America Split Along Racial Lines Over Columbus Holiday
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Intrepid explorer who discovered America or merciless oppressor of the native peoples who already lived here? Some paint a darker picture of Christopher Columbus these days, and nearly a quarter (24%) of adults now don’t think America should honor him with a national holiday.
Fifty-eight percent (58%) disagree and say Columbus should be honored with a holiday. Seventeen percent (17%) are undecided.
Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Republicans favor continuance of Columbus Day, compared to 52% of Democrats and 54% of adults not affiliated with either party. Democrats are nearly twice as likely as Republicans to think Columbus should not be honored.
Sixty-one percent (61%) of whites say Columbus deserves a holiday, a view shared by just 50% of African-Americans and 51% of those in other racial categories.
Perhaps surprisingly, younger Americans are more supportive of the famous Italian explorer than their elders. Seventy-two percent (72%) of both men and women under 40 believe Columbus should be honored with a holiday. Only 57% of men over 40 and 53% of women over 40 agree.
Columbus Day honors the anniversary of the October 12, 1492 arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas. But some historians look beyond his discovery of a new world to his actions upon arrival, including violence against and enslavement of those already living here, forced conversion of native peoples to Christianity and the introduction of a host of new diseases into the native population.
Despite these claims, however, 69% of Americans have a favorable impression of Columbus, down slightly from two years ago. Twenty-five percent (25%) have a very favorable view. Just 21% hold a somewhat or very unfavorable opinion of the explorer.
The overwhelming majority of adults (72%) correctly identify 1492 as the year Columbus discovered the Americas. Five percent (5%) say 1482, four percent (4% ) think 1392, and three percent (3%) say 1592. Seventeen percent (17%) aren’t sure.
More Americans between 18 and 29 years of age and those over 50 correctly answered the year of Columbus’ discovery than those between 30 and 40 years old.
However, just 12% of adults consider Columbus Day as one of the nation’s most important holidays. Thirty-seven percent (37%) deem it the least important, while 49% say it’s somewhere in between the most and least important holiday. Two percent (2%) are undecided. These numbers have held steady since the previous survey.
Comment by John Bauer on 14 October 2009:
Part of the problem is that many republicans,democrats and independents now believe that the vikings were the first to discover America, and hence Columbus should not be honored at all.
Comment by Richard on 14 October 2009:
John: Because my great grandmother was an Iroquis I might argue they are both late comers. If and when a majority agree - drop the holiday.
Comment by John Bauer on 14 October 2009:
Richard: Respectfully, we’re talking about the old worlds discovery of the new world. Not the natives, who were there long before the Vikings. I agree with you, drop the holiday, out of respect for the natives.
Comment by John Bauer on 14 October 2009:
Richard: I have been readings your articles and comments to others about them for a while now and it is evident that you use polls to engineer consent in the tradition of one Edward L. Bernays, if so, it is an interesting tactic that you use to advertise your form of propaganda.
Am I right about the named source of who may have influenced your thinking regarding your opinions on political affairs?
Comment by Richard on 14 October 2009:
John Bauer:
Propaganda by polls. Interesting view.
I generally rely on Rasmussen as they do a very large sampling of voters on a daily basis and have a exceptional reccrd, and I can see their questionnaires and cross tabulations.
As a person who polls on matters fairly frequently I think public opinion surveys can be useful but, because they are mostly private matters only a bit can be disclosed.
In fact I worked with a Madison Avenue ad and PR firm; know of Bernays, never met or worked with him. and can appreciate public opinion can be manipulated.
Frankly I am flattered you think me capable of such.
Because I have rather eclectic interest the Columbus polls struck me as interesting. Otherwise I could not care less about the Columbus Day holiday. If that’s what folks want to do - fine with me.
I am bemused by certain revisionism about Columbus but not interested enough to fully research it.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Comment by John Bauer on 14 October 2009:
Richard: I couldn’t decide if my sense about your articles and comments were related to the philosophies of Ivy Lee or Bernays, but there seems to be a hint of both influences on your writing style, it makes sense now that you’ve mentioned Madison Avenue. Kudos, to you sir Richard, looking forward to reading more of your work.
Comment by Richard on 14 October 2009:
John Bauer: Nor can I edefine your use of PROPAGANDA meaning information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc. Who, except the honest am I “harming?”
An unsolicited admonmistion is I refure to engage in a battle of wits with a unarmed peron.
Comment by John Bauer on 14 October 2009:
Opinions sir Richard is the lifes blood of our way of life, and those philosophies that promote as you say “propaganda” meets the requirements for our sustenance of our daily activities.
Comment by Allen Jay Posey on 16 October 2009:
John Bauer: the Columbus mystery perplexed me for years. His travels were sponsored by a major ruling power….I am sure he & Queen Isabella enjoyed a strong personal relationship…the “spice” story sends me into fits of laughter. The Atlantic Ocean was like a freeway at the time, comprised of military, religious & curiosity-based expeditions. For some reason, Columbus(Colon’s)name got shaken out of this mass of explorers, and he won the Grand Prize. As for me, I’m just very thankful to have been born here. It’s quite a place.
Comment by Allen Jay Posey on 16 October 2009:
AMERICA. How did I get so lucky as to be born here? The fact amazes me. I don’t care who discovered this place. I rejoice in the fact of being born here. Country of countries, nation of nations! Good neighbors to the north & south, a government which serves me & cannot rule over me, 55 men who threw it in King George’s face & said “We don’t need you! We’re on our own!” We’re each and every one of us holders of the Grand Prize & the instruments of the destiny which WE choose for ourselves! Film at 11.