...unless it involves burning his effigy.  No, I'm kidding, that would be a lame and pointless thing to do.  But seriously, at the risk of sounding like a total Debbie Downer, why do we celebrate (or even observe?) Columbus Day?

I recall some time ago when I was in Barcelona, where there is a statue of Christopher Columbus pointing west, and he is covered in Spanish bird poop.  I think the image is appropriate.

~Christopher Columbus did not discover America. He was not even the first European to discover America. (I know, I know, nobody likes to count the Vikings because they were, well, Vikings.)

~He was not the first person to suggest or to prove that world is round, people in India were onto that long before he was even thought of.

~He committed/ordered numerous acts of violence against the natives of Hispaniola in order to bring them under his greedy thumb, such as cutting off their hands if they did not bring him the desired amount of saleable goods from their island.

I think we should replace Columbus Day with a holiday honoring someone who actually is worthy of it. 

I nominate Harriet Tubman, but I'm open to suggestions.