Sunday,
October 08, 2006
The ANNOTICO Report
All Proclamations that I am aware of regarding
Columbus Day give Tribute to
A recent meeting of the Columbus Day Parade
Committee was held to foster greater understanding, and possible cooperation or
inclusion of Native Americans that have often objected.
BUT Only One Native American showed up, Dr. Yeagley, a Comanche, who came to speak in support of
all who celebrate their heritage as Americans. He wanted to address those who
have been in opposition of Columbus Day, and hoped to have a constructive
dialog with the American Indians who claim to lead anti-Columbus Day events.
Unfortunately, Dr. Yeagley could not have such a
dialog because he was the only American Indian in the room.
However, leaders of Transform Columbus Day
Alliance (TCDA), none of whom are American Indians, claim that Columbus Day is
a celebration of genocide, and led a small chorus of hissing, booing, and shouting.One of the TCDA leaders was a recent immigrant
from
Now isn't that Curious????
Civic pride; community involvement; and historical commemoration of labor in American industry. Or celebration of exploitation, enslavement, and mass murder. What are Americans doing on Columbus Day?
This week a group
of people attended a pubic meeting held by the Columbus Day Parade Committee in
Dr. Yeagley came to speak in support of all who celebrate their
heritage as Americans. He wanted to address those who have been in opposition
of Columbus Day, and hoped to have a constructive dialog with the American
Indians who claim to lead anti-Columbus Day events. Unfortunately, Dr. Yeagley could not have such a dialog because he was the
only American Indian in the room. Though the leaders of the TCDA were present,
none of them are American Indians. All present were Americans, but only one was
a Native American - Dr. Yeagley.
The lead
spokesperson for the TCDA for years has been Glen Spagnolo, and
Mr. Spagnolo was again present at this meeting. He
reiterated the same ideas that he's foisted upon anyone who will listen for the
past few years. That he and his other non-native friends believe that Columbus
Day is a celebration of genocide, and that he leads a group of Native Americans
in an effort to end all Columbus Day celebrations.
As an observer at
this meeting I only had one question: Where are the Indians? This meeting was
announced in the Denver Post and on the internet six days prior, yet the only
Native American to attend was Dr. Yeagley. There were
none in the representation of the leadership of the TCDA. One of the TCDA
leaders was a recent immigrant from
Glen did most of the talking for the TCDA. Actually, Glen led a small chorus of
hissing, booing, and shouting. But my question seemed to fall on deaf ears.
What Glen did say was that he needed more time to find Native Americans to come
to this meeting. Apparently, six days was not enough time.
Many cities and
towns throughout the
The parades and events are positive happenings that promote civic pride;
personal and industrial achievement of immigrants.
The TCDA claims
that Christopher Columbus was
the forbearer of these immigrants, and that the goal was and continues to be
the obliteration of Native Americans. Excuse me? My parents ran from Hitler and came to
I have visited my parents home country, and I have
little interest in going back where they came from. I came from here. I am not
Italian, Austrian, Catholic, or Jewish. I am not a Conquistador. I am some guy
from
I am a
professional techno-geek, but I am not one dimensional. I'm involved in my
community in a positive way. I seek to build and support a community of
individuals who each in their own way make our country a better place to live,
work, and raise families. And I find Columbus Day a way to meet with those who
do the same.
Christopher
Columbus was indeed an Italian. He wanted to find a route to
He thought that he'd reached
In subsequent
years, the Spaniards sent legions of armies to do what the TCDA claims that
The TCDA claims
that the native population was a group of peace loving peoples. The native of
the
Dr. Yeagley calls the interaction between Europeans
and Native Americans a "car wreck". Europeans did trade with the
friendly natives when they first arrive. They also defended themselves against
attacks from the unfriendly ones. As new generations of in the
They were not always met with friendly commerce and trade, so there were wars.
Those with modern weapons and training defeated those without. Such is the
history of war. It cannot be denied and it is not denied.
Over generations
Native Americans have made substantial contributions to the building of
For Europeans and new Americans, it was Christopher Columbus who ostensibly
discovered these natives who have made these contributions. In most of the US
Columbus is heralded for his discovery of the
In
Dr. Yeagley would like Native Americans to be involved in
He came of his own volition. He was not hired to come. But these portrayers of
the evil
The Columbus Day
Parade Committee is a group of Coloradoans. They are not all Italian-Americans.
For years the committee has asked for and received the participation of all
Coloradoans.
There are no Italians in my bloodlines that I know of. Russians;
Poles; Belgians; and Austrians, and all of them Jewish.
Last year I was
on a float in the Columbus Day Parade and enjoyed the company of other
Coloradoans whose ancestors hailed from all points of the globe, including
Native Americans. Nowhere in my mind was I thinking about how best to subjugate
anyone, least of all Native Americans.
The Columbus Day
Parade is a celebration of the diversity that makes
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