Brown University's faculty has voted to stop observing Columbus Day because of "the nature of Christopher Columbus's conquests and treatment of Native Americans."   The way things stand now, Columbus Day will be replaced with a floating holiday which will coincide with "Fall Weekend."  Initially, the University was considering holidays named "Heritage Day", or my personal favorite, "Indigenous Day."  That really has a ring to it.

     Brown University is named after the Brown family, who made their money in the slave trade.  If Columbus Day is so offensive, shouldn't they change the name of the University?  Many of their buildings were built with funds derived from the slave trade.  Brown University should demolish these buildings and construct new buildings.  Finally, since these funds and infrastructure contributed to the University's reputation, and enhanced its fundraising ability, it should immediately give its multibillion dollar endowment to charity.

     Are these suggestions ridiculous?  Of course they are.  They are just as ridiculous as trying to revise history by ignoring the important contributions made by Christopher Columbus. 


http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/04/brown-universit-1.html