Sunday, October 7, 2007

Indigenous people's day

OPPOSE COLUMBUS DAY AND GENOCIDE, SUPPORT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY

Monday October 8 is the old Columbus Day. Some day, I hope, it will be replaced by Indigenous People's Day. I believe you will agree with me once you read the opening chapter of Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States or any accurate account of the genocide that ensued from his landing in our hemisphere, including President Jackson's forced removal of the eastern Native Americans to Oklahoma via the "Trail of Tears."
OMNI is allied with the Heritage Trails Partners and with the Native Americans Symposium for an Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Observance beginning next Friday Oct. 12. Please come read and walk.
11 a.m to 2 p.m. discuss and read passages of your choosing in the Connections Lounge of the UA Student Union. I will bring along Wallace's The Long, Bitter Trail, in case you don't have time to find a passage to read. Several of us could read the entire account.
Then at 2p.m a procession will walk from the Lounge to the monument on U.S. highway 62 (6th St. between the street and the soccer field south of FHS). Or meet the procession there probably about 2:30.
Let me know if you plan to attend either or both of these events, or just show up.

(Another reason for abolishing Columbus Day is its commodification for profit by businesses. JCPenney's "3 Day Super Hot Buys!" But I suppose everything that can be commodified has been. Nieman Marchus is already advertising for Christ-mas: a talking robot only $75,000. So yes, as you are already thinking, Indigenous Peoples' Day will also be turned into profit. But we'll prevent that ok?)

Dick Bennett

No comments:

Dick's Wars and Warming KPSQ Radio Editorials (#1-48)

Dick's Wars and Warming KPSQ Radio Editorials (#1-48)