Is Time to Abolish Columbus Day and Name It Right. Indigenous People Day

Enough with the #thanksgiving tradition that celebrates genocide and white supremacy. #indigenouslivesmatter

Today October 12, in 1492 in human history. It marked the day Indigenous people discovered a man who was lost at sea and landed in the Americas believing he was arriving in India. They took him in, and in their rich economy and culture, they gave gifts and offered this man and his crew food and shelter. Their economy was a culture of reciprocity. Something the white settlers here in America and all around the world, when met with indigenous wisdom refused to reciprocate.

In the white cultures — focused on praising thought and individualism over collectivism and spirituality, there have always been limited beliefs at the core of their understanding of the world, where only a few linear actions were possible: to take, to appropriate, and to conquer.

And so they did.

“On August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain, with three small ships, the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina. On October 12, the expedition reached land, probably Watling Island in the Bahamas. Later that month, Columbus sighted Cuba, which he thought was mainland China, and in December the expedition landed on Hispaniola, which Columbus thought might be Japan. He established a small colony there with 39 of his men. The explorer returned to Spain with gold, spices, and “Indian” captives in March 1493 and was received with the highest honors by the Spanish court. He was the first European to explore the Americas since the Vikings set up colonies in Greenland and Newfoundland in the 10th century.” source: History