Friday, May 13, 2005
Columbus Day Holiday Narrowly Escapes Attack in Maine's Largest City, Portland

The ANNOTICO Report

Because No action can be taken on a Tie 3 to 3 Vote, Columbus Day Holiday
narrowly escaped being Renamed to share the Day with Indigenous People's.
A ONE vote shift would have immediately diluted Columbus Day.

Those of us who know how these matters work, the next step would be
inverting the names making it  Indigenous People's/Columbus Day,
thereby "demoting" Columbus, then the next step would be to "drop" Columbus
entirely.

A Note to Italian Activists: NO Local, or State entity has authority over
FEDERAL Holidays. To attempt the actions described is a violation of the
separation of Federal and States Rights.

Further, Why don't the Indigenous Peoples lay claim to Thanksgiving Day? I
recall from early childhood the picture of the Pilgrims and the Indians
"sharing" Thanksgiving Day. I would suggest the interested parties lobby
the FEDERAL Government for "Thanksgiving Day"  to be changed to
"Pilgrim/Indigenous People's Thanksgiving Day!!!!

Leave Columbus Day alone!!!!!!



Thanks to Robert Necci - NYSCSJ Report

BID TO CHANGE COLUMBUS DAY HOLIDAY NAME FOUNDERS

Portsmouth Herald
By Associated Press
May 12, 2005
 

PORTLAND, Maine - An attempt to change the name of the Columbus Day holiday
on the school calendar in Maine's largest city to add a reference to
Indians has ended in failure.

The Portland School Committee split down the middle Wednesday night on the
bid to have the October holiday renamed as Columbus/Indigenous People's Day
as a way to honor the heritage of native Americans.

The measure had the backing of three Green Independents who serve on the
school committee.

Jason Toothaker, who led the effort for the name change, said Christopher
Columbus exploited American Indians, and many of them today view his voyage
to the New World as a tragic event.

But other school committee members said the panel has no authority over
federal holidays and shouldn't get involved in trying to change them.

While Green party members on the board saw the Columbus/Indigenous Day name
as a compromise, school committee member Jim DiMillo said the idea was an
example of symbolic politics that distracts the board from doing its job.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/
news/special/5_12special.htm