Democratic politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asked: “How is Columbus Day a holiday but Election Day not?” via Twitter. As one can imagine, this stirred up some political tensions around the holiday, and spiked #ColumbusDay into a trending topic.
Perhaps we can get rid of #ColumbusDay (conqueror/invader) & replace it with a #NationalVotingDay, overhaul the voting system (ALL STATES THE SAME), uniform "rules" state by state & upgrade the voting machines. You know #ElectionReform Everyone deserves to vote & be counted..
— Joey de Cat 🌊 (@JoeydeCat1) November 16, 2018
@JoydeCat1’s tweet was posted just a day before Alexandria’s tweet, obviously in support of her notion. @JoeydeCat1’s tweet addresses more in depth issues such as Columbus being an invader not explicitly stated in Ocasio-Cortez’ tweet.
Many groups across the country have & continue to work to change #ColumbusDay to #indigenous Peoples Day. We finally got some traction & change is coming slowly. Please take into account #NativeAmerican concerns and stop contributing to our #erasure.
— Frances Danger (@FrancesMFDanger) November 19, 2018
@FrancesMFDanger contributed to the discussion by stating that Columbus Day’s name needs to be changed, by modifying the actual holiday itself in order to honor the indigenous people of America.
Holidays the left wants to or is trying to get rid of: #Christmas #Thanksgiving #ColumbusDay. I haven't seen much of the #SJWs complaining about #Easter or #4thofJuly but I'm sure it's out there being a Christian and patriotic holiday respectively. So sad.
— Carmine Lomenzo (@mindofcarmine) November 23, 2018
Some conservatives under the #ColumbusDay hashtag justified Columbus Day as being a Christian holiday.
#ThanksgivingDay is the worlds only festivity that marks the start of a genocide. It is ridiculous and offensive to all natives on the continent. Same as #ColumbusDay
Diseases, slavery, theft of land and identity, segregation, apartheid. #NationalDayOfMourning— GIANCAAN (@GIANCAAN) November 22, 2018
While others felt the need to point out the holiday’s injustice to Native Americans.
Please make it a holiday, then all of the hard working conservative people will be able to make it to the polls on election day.
The lazy, jobless liberals already have the day off.#ElectionDay #ColumbusDay— John Roberts (@JohnHRobertsJr) November 18, 2018
Ocasio-Cortez was also met with agreement from some conservatives to make Election Day a holiday. However, this tweet by @JohnHRobertsJr targeted offense to liberals, and was met with no sympathy to changing Columbus Day.
Well homeless congresswoman #ElectionDay ain’t on the same level as #ColumbusDay 1 of them honors a man who founded this great land while the other is a once a year civil duty https://t.co/yi0RJNq34q
— Anthony Perez (@WWEAP25) November 18, 2018
@WWEAP25 is in opposition to Ocasio-Cortez and @JoeydeCat1 in that he defends Christopher Columbus, condoning Columbus’ actions towards Native Americans. He disses the importance of voting and praises a man that started a genocide.