Of course, today, October 12, is officially Columbus Day, so named for Christopher Columbus coming across the Atlantic Ocean and "discovering" the New World, though he didn't know it at the time.
This is a big day for Italians, since he was sailing for Spain, but born in Italy.
However, I don't think you can "discover" a place when there are already people living in it and there is evidence that Leif Erickson was here before Columbus.
But, Columbus' arrival was noteworthy because it began the long process of the Western Hemisphere becoming Europeanized and the United States being what it is today.
It was a tragedy for the people living here, however. They ended up essentially losing everything. To my way of thinking, what happened to the Indians was worse than what happened to the Blacks who came as an enslaved people.
Personally, I would keep Columbus Day and then commemorate Indigenous Peoples Day on another day.
Both Are Very Worthy Observances.
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