COLUMBUS DAY

When I was young I couldn’t wait to go outside and play

Since school was not in session each and every Columbus Day.

We were taught all of the stories…how he sailed the ocean blue

With the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria in 1492.

We learned he was a great explorer, across the oceans his boats swirled

And we thought this Italian man who sailed for Spain discovered our new world.

He’s such a navigation hero our history books proclaim

That cities across this nation are christened in his name.

He’s been given the ultimate accolade…banks are closed and children play

As we commemorate Christopher Columbus with his very own holiday...

But then a strange thing happened, I found the history books were skewed

And I wasn’t ready for the things I read or the feelings that ensued.

It seems this new world theory comes with a little hitch

Columbus wasn’t looking for America he just wanted to get rich.

He thought he’d sail to Asia when he left Spain that fateful day

But he was wrong about the route and America got in the way.

it was in the Caribbean not America where Columbus made landfall

The fact is he never landed on or visited American at all.

About his claim of discovering a new world…it’s a very misleading stat

I think the Native Americans might have something to say about that.

Because if I’m not mistaken they were here many years before

Christopher Columbus accidentally bumped into the shore.

And would a man who we’ve been taught was courageous, great and brave

Kill the people who were already here or turn them into slaves?

Would we still look at Columbus Day with as much innocence and pride

If we knew how he decimiated a people and committed genocide?

No, I think it’s time we stop giving Columbus so much dignity and glory

And teach our children while they’re in school…both sides of the story.

Perhaps then, like South Dakota, we will commemorate and cheer

The real discoverers of America…you know, the ones who were already here.

So the next generation of children will be excited to go outside and play

Since school won’t be in session to celebrate Native American Day.