Editor,
I strongly compliment Albuquerque City Council president Rey Garduño for championing the proclamation and for introducing the resolution to abolish Columbus Day and to celebrate the 2nd Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples Day. I commend his passion for justice and truth despite opposition.
I thank the ASUNM Senate for voting unanimously on March 4, 2015 to abolish Columbus Day at UNM and to rename the day Indigenous Peoples Resistance and Resilience Day.
Columbus invaded, tortured and terrorized many indigenous people. Columbus kidnapped and enslaved many indigenous people. Columbus murdered many indigenous people. Columbus used religion to justify his evils. Columbus said, “Let us in the name of the Holy Trinity go on sending all the slaves that can be sold.” As far as we know, sadly, Columbus never repented of his atrocities.
Should Germany have a federal holiday honoring Hitler? Should Russia have a federal holiday celebrating Stalin? Should Alabama have a state holiday honoring the Ku Klux Klan?
For those of us who are not indigenous, how would we feel if the United States had a federal holiday celebrating someone who massacred our ancestors?
Don Schrader
