newjerseynewsroom.com

BY ANDRE' DiMINO

COMMENTARY

What a disgrace!

From right here in New Jersey, and on up to the inhabitant of the White House, the disrespect for Columbus Day, and the Italian Americans who celebrate it, is accelerating at an incredible pace!

Not only did The Star-Ledger, the supposedly-venerable NJ source of information, not report on our important Columbus Day activities around the state, they chose instead to give front-page prominence to a piece denigrating the great explorer.

Come on!!! And, in Washington, the self-proclaimed "inclusive" President Obama did celebrate, but not for Columbus Day or Italian Americans, but with a major blowout for the Hispanic community. Mr. President, what a disgrace!

You make hundreds of appearances and scores of speeches, but you could not find the time to make a single utterance about the Columbus holiday and the importance it holds for the millions of Italian Americans across the country? Shame on you!

All Italian Americans, no, actually, all Americans, should be outraged at this escalating campaign to minimize - into oblivion - the commemoration of the greatest explorer to circumnavigate the globe and the importance he holds for the Western World and Italian Americans.

From The Star Ledger, to the New York papers, and across the electronic media, there was practically a blackout on coverage of this important day. Where was the news about the signing of the bill by NJ Governor Corzine forever designating October as Italian American Heritage Month in the State of New Jersey? Where was the coverage of the millions of people that participated in Columbus Parades and ceremonies from New York City to Denver and across the country? Nowhere.

Instead what we had were news items about cities that want to obfuscate the holiday's name to "Fall Holiday" or "Discovery Day", or reports about a misguided and self-loathing teacher that led her class in a discussion about why Columbus was a villain. Why don't we see this type of campaign about other holidays and other personages? It is a disgrace, and we should do all that we possibly can to counteract these revisionist actions by honoring this holiday for what it was meant to be — a commemoration of the greatest Italian navigator and discoverer of the new world, Christopher Columbus, and the crucial symbolism this day has for every American — and especially Italian Americans.

Don't let this revisionist campaign succeed! Please join with me in committing yourself to doing all you can to celebrate and honor the importance of Columbus Day year after year!

Andre' DiMino is president of UNICO National, the largest Italian American service organization in the United States