In a recent letter, Matthew F. Hale stated that he was disgusted by the DE editorial Columbus Day Celebrates slavery, describing it as anti-white and full of self-hate. I do not see rethinking Columbus Day as anti-white. When was Europe discovered? The story of America is replete with denial of the presence and perspective of Native Americans, as evidenced by such misnomers as prehistoric, unsettled wilderness,

This denial continues today, as evidenced by recent Congressional efforts to cut federal programs to the Native American nations. These programs are part of treaties made by the U.S. government in exchange for vast tracts of land. 371 of the 800 treaties signed with Native American nations were ratified by the U.S. Senate and are therefore Constitutionally the supreme law of the land, though the U.S. has historically broken provisions of every one. Theft of Native American lands continues to be the goal of greedy corporations and racist politicians.

Racism against American Indians was originally formulated to justify the theft of their lands. Today racism is alive and well in the stereotypical images of Native Americans which many non-Indians still hold. How many football fans realize the term Redskins is equivalent to the n-word? A recent Senate investigation found that Americans are massively uninformed and misinformed about American Indians. Hopefully, we can move into the 21st century with greater understanding.

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Rethinking Columbus Day sends the message that we recognize and respect perspectives which were previously denied in the telling of American history. Telling history from a white point of view is a disservice to whites as well as to others. We all deserve the richness of our multi-cultural heritage.

Grad. student Theraputic Rec.