Italian American Community Unites To Defeat AB55

 

“Christopher Columbus’ achievements as a great Renaissance explorer and his discovery of America, which led to the influx of ideas and people of Western Europe on which America was founded and still rests, is why we must continue to celebrate Columbus Day on the second Monday in October each year”, emphatically states Ann Potenza, President of the Federated Italo-Americans of Southern California, “To deny his achievements is to rewrite history and to condemn Columbus is to condemn ourselves, citizens of the United States, descendants of this Western Civilization.” 

 

It was this subject, protecting Columbus Day from a new bill introduced in the California Assembly by Assemblyman Roger Hernandez of the 48th District that found itself at the center of many Italian American meetings this past week.  Comprised of over 70 Italian American organizations in Southern California, from San Diego up to Santa Barbara, the Federated Italo-Americans of Southern California serves as an umbrella organization for the exchange of such community information, as well as annual celebrations of Republic Day and Columbus Day, and hosted the first community event on the issue.  It was here that Potenza assembled the first call to action on opposing such legislation in the California Assembly, by guiding the members in the process of alerting local officials, local and national Italian American organizations, utilizing the power of the press and starting the first on-line petition to circulate among the community directed to California Governor Jerry Brown.

 

Bill AB55, authored by CA Assemblyman Roger Hernandez of the 48th District reads as states: 

 

 

 

In direct contrast to the claims in AB55, if you ask the members of the Italian American community what they think of Columbus, they will be the first ones to tell you that for much of its history, the United States considered Columbus a man worthy of admiration. Columbus Day is one of America’s oldest patriotic holidays, first celebrated in 1792 to honor the 300th anniversary of his first voyage. One hundred years later, in 1892, the Pledge of Allegiance was written to commemorate the 400-year anniversary of Columbus’ voyage. That same year, President Benjamin Harrison declared Columbus Day a legal holiday.  America has more monuments to Columbus than any other nation in the world. Generations of American school children studied his life and accomplishments and teachers held him up as an example of a person of character, who overcame strong opposition and great disappointment but never gave up trying to prove what he believed to be true.  The Italian American community also credits the journey and arrival of Columbus as a way to commemorate the arrival on these shores of more than 5 million Italians beginning in 1880.  

 

 “The Italian government, through its diplomatic and consular representatives has always lent its utmost support to observances and celebrations organized by Italian American associations and civic groups”, jointly states Consul General Giuseppe Perrone and Consul General Mauro Battocchi, representatives of Italy in Los Angeles and San Francisco, respectively, “Italian Americans in California are completely integrated in the social fabric, yet cherish their Italian heritage and their forefathers’ culture.  Their pursuit of these cherished interests offers the opportunity of cultural expansion and exchange for all, without ethnic or other barrier, for the benefit of society at large.  We have always proudly participated in the civic ceremonies organized for the occasion alongside local authorities.  In Italy as well, on Columbus Day, the highest authorities, including the President of the Republic, seize every year the opportunity to underline the significance of the Columbus Day celebrations that go beyond the historical commemoration, to embody the friendship and cooperation between our two countries and the recognition of the extraordinary contributions and achievements of all Italian Americans”.

 

After Columbus arrived in America, millions of European immigrants brought their art, music, science, medicine, philosophy and religious principles to America. These contributions have helped shape the United States and include Greek democracy, Roman law, Judeo-Christian ethics and the belief that all men are created equal.  The Columbian Exchange, also known as the Grand Exchange, was a dramatically widespread exchange of animals, plants, culture, human populations and ideas between the American and Afro-Eurasian Hemispheres The contact between the two areas circulated a wide variety of new crops and livestock which supported increases in population in both hemispheres. One of the first European export, the horse, changed the lives of many Native American tribes on the Great Plains, allowing them to shift to a nomadic lifestyle based on hunting bison on horseback. Explorers returned to Europe with maize, potatoes, and tomatoes, which became very important crops in Eurasia by the 18th century. Similarly, Europeans introduced manioc and the peanut to tropical Southeast Asia and West Africa, where they flourished and supported growth in populations on soils that otherwise would not produce large yields.

 

In direct contrast, since 1992, the reputation of Columbus has suffered at the hands of special interest groups who have used this 15th century Renaissance navigator to further their 21st century political and social agendas.  As a result, today Columbus is often depicted as a slave trader, racist, and even “the Hitler of the 15th century.” A small but vocal number of historians, journalists, text-book writers and teachers have helped spread these charges despite their questionable foundation in historical fact.  Increasingly, Italian American communities are finding their Columbus Day celebrations marred by demonstrations and their First Amendment rights denied by special interest groups who sometimes turn violent.  Despite this controversy, Italian Americans continue to hold Columbus in high regard for his historic achievements and designate Columbus Day as a day to recognize the heritage of an estimated 16 to 26 million Americans of Italian descent living in America today.  

 

In conclusion, Potenza wants it to be known that, “The Italian American community fully supports the celebration of ‘Native American Day’, which has been recognized since 1968 on the 4th Friday in September, and we encourage Assemblyman Hernandez to focus his energy on helping to make that holiday as special as it should be.  Columbus Day belongs to All Americans, not only Italian Americans.  Rather than divide, we invite him to be an instrument of peace by celebrating the contributions that all groups have brought to this great country of ours.”

 

For continual updates and more information on how to defeat AB55, please visit the Federated Italo-Americans of Southern California website at www.itfederatedsocal.org.