Celebrating October 12

History has always been written by the conquerors or the would-be conquerors. The conquered do their best to preserve their culture and their version of history, but it’s an uphill battle.

For example:

For centuries China has exported the idea that the Han Chinese people are the only ethnic group who are truly Chinese. There are more than 50 other ethnic groups who have been living within the territorial boundaries of China for centuries, including Tibetan, Hmong, Uyghur, Mongol, and Salar. All the various Han Chinese empires and governments have worked to eradicate not only the existence, but the memory of these cultures.

In the past decade Russia has reinvigorated its centuries-old effort to eradicate the existence and memory of Ukraine, a country that existed before the Russian empire. Russia’s propagandized version of Ukraine’s history, culture, and place in the modern world is being disseminated nationally as well as internationally as it tries to destroy Ukraine yet again.

Then there’s the United States.

October 12, 1492 was definitely a turning point in world history,
triumphant for Europeans and devastating for the conquered indigenous peoples.

Can the date be recognized appropriately for all concerned?

In the US Columbus Day is still a Federal holiday.

To counter this, thirty years ago the date became known as
Native Americans’ Day in South Dakota and is now celebrated as
Indigenous Peoples’ Day in almost 20 other states.
President Biden issued the first Federal proclamation to recognize
Indigenous Peoples’ Day in 2021.

Canada does not celebrate Columbus Day, instead marking June 21 as
Aboriginal Day to celebrate and learn about indigenous peoples
including Inuit, Métis and First Nations.

October 12 is Dia de la Raza (Day of the People) in Mexico and many Caribbean, Central and South American countries. While the Spanish word “raza” can be translated as “people” in English, it includes the concept of “lineage” or “ancestry,”
those from whom a people is descended.

It is celebrated as Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity in Argentina, Day of Indigenous Resistance in Venezuela, and encompasses as many citizens as possible in Nicaragua, where it is Día de la Resistencia Indígena, Negra y Popular, the Day celebrating the Resistance against colonialism by indigenous people, blacks, and all downtrodden citizens.

Should we celebrate October 12?

Or would it be more appropriate to mark the anniversary of the start of the invasion of the Americas as an opportunity to reflect on and reevaluate our present day
vestiges of the European colonial and xenophobic mindset?

Freeing Your Mind helps to Free Your Body.

Photo by ia huh