Abolishing Columbus Day pointless

Does anyone else think that students standing on the HUB lawn shouting "F*** Columbus" (who has been dead for more than 500 years now) are missing the point?

Believe me, I have read A People's History of the United States, I have read 1491, and I understand that 85 percent of the Arawak Indians of Hispaniola were wiped out as a result of Columbus' actions, both direct (slavery, murder) and indirect (unseen pathogens of which that 15th-century Europeans had no concept).

But focusing solely on Columbus ignores five centuries of exploitation of American Indians since the European discovery of the New World, and it doesn't really help anyone.

Ever heard of the Sand Creek Massacre? Why not scream, "F*** Lincoln" on President's Day for his support of the state militias that carried out the Sand Creek Massacre and other killings of Indians throughout the West during his presidency?

My point is that a focus shift from negative to positive is necessary for activist groups of all stripes to have a real impact.

Abolishing Columbus Day would be a completely symbolic victory that wouldn't really do anyone any good. Such a move would also increase tensions between the American Indian community and the Italian American community, who see Columbus Day as a celebration of Italian American culture in the United States.

Why not spend next Columbus Day focusing on issues that have a real impact on the lives of modern American Indians?

— Micah Babinski

Freshman, pre social sciences

Columbus Day protest misguided

I think the Columbus Day protest is misguided, especially in comparing Columbus to Hitler.As a Jew, I take great offense to the comparison, and I don't reject all of the positive contributions Europeans have made just because Hitler was a European.

While Hitler specifically set out to commit genocide and murder millions of people, Columbus had no such intentions and initially set out to find a trade route to the Orient. In fact, Columbus gave Jews safe haven on his ships after they were expelled from Spain in 1492. Both the physician and the Arabic translator on the voyage were Jewish (an Arabic translator was on board with the anticipation of meeting Arab traders at the voyage's destination).

Furthermore, I do not agree with the point that we are celebrating genocide by observing Columbus Day.I believe that the intention of the holiday is to realize the contributions of western civilization to humanity.

The scientific and technological innovations developed and shared with all people by western civilization have ensured that the unintentional deaths caused by diseases brought to the indigenous peoples can never spread again.

I agree that the deaths caused by disease were tragedies, but they were completely unintentional. I also agree that the conduct of colonial powers in relation to indigenous peoples was deplorable.

I think we need to remember that it was the colonies themselves that rejected tyranny and sparked a revolution of democracy that spread back to Europe.

–— Jeremy Sandler

Senior, biology and Jewish studies

Chivalry doesn't mean respect

The thinly veiled misogyny present in Jeff Dickson's editorial "A Eulogy to Chivalry" (Oct. 10) is both concerning and offensive to me. Dickson seems to have confused the concepts of "respect" and "chivalry." Even ignoring the historically classist origins of chivalry, its modern practices are dependent on the idea that women are constantly in need of men's assistance and permission.In some cases, such as the chivalric act of asking for a father's permission to propose, chivalry endorses the idea of women as property.

Saying "please" and "thank you," as well as the ability to "look (a woman) in the eye and construct a coherent thought without breaking a sweat" are certainly respectful, but do not constitute chivalry.

I'm also concerned at the distinct lack of respect (or chivalry, evidently) Dickson seems to hold for women in general. Young women have not "allowed the bar to be set ... low."

As I understand, individuals are responsible for their own behaviors and actions, men included. In addition, Dickson's references to women who have been shamed by society for not following cultural norms of respectability (for actions such as sex tapes, divorce and adultery) parallels the logic of victim-blaming arguments.

I would encourage everyone to engage in respectful and courteous behavior toward any other without regards to sex or gender identity. Chivalry died long ago, and I refuse to mourn it.

— Kate Sawatzki

Senior, microbiology and English