I think its a great idea. But alot of the great people of the past aren't represented that should be. Like Einstein, Madam Curie....It would also teach children of these great people and their accomplishments.

Stephanie, 24
TX

Columbus Day has evolved from a celebration of Italian American pride to a day for national discussion. This is very natural and all to the good.

Jill, 59
Saylorsburg, PA

I think explorers get enough glory out of the simple pleasure of exploring that they don't need holidays in their honor. The adventure of going to untamed lands would be fantastic.

Karen, 21
Marshelltown/Ames, IA

it's great as long as i get outta school.

Brooke, 16
Memphis, TN

It doesn't matter to me I don't really care. The only thing that sucks is you don't get mail.

Savannah

i just think its kind of interesting since colombus did not discover, nor did he ever set food on the north american continent. why not have the national holiday for amerigo vespucci? we are named for him, after all.

Steve, 29
Lake Worth, FL

Why not? Maybey by today's standards he isn't a saint, but he is a hero and, liked all humans, he is flawed, and should not be condemned for being flawed.

Ernest, 29
Washington, DC

Indifferent...if I don't get a day off of work for it, who needs it?

Maggie, 20
Sandwich, IL

That sounds like a fantastic idea. Although I'm probably slightly biased because I tend to think that any national holiday is a good one as long as it's in the school week and it means I can get a day off.

Shanna, 15
Cardiff ENGLAND

I think it's important to recognize him because he was a daring individual who sailed where most people thought he would fall off the edge of the earth.

Melodi, 19
Hlliard, OH

You know I think naming holidays after individuals is lame. History is made by large huge groups of people. Some individuals are more visible than others, but a person like Columbus would have not made if it were not for tons of cash from the Spanish people,  three boat loads of sailors, and an interesting mix of historical convergences. I would much rather have a holiday devoted to Exploration and Invention. Concepts are so much easier to get behind. Why not a Civil Rights day instead a Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, why not a Leadership day instead of even a president's day (which used to be Washington and Lincoln's birthdays separately).

Felicia, 34
Lowell, MA

Columbus sucks! I went to the bank and it was closed! I had a check to cash today, too...

Jordan, 19
Hastings, MI

Absolutely inappropriate. But I do enjoy the day off...

Gemma Lynn

Now that I work in a school system, I get these types of days off from work.  I say let's celebrate MORE world explorers!!!

Susan, 31
Chicago, IL

Hmm... I'm not sure. I think it should be more of a British/Spain  thing, because all he did was discover North America. I know that's a big thing,but he didn't do anything to help create America. He might have influenced others, but I still think he didn't make a huge contribution to the forming

Jeremy, 13
Highlands Ranch, CO

Paid Holidays are neat...now we need one for August!

Jami, 27
Lowell, MA

It's an old tradition, something that happened long ago, but I do think it's important! We might not possibly be who we are today if it hadn't been Columbus who discovered this land. I do however, dislike the way the "true" Americans were treated upon Columbus' arrival. There's not much we can about that today since it happened so long ago, but today is the day you can start doing something to help keep that history. So many of the Indians that once ruled this land are disappearing and we need to reach out a helping hand to them...and it needs to be now!! They hold the REAL story of our land!!!

Tracy, 24
Ocean City, NJ

It helps me to remember when my parents' anniversary is. Like Labor day makes me go: "Hey! Mom's birthday!"

Anthony, 25
Baton Rouge, LA

I think holidays named after individuals should last five years and then passed to someone else. Columbus Day next goes to Kerouac, MLK Day goes to Lenny Bruce, Christmas goes to Bukowski and Grandparents Day goes to Third Cousin Ralph.

Alias Irrelevante

*shrug* The same way I think about Groundhog's Day, Memorial Day, or Labor Day. I just don't. Usually, these kinds of holidays were made up to give the bank and the post office a day off (kidding!) or to please someone's mother, aunt, grandmother, or grandfather. As a teacher, they really have no effect on me (I never get a day off) and they're not REAL holidays like, oh say, Halloween, Christmas, Bad Poetry Day, or Women's History Month. Now just wait until Halloween comes around. I'll be bouncing off the walls. It's always been my favorite holiday, even way before I was 16 and goth.

Amy, 23
New Orleans, LA

Christopher Columbus Day doesn't do much for me. I've never had the day off. In fact, every year, my sisters and I would try to convince my mother that it was a holiday. And she'd almost buy it but at the last minute would call the neighbor to double check. It's amazing to me that she'd forget we'd try to pull the same scam every year.

Laura, 35
Lowell, MA

Columbus Day was a big holiday in New York State, where I grew up, so I just took it for granted. I think people who object strenuously are being excessively politically correct, even though I can appreciate the concerns of Native Americans. The continent would be very different if the European explorers hadn't come.

Jane, 60
West Linn, OR

I DON'T SEE ANY WRONG IN IT. WE CELEBRATE SOME OF OUR PRESIDENTS THAT FOUNDED THIS COUNTRY. WHY NOT RECOGNIZE THE MAN  THAT FOUND AMERICA.

Marci, 55
Diamond, OH

Fine by me anything that gives me an excuse to take a three day weekend

Sarah J.
Jones, MO

I think its a pretty good idea. If it wasn't for Columbus, America probably wouldn't have been settled as we know it as soon as it was. But then again, if it wasn't for Columbus, the Native Americans wouldn't have been exploited like they were.

Karen2, 14
Boston, MA

Columbus Day is OK. I think when it was first celebrated people actually thought that Columbus was the first person in America. Now we know that that isn't the way it is but we keep the holiday anyway as a sort of celebration of America. I think.

Reba, 50
Rockville, MD

yeah it rocks the more the better

Jade, 16
AUSTRALIA

i think it's a good idea.

Angela, 16
Aiken, SC

We don't really have holidays like that in Australia. As long as people are aware of the historical explorers then i think thats enough

Emma, 20
Perth AUSTRALIA

. . .it seems alright to me, even though I understand it sorta celebrates a bunch of racist brutish thugs . . the "explorers" were probably much more like pirates than noblemen, yet what they did deserves recognition and is the stuff of romantic dreams for anybody who can get engaged with their legends.

mothmc, 36
Los Angeles, CA  USA

I think there are too many National Holidays now.

Kevin, 33
Sugar Hill, GA  USA

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