Happy Columbus Day
Happy Columbus Day! And to our friends at the Longhouse, Happy Indigenous Solidarity Day! The Ol’ Dirty had an article focusing on today’s event put on by the Native American Student Union and the MCC. For some reason Chuck Hunt is speaking at it.
“Columbus is just a stunningly bad figure to be celebrating,” he said. “He was personally responsible for the deaths of thousands of indigenous people and he was indirectly responsible for 500 years of catastrophe.”
So, you’re saying you hate America? It gets worse.
Hunt will also speak of the “fundamental racism” regarding Nike’s recent release of the N7 Air Native, a sneaker specifically designed for Native Americans.
“I think it’s kind of amazing Nike thinks there’s some kind of special foot for Native Americans,” he said. “I think (the topic is) appropriate, given the ties between the University and Nike.”
This is in the running for a Spew of the Year nomination. You don’t believe that different races with different genetic make-ups have varying physical features? Maybe you can argue this as niche marketing, but fundamental racism? Come on Chuck.
Poor Chuck Hunt, Columbus day is the only thing he can’t blame on the Jews. Must make his little brain hurt SO BAD!
If you are going to hate on Columbus at least include that he wasn’t the first to discover America and he died believing he had discovered a different part of Asia. Not the new world. Plus, I hear he was an all-around douche. How come that always gets left out of the conversation?
From nike.com: “Research has engaged individuals from over 70 tribes as well as consulting podiatrists and members of [36] Indian Health Services and the National Indian Health Board.”
From the AP: “Nike designers and researchers looked at the feet of more than 200 people from more than 70 tribes nationwide and found that in general, American Indians have a much wider and taller foot than the average shoe accommodates. The average shoe width of men and women measured was three width sizes larger than the standard Nike shoe.”
Yeah, Nike clearly “thinks there’s some kind of special foot,” completely ignoring the reality of the situation.
I’m also not sure in what way Columbus was single-handedly responsible, although he was certainly quite the jerk. Surely some blame goes to the Catholic Church, who took 45 years to figure out that Native Americans were human.
Oh, and to small pox.