# So How are you celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 9, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395 "2017-10-09T16:50:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/21 "2017-10-09T21:20:04Z")
It was a joke. The smiley face was the tell! Still too subtle, clearly. (For some!) (Also, I think you’ll find that y’all picked Canadian Thanksgiving to celebrate Columbus Day on!) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2017, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/22 "2017-10-09T21:31:38Z")
I celebrated Columbus Day as usual. Pretty much ignore it. I have a couple checks to deposit and that has to wait until Tuesday. I’m a state employee and I don’t think it’s an official holiday for me. I don’t remember. We get some of the minor holidays during Christmas break. They use a couple days of our holiday hours and apply it to Christmas when we’re closed for 2 weeks. That way we don’t burn so much of our Vacation hours. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/23 "2017-10-09T21:53:29Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > It was a joke. The smiley face was the tell! > Still too subtle, clearly. (For some!) Mine was a joke too. I guess I should’ve included a smiley face. > [@elbows](#): > > (Also, I think you’ll find that y’all picked Canadian Thanksgiving to celebrate Columbus Day on!) [Canada’s Thanksgiving](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(Canada)): > [@](#): > > On January 31, 1957, the Governor General of Canada Vincent Massey issued a proclamation stating: “A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the second Monday in October.” [America’s Columbus Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Day#United_States_observance): > [@](#): > > Since 1970 (Oct. 12), the holiday has been fixed to the second Monday in October… Damn, you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2017, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/24 "2017-10-09T22:29:44Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > You know how you should celebrate Columbus Day? March into your neighbour’s house and announce, “Yeah, now I live here! And all of this is mine!” 😃 > > (Here in Canada it’s Thanksgiving so there’s a turkey in the oven, and the house smells divine!) Which is actually quite offensive to people familiar with Canadian Thanksgiving as a sexual position. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2017, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/25 "2017-10-09T22:38:31Z")
> [@purplehearingaid](#): > > WTF !! That is not what is being said by indigenous peoples ! Do you have any idea what the Columbus the terrorist did to indigenous peoples ?? Indigenous peoples are saying they’re just as important as everyone else and that we need to stop celebrating terrorists that committed crimes on Indigenous peoples that you could never imagine ! Columbus IS NOT worthily of having a damn holiday named for him any more than Hitler is ! > > I stayed in for Indigenous Peoples Day b/c it been raining all day . I had nothing to do with Terrorist Day and stayed away from down town , I want nothing to do with that terrorist ! Whoa, settle down Beavis. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/26 "2017-10-10T00:02:53Z")
> [@purplehearingaid](#): > > WTF !! That is not what is being said by indigenous peoples ! Do you have any idea what the Columbus the terrorist did to indigenous peoples ?? Indigenous peoples are saying they’re just as important as everyone else and that we need to stop celebrating terrorists that committed crimes on Indigenous peoples that you could never imagine ! Columbus IS NOT worthily of having a damn holiday named for him any more than Hitler is ! > > I stayed in for Indigenous Peoples Day b/c it been raining all day . I had nothing to do with Terrorist Day and stayed away from down town , I want nothing to do with that terrorist ! The fact is that the local Indigenous groups were quite busy slaughtering each other before Christopher arrived. And some of these groups even teamed up with the Conquistadors so they could slaughter their local adversaries. Pre-Columbian America was no Nirvana, it was a violent, savage place. Columbus and the rest didn’t improve the situation, but the slaughtering between the local groups would have gone on with or without his arrival. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/27 "2017-10-10T00:09:22Z")
I’m at work like usual, talking to, or at, you people. ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/28 "2017-10-10T01:19:35Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > I’m at work like usual, talking to, or at, you people. Well said. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/29 "2017-10-10T02:36:54Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > The fact is that the local Indigenous groups were quite busy slaughtering each other before Christopher arrived. And some of these groups even teamed up with the Conquistadors so they could slaughter their local adversaries. Pre-Columbian America was no Nirvana, it was a violent, savage place. Columbus and the rest didn’t improve the situation, but the slaughtering between the local groups would have gone on with or without his arrival. Exactly! I spent a few moments today reflecting on the warring and slavery that was commonplace among America’s “Indigenous Peoples” and wondering why so many people seem to find them worthy of honoring instead of Columbus. I’ve also been wondering how could they be so ignorant, especially in this day and age. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/30 "2017-10-10T02:38:46Z")
Corn, tobacco, and watching out for Falling Rocks. You would think someone would have spotted him by now. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/31 "2017-10-10T04:19:54Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > [Columbus Day? In More Than 50 Cities, It's Indigenous Peoples Day.](http://www.governing.com/topics/urban/lc-indigenous-peoples-day-cities-columbus-day.html) > > It is still Columbus Day where I live, but I only notice holidays like this when I go to the post office to pick up my mail–and the post office is closed. Fun fact, if there is a reservation near you, its post office is probably NOT closed. My cousin used to be a mail carrier on the rez. They made sure they had mail for this special day. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/32 "2017-10-10T04:27:47Z")
I decided to camp on the neighbor’s yard without permission. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/33 "2017-10-10T08:33:09Z")
Hoilidays seem to be ephemeral as the winds change. Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays are now President’s day, Decoration Day is now Memorial Day. Halloween replaced the original holiday on the following day, Robert E. Lee’s birthday is no observed at all, nor is May Day since the communists stole it as their holiday. Nobody even remembers Flag Day anymore, and when I was in school, we celebrated VE day and VJ Day. More important new ones are added, like Black Friday and Super Bowl Sunday. So I just treat all holidays as if they are someday going to be inappropriate for some reason or other. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/34 "2017-10-10T10:13:05Z")
Frankly I cant think of anything that wouldn’t be offensive to Indians. I cant imagine doing a parade or anything. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/35 "2017-10-10T10:20:20Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Moving the holiday for anniversaries to more convenient days is fairly common. If you’re going to have a Federal holiday, having it next to a weekend is the least disruptive. I’d like to see New Years Day observed on a different day. I’m usually too hung over from celebrating New Years Eve to really enjoy New Years Day. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/36 "2017-10-10T13:20:44Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Exactly! I spent a few moments today reflecting on the warring and slavery that was commonplace among America’s “Indigenous Peoples” and wondering why so many people seem to find them worthy of honoring instead of Columbus. I’ve also been wondering how could they be so ignorant, especially in this day and age. There were warring and slaving and raping Native Americans, and there were peaceful (or at least less warlike) and non-slaving Native Americans, just like there were warring and slaving and raping Europeans and more peaceful and non-slaving Europeans. Columbus was in the “warring/slaving/raping” group. Why should we honor him, when there were so many better people from the era, among both Europeans and Native Americans? Columbus was shitty even for his time. It’s false to deify the Native Americans as a group, and it’s also false to slander them as any worse than Europeans in general. ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/37 "2017-10-10T13:39:40Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > It’s false to deify the Native Americans as a group, and it’s also false to slander them as any worse than Europeans in general. I know in your secular religion the cardinal sin is to imply Western culture is any better than paleolithic, but we have to agree to disagree on that. Western culture even in the late middle ages contained the seeds for major human advancement not seen everywhere else, definitely not among stone age people. It doesn’t mean individual people are anything other than all God’s children (sorry, that’s how I see it so why sanitize it by phrasing it differently?). Doesn’t mean Columbus was a great guy, but his discovery (from the Western perspective, our perspective) the start of a great thing. The holiday isn’t IMO about celebrating him as a great guy. Also, here in the northeast US with it’s much higher concentration of Italian Americans than elsewhere in the US, it’s as much Italian Pride Day as anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/38 "2017-10-10T13:44:06Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Which is actually quite offensive to people familiar with Canadian Thanksgiving as a sexual position. I thought the preferred sexual position for Canadians was doggy style, so they could both watch the hockey game. I don’t celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. I celebrate Moral Superiority Day, where I look condescendingly down on the less spiritually advanced than I. But I don’t limit it to just one day. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/39 "2017-10-10T13:44:40Z")
What gets me is do they really think if Columbus had not let it slip out that there was a whole new continent here, that someone else would not have done it? And perhaps done something worse? ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395/40 "2017-10-10T14:19:05Z")
Holidays are silly. But I’ll take my day off, thanks. I cleaned and printed seating cards for a party that’s coming up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-are-you-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day-today/798395.md?page=3)