American Notes: Political Correctness

On the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' voyage to the Americas, Berkeley will put a new twist in its official calendar. While the rest of the country is observing Columbus Day next Oct. 12, Berkeley will inaugurate "Indigenous Peoples Day," becoming the first U.S. city to change the name and focus of the holiday. Traditionally, says Berkeley Mayor Lonni Hancock, Columbus Day celebrations have been "Eurocentric and ignored the brutal realities of the colonization of indigenous peoples." The new holiday, vows Hancock, will provide "an accurate history" of the explorer's discoveries and show how they led to the conquest and destruction of ancient American civilizations. So far the residents have taken the change in stride; only about a dozen have complained. No word, however, on whether there will be Indigenous Peoples Day coat sales.