Some people, I imagine, didn’t even notice that yesterday was Columbus Day.
I almost don’t want to remind them of what they missed.
It’s a federal holiday, but we don’t assign too much importance to federal holidays in Colorado. We actually sort of dislike the federal government. Especially lately.
Lasr week, the federal government — hoping in vain to force us to remember Columbus Day — issued a proclamation calling Christopher Columbus a “legend whose vision, fortitude, and perseverance unleashed a dynamic of history that led to the creation of the greatest, freest, and most just Nation in history.” Radical leftists not withstanding.
That is to say, not withstanding those radical leftists who would have us rewrite the history books, to reflect who they think Columbus was, and his legacy of genocide.
I’m not saying Columbus had a legacy of genocide, mind you. Let the radical leftists say it, if they feel strongly about it. Freedom of speech and so on, in the freest Nation in history.
Of course, any of my neighbors, who missed Columbus Day, probably also missed Indigenous People’s Day, which also occurred yesterday. Indigenous People’s Day was not celebrated as a federal holiday; federal employees only got the day off because of Columbus. Not because of millions of Native Americans.
In 2021, the federal government formally commemorated Indigenous People’s Day with a presidential proclamation in 2021, and continued issuing proclamations in 2022, 2023, and 2024, right-wing bigots not withstanding.
That would be the right-wing bigots who would bring back the history books from the 1800s, to reflect who they think Columbus was, and his legacy of freedom and justice.
Again, not saying Columbus had a legacy of freedom and justice. But if the right-wing bigots want to say it, hooray for freedom of speech.
Certain people are not happy with the statues of Columbus that have been erected in various cities and towns. (Not in my home town, however.) Erecting a statute is, in my opinion, an expression of free speech. When you put up a statue, you are essentially saying, “This was as great man, who did something important.” (In rare cases, you might put up a statue of a woman. Which is also freedom of speech, but less common.)
When you violently remove the head of a statue of a purportedly great man, you are essentially saying that you didn’t think the guy was so great after all, and that you’re willing to spend ten days in jail to say it, if you get caught.
Sometimes, free speech isn’t so free.
In 1979, a statue of Christopher Columbus was installed in Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, in Boston’s North End, commissioned by building contractor Arthur Stivaletta. A few weeks later, Mr. Stivaletta burned the flag of Iran in front of the statue. He wore a rubber devil mask, and explained to an audience of about 200 people that he was a caricature of the Ayatollah Khomeini.
In December 1981, Mr. Stivaletta’s organization Wake Up America burned the flag of the Soviet Union in front of the statue.
These are all ways to exercise your freedom of speech.
The statue was decapitated in 2006, and again in 2020. I haven’t been able to learn whether the decapitations took place on Columbus Day.
As far as I know, none of the statues in my home town have been decapitated, but most of them are statues of wild animals.
One of the few statues portraying a human is located at the entrance to the shopping center. It’s a cowboy whipping a horse.
With all the horse lovers in my home town, I’m surprised this cowboy still has his head.
Colorado has a lot of love for animals. At least, some of us do.
Governor Jared Polis wrote on social media, in honor of yesterday’s celebration:
This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the history, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples and the Tribal Nations that shape Colorado.
Bison hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for many Indigenous communities.
By signing the Protect Wild Bison Act into law, we took an important step toward protecting these animals and recognizing their enduring connection to Tribal Nations.
Go, Buffs!
Underrated writer Louis Cannon grew up in the vast American West, although his ex-wife, given the slightest opportunity, will deny that he ever grew up at all. You can read more stories on his Substack account.