Brown students protest renaming of Columbus Day
Alternative content
Columbus Day Protest
Brown University students protest a decision to strip Columbus Day from the school's calendar.
NBC 10
Students at Brown University protest a decision to strip Columbus Day from the school’s calendar because of the explorer’s reputed violence against Native Americans.
Published: October 12, 2009
Updated: October 12, 2009
PROVIDENCE—Students at Brown University are protesting a decision to strip Columbus Day from the school’s calendar because of the explorer’s reputed violence against Native Americans.
Student Republicans and other protesters gathered on the Ivy League campus Monday afternoon to object to the university’s decision to rename the holiday “Fall Weekend.“
The protest was organized by WPRO-AM talk show host John DePetro, who said between 75 and 100 people attended.
Keith Dellagrotta, a Brown senior who leads the school’s College Republicans club, described the decision as political correctness gone too far. He said Columbus should be celebrated for bringing the European political tradition to the New World, which led to the foundation of the United States.
Hundreds of Brown students asked the Providence school to stop observing Columbus Day because of atrocities committed against American Indians.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
chesapeke..
we’re on the same page.
rich snobby jerky students and not all of them just the ones that are complaining. concentrate on the education that 80 percent of the people cant afford and be quite.they changed it because YOUR fellow students asked it to be changed .concentrate on those private parties that werer videotaped for all of us too see on the news. you guys aren’t all innocent.
bruins… LMAO!!!... I have found through my years working in the City that Brown students may be book smart (most anyway) but have no common sense whatsoever. Some can’t even fill out an application without me having to answer a thousand questions. They should just concentrate on graduating and getting a freakin job!!
I guess what I mean is….
We should all look at the truth of things. I’m glad Colunbus landed on this continent. It should be marked by the day. The world at that time was raw and uncivilized. There were many wars and Atrocities on this continent between tribes long before Columbus came.Some would have you think the American Indian was unique to humankind. So be happy about the founding of this country, let go of the past, but understand the violent nature of humanity. It has been and still is in all of us.
chesapeke…
not following what you mean (to me specifically). thanks. rier.
Oh and Annie,
I would wager I know as much American Indian History as you. I do understand and accept the truth about atrocities that were commited. I’m sorry it’s not my place to apologize or my crime.
The truth in my post about how nations conquer and settle is a truth you are not prepared to except. I’m sorry.
I think everyone should know about Columbus and the atrocities and the truth and look at it solemnly with gravity for what your people went through….. at a time of landing conquering and control.
Hi Bruin,
We should remember that what made this story was the Brown students that are"protesting” this.
To Luckasa,
Since your post at 8:00 I have been trying to verify the China Eminent Domain statement. I’t can’t be ...
And if Beijing stopped buying any foreign debt, its exports would plunge further and unemployment would skyrocket. Economic and political implosion of China itself would be near-certain.
I’m afraid there in this with us till the end…
And to Brown University…
by Morgan Johnson
Once a great nation and the world’s leader in courage, innovation and productivity; America has been reduced to a self-pitying congregation of whining individuals.
Perhaps the critical chance in the American psyche came during the twin revolutions of widespread television and the civil rights movement.
Now, I’m not suggesting that Blacks were whining. Not at all, their (our) grievances were legitimate, just and long overdue.
But the paradigm shift was in noticing the power of a vocal minority to sway public opinion simply by being seen. Oppression by the forces of the majority created sympathy for minority interests.
This has been a good thing but, like any good thing it can be (and has been) abused. Today we have nearly two hundred channels of near ceaseless whining on cable and satellite. Most stations would go dark if you could slap a temporary moratorium on whining.
To Rhode Island…
I’m young and I have already been through thie Easter Bunny/ Peter Rabbit insanity in Tiverton. I will fight for all the majority on this post to not let tradition be wiped out.
I’ts my intent to be a voice of sanity and reason to this video game, texting, multi tasking youth of today
“He said Columbus should be celebrated for bringing the European political tradition to the New World, which led to the foundation of the United States.“
...European political tradition being, murder and taxes. Yay, its Government Day!!
Well well, looks like I found a whole squirming nest of irate haters here.
Not to worry. This isn’t the first time people have become inflamed over truths they are not prepared to accept.
Fortunately wrongs have been righted in this country before. Slavery was abolished, women can now vote, segregation was ended, child labor laws were enacted ect ect.
Just because something is a tradition, doesn’t make it right and perpetuating a lie in order to hold on to your world view is desperate and sad.
Ok so enjoy your life, I bid you a fond farewell and once again, kudos to the enlightened youth at BU.
TO ALL THE BROWN STUDENTS, SEE IF YOU CAN ANSWER THIS ITS TOUGH READY “WHO IS BURIED IN GRANTS TOMB” HINT… ITS NOT LINCOLN
Advertisement