Way we took Columbus Day off calendar disdained Italian-American experience
From Emmanuel “Manny” Lusardi, of East Cambridge, June 10, 2016: I am writing in response to the city’s decision to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day and asking: How about the Italian-American experience in American history?
Columbus’ name should indeed be removed from a day of recognition. He is a documented criminal, and what he did to the indigenous people of America 500 years ago is nothing short of apocalyptic. With this said, Italian-Americans have celebrated their heritage on this day going back generations, and I wonder what message we teach our children by taking it away. Why didn’t teachers leading a wonderful learning project about civic and social responsibility and process as part of the fight for Indigenous Peoples Day not require their students to learn about the other side of this issue? Why do we force one culture against another? Who is getting punished by removing Christopher Columbus’ name from a day of honor? Not Christopher Columbus – he’s long dead. Only innocent, living Italian-Americans who respect and celebrate their heritage on the second Monday in October are punished by this action.
My own father came to this country 100 years ago this year from Abruzzi, Italy. He often spoke about the harsh treatment of Italian-Americans in this country, including during World War II, when many were interred just like Japanese-Americans – despite being one of the largest ethnic groups to serve in all branches of the U.S. Military during the war. (In 2010, California’s legislature passed a resolution of apology for such actions.) It was even illegal for many Italian-Americans to own a radio or a flashlight during this time, so families hoping to get a little news on the war and maybe how their sons were doing did so at great personal peril.
Imagine if the government threatened criminal charges against an innocent person for owning a computer today? Cambridge residents would be up in arms, and rightfully so, including the Italian-Americans still living in Cambridge who are old enough to have experienced that treatment in the 1940s.
It has never been politically correct to stand up for Italian-Americans in our history, and I don’t believe it ever will be. I was the sole person to testify during the committee meeting on Indigenous Peoples Day to offer an opinion diverging from that of the Native Americans and their allies, and I have been attacked and insulted by some from all sides of this issue, with no apologies. I thank councillor Nadeem Mazen and vice mayor Marc McGovern for inviting me to speak and respecting my views on this important but sensitive issue. Disagreement and discussion on sensitive issues should always be encouraged, respected and treated fairly, as they did.
Emmanuel I have to have your back on this. The students were short changed to not hear from older Italians about Italian internment camps, Sacco Vanzetti executions, socialist round ups and the struggle of Italians in the labor movement and beyond. We did not celebrate Columbus we celebrated our parents and grandparents struggle . I testified at council and attended a meeting at City hall with Marc and Nadeem and shared my willingness as one man to remove Columbus name and change this to Italian Heritage Day. That compromise which would have respected the Italian struggle was ignored for a National Internet movements. I have received calls and emails from older Italians who love the City they immigrated to and feel like their memory is being erased. It would be easy for Cambridge to be even more unique and part from the national internet template and make it Italian Heritage-Indigenous peoples day thereby uniting two groups who were persecuted . I respect the councils willingness to correct this mistake and send a message that Columbus day meant far more than his legacy . I have no horse in that race. I do know my Father and those Italians that endured would want us to stand up and remember the history of struggle by Italians in this City. I will be first to volunteer to speak to the students so they understand how complicated and critical this is to make right. I stand with Emmanuel and ask the Council to be truly different as only Cambridge can be!!
I agree with Many and Anthony that we need to teach and learn about the Italian American experience in the United States. For that matter, we need to teach about all the various immigrant groups that faced horrible treatment. This continues today and unless we teach our history, we will continue to repeat it.
As I said before, as someone who is half Italian and raised in an Italian household, I have tremendous respect for the Italian community. I grew up listening to the same stories as Many and Anthony. I appreciate that Manny and Anthony have acknowledged that Columbus should not be the face of Italian heritage. I also appreciate that both were willing to attend meetings and speak publicly. It was not an easy thing for them to do given the climate and if I did anything to contribute to that climate, I apologize.
On Monday the 13th there is a policy order on the agenda that we reaffirm October as National Italian Heritage Month and will designate October 1st as Italian Heritage Day in Cambridge. I hope this helps heal any ill will.
Marc, the policy order as it stands is nothing short of condescending and pandering. It wreaks of a consolations prize. I have made myself available (I know you did not file the policy order) to anyone wanting to discuss this issue. I believe, a compromise can be reached. As Anthony already said, we should be different. We should honor both cultures by naming the second Monday in October, “Indigenous People’s Day” and “Italian American Heritage Day”. If I am wrong, and the city council is not dictated by political correctness. There is nothing wrong with this easy and simple compromise.
Peace Be Unto You,
I’m sorry you all didn’t believe me the first time I offered public comment at the City Hall, when I said Chris Columbus was of mixed parentage (Black/White), it’s written right in the Genoa, Italy’s record of vital statistic, that Columbus was half black. By the way, the patron Saint of Palermo Italy is Black. Columbus found Black people already present in the so-called new world when he arrived with his crews members from Spain.
Remember Chris Columbus prove to the people of Spain and other places, that the world was round. Then in Spain and elsewhere, Europe wasn’t that far removed from the Dark Ages, filled with superstitious beliefs etc., including that the world was flat, and that one would fall off of it, into a pit filed with monsters, etc.,. Columbus changed all of that.
Queen Isabella or the Queen of Spain at that time cleaned up the street of Madrid, and other places with criminals and low lives, of all kind, and gave them to Columbus as crew members on his initial voyages to the so-called new world. She wouldn’t allow Spanish Aristocrats to travel with him, not until they got ride of Columbus did she allow Spain’s Aristocrats to travel to the new world as leaders, soldiers, politicians, clergy etc. first to arrive were the criminal and riffraff, in an attempt to cleans Spain of its undesirable human elements.
It was the people that Columbus brought with him, and not Columbus, that caused havoc in the Spanish Islands of the new world discoveries. Yes the Spanish criminals and riffraff were the main perpetrators of genocide, etc., in the Spain’s so-called new world possessions.
It wasn’t Columbus who destroyed the Aztec and Incas empires, it was people the Queen of Spain filed the ships sailing to the new world with. Columbus didn’t go into so-called Africa and capture black men, black women, and black children, and bring them to the new world of Spanish possessions, it was the peoples that the Queen of of Spain assigned to the ship, that sailed to the so-called new world, as crew members ,etc., and who were they?
Another Italian named Vasco De Gama discovered the main land of the Americas, and he was an all white Italian, you don’t here the that bunch, that called themselves Native American condemning him? Some of these folks in the world discovered Christopher Columbus was of mixed parentage, and now they want deprive him of his greatness because he was a half Blackman. I feel sorry for those folks.
Yours In Peace,
Mr. Hasson J. Rashid ,
I am not sure what the above post is about. Many Italians, even some Italian-Americans do not consider themselves, “white” as apparently offered. The issue is not about skin pigment or if Columbus was white or a person of color. He may or may not be. I never met the guy. The issue with many Cambridge residents who Identify themselves as Italian-Americans, believe that they were disrespected, including myself. However unintentionally by the city council. This was due to traditions & important customs being ignored & a belief that they were not properly represented on the council. As determined by the 9-0 vote. Right or wrong, the city has made a decision and has by this resident’s opinion, actively & sincerely working to learn what mistakes they made and are willing to work with the Italian American community on recognizing the traditions and contributions made by Italian Americans throughout our history. Understanding is what is required here, from all sides of this issue. Including Italian Americans, learning & doing the work to research why some believe (right or wrong) Columbus was a criminal (google it). My hope is that we can all heal, learn, move forward so that the Italian-American residents who’s stories and personal experiences would be shared. So that young people can hear first hand about the Italian-American experience in American history from people who lived it. Healing not only takes time, it takes effort. It’s easy for some to point the finger but not do the heavy lifting from all sides on this issue. Or, expect someone else to do so. What is needed are people within the community working with members of the city council to get this message across for not only current Italian-American residents but more importantly, for generations to come. While this is not a statement of conclusion, or is this resident anywhere near giving up. This discussion is not yet over. This is an olive branch. This resident will continue to work with members of the city council to determine an appropriate response, a plan with continued communication. Until I believe the city council sincerely, “get’s it”. The entire city council.
Peace,
Peace,
Excuse me, I made a mistake in claiming it was Vasco De Gamma that discovered main land Americas, correction it was Amerigo Vespucci.
Its strange that the native peoples only get one official day here in Cambridge,MA to celebrate their heritage, while the Italians get a whole month to do so. The native peoples, once again get the shafts.
Yours In Peace,
Hasson Rashid