Why do we celebrate Columbus Day?

I live in a British Overseas Territory which claims to be the first bit of land discovered by Columbus, who very sensibly decided to move on elsewhere, as it was a barren territory offering nothing that would appeal to him. It had orginally been discovered by Taino Indians, who were replaced by the Lucayans. The ultimate result of the discovery of the Islands by Columbus was the death knell of these people, who soon died out, victims of Spanish enslavement and imported disease. The present population are descendants of slaves from Africa on their way to the North American mainland when the abolition of slavery caused them to be released in this inhospitable spot. I see the irony of your question. What, indeed, have we to celebrate on Columbus Day?

I think it's a reminder of Americans with European heritage on how they got here and a reminder to Europeans in Europe that they conquered a new huge continent. I see nothing to celebrate and nothing to be proud of. But sadly there are plenty of people who are proud of the fact that 95% of another human population was killed off to make way for European colonization and European ideas. There should be a memorial for all the Native's ancestors brutally murdered on the American continents.

Columbus is, really, famous for colonizing America with Europeans.

Everybody knows that he wasn’t the first human to set foot on American soil.

Thanks to Europeans like Columbus, America became a place with European

character rather than African character or Oriental character, Asian character, etc..

I wouldn’t say that this is something to celebrate.

Others may disagree.

i think it's very important to celebrate columbus day cause is remember our beginning as land even though we can make interesting things or not. for example in latin american countries, the holidays are very funny

We could celebrate the spirit of exploration. I can see both sides of the argument about Columbus Day. However, if one studies history there were losers and winners to every fight and every new age.

My grandparents were from France, Spain and Italy, so they celebrate de conquerer of a new World, but now we think in natives and they haven't anything to celebrate. It's a matter of discution I think. I feel ashame about this. A bear hug for you my friend.

i don't know...why do we celebrate the birth of some guy who hasn't even been proven to have existed?...by giving each other presents no less?...im not complaining, im just saying we're a strange species

So we can celebrate Italians for a day.