Should Columbus Day be a national holiday or not?

In Lies My Teacher Told Me, James Loewen describes what he means when he comments “everything your American history textbook got wrong.” Just like the thousands of others students in America, in the past years of learning about American history, we have been taught that Christopher Columbus was the man who founded America. What we learned from our history textbooks and teachers generally follow the points that the U.S. State Department covers. But after reading James Loewen’s writings, I can see that I was not presented with the whole truth and all the important details. In Loewen’s writings, Columbus is not presented as the great discoverer that many people view him as.

I believe that Loewen’s description is closer to the “real” history of Columbus. Loewen includes several facts and includes all references that he uses, which strengthens his credibility. Like we discussed in class, I believe that American historians that created the textbooks we use in school, don’t want us to learn about the negative sides of a well-known man, whom many praise. These historians don’t want to expose that Columbus wasn’t as great as he is set out to be. These historians are not lying, but they are not presenting the entire truth.

After reading and learning that Columbus had discovered America accidently, I believe that Columbus Day shouldn’t be a national holiday. On Columbus Day, people celebrate the “great tasks” that Columbus performed. I think it is silly to honor Columbus and have a national holiday for him when there are many other people who have done great things but don’t have a national holiday.