Yet another Columbus Day has come and gone, and many of us are still unsure what to make of it. In fact, Columbus Day is the probably most paradoxical holiday in the United States.
On one hand, Christopher Columbus symbolizes the type of boldness that has sent men and women into outer space and to the icy summits of mountains that have been deemed insurmountable. He challenged what most people accepted as fact, and in return he opened a link between two continents and cultures.
However, the darker side of his legacy -- that of slavery, pandemics and racial and cultural intolerance -- is certainly nothing to celebrate. We often forget that history is not one sided.
My first memory of Columbus Day was in first grade. I remember looking at books with pictures of people in silly clothing laughing at Columbus for his belief that the world was spherical. I recall the intricate pictures of the serpentine monsters believed to reside at the edge of the earth.
Columbus was a hero to me. He challenged nature and society and found a brand new continent. I believed he was the man who discovered my country. I thought my life and my country were good, therefore, I thought Columbus's legacy was also good.
I am happy that I left that mode of thinking behind me in grade school. White people of predominately European descent, such as me, often forget that other cultures and races have history, also.
The only exposure most children in my generation had to Native Americans is Thanksgiving and cowboy westerns. It is ironic that we learned so little about the history of the continent on which we live. However, I believe things are changing for the better.
I can neither fully condemn Columbus Day, nor celebrate it. However, I believe that this year Native Americans at Dartmouth is heading in the right direction by celebrating the survival of indigenous culture and promoting racial understanding.
Last year, I was offended by buttons proclaiming "CUCK FOLUMBUS." To me, those slogans were outright attacks on European/white culture. I certainly am not proud of everything my ancestors have done, but I also take pride in my own culture. Also, I take offense at being held personally responsible for the faults of my ancestors.
I feel that this year NAD has been more successful at forwarding cultural commiseration. Making people of European descent feel guilty for the actions of their ancestors only breeds more racial intolerance.
Rather than adding to the problem, NAD is working toward forging a solution.
In its official statement, "501 Years of Coexistence" NAD states, "We hope that by creating a community of understanding on this campus, we will see that attitudes can be favorably changed, providing motivation for those who experience Dartmouth to work for multicultural appreciation elsewhere."
Understanding is the key to the future; retribution is not.
