have respect and empathy for the way they've endured, so maybe that's something to celebrate.
Those of us who have Italian heritage just need to get another holiday!
So...What will I do today? Well, after doing some work and taking a ride (if the downpours we're experiencing taper off), I'm going to make--spaghetti or spaghetti squash? I guess I could make both!
