Christopher Columbus did not discover America. There were already people inhabiting this land. He slaughtered hundreds to thousands of natives to claim the land for Europe in favor of the King and Queen of Spain.
This holiday is recognized around the country and many people get time off work or school. If it is important enough to be recognized as a federal holiday people should know what they are celebrating; the dismemberment of an already existing culture through murder, rape, endlavement and pillaging. If they were in search of religious freedom, why did they destroy those who opposed their religion?
This man did nothing for our country but began the 300 lyear long extinction of the original inhabitants, and serves no purpose but a grim reminder. Not an American holiday