Ah, Columbus Day. I find it kind of ironic how this week, as we reflect on the guy who discovered America; he's probably rolling over in his grave at what a mess we've made of it.
When history lessons were simple and nonviolent in elementary school, I remember thinking that Christopher Columbus was a pretty cool guy because he gave us a day off of school. Turns out, he had massacred all kinds of people and spread disease all over the place, but hey, that's discovering uncharted territory in the 1400s.
Anymore, Columbus Day isn't nearly as heralded as it used to be. As a matter of fact, I bet you didn't even know it's coming up on Monday.
What's funny is that what America probably needs the most right now is a guy like Christopher Columbus.
Forget all of the raping and pillaging for a second. In the grade school version of the story, it all started with Columbus noticing a fly walking around an orange. A light bulb went off in his head as he realized that maybe the earth wasn't totally flat like everyone was saying.
Columbus went with his gut and set off on a voyage around the world, even though everyone told him he was going to fall off the edge. That's some pretty risky business, but it was a risk that discovered America.
Now, in an election year and amidst the greatest financial crisis of our time, we need someone to tell us that the world is not flat. We need somebody to dream up something crazy and actually do it instead of just blowing smoke. Each presidential candidate thinks he can be our Columbus, but it's up to us to decide which one isn't going to pillage us.
So if you observe anything this Columbus Day, let it be presidential plans and platforms so you can make the right decision come the next big holiday: Election Day. Christopher Columbus would be proud.
Amanda Lucci is a sophomore studying journalism and a copy editor for The Post. To share your plans for saving the economy, send her an e-mail at al106606@ohiou.edu.
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Amanda Lucci
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Amanda Lucci
