I partially get what you’re saying… in my opinion, recognizing that the U.S. owes its existence to the voyages of Columbus is a core part of our national identity. Columbus and his successors committed atrocities, even in the eyes of the Spanish crown at the time, and that history is an important part of our national identity. Columbus day has never, to me, been about glorifying Columbus the individual. It was always a day to look at the good and the bad and to own it.
I’m concerned that if we replace Columbus day with a dedicated celebration of Native American culture, we will gradually lose that part of our national identity. Without a high profile holiday I fear it will fade from the collective memory after grade school - people won’t identify with Columbus or the conquistadores that followed him, they will identify with the Native Americans who have the federal holiday. Maybe that would be a good thing, I don’t know… maybe you can explain that it would be better if the national identity embraced Native Americans rather than Columbus… I admit on my part, this is ultimately fear of change.
~Max