Ah, Columbus Day. Schools are closed, as are government offices. But banks and most other private businesses are open. Is this a "real" holiday or not?
In Illinois, if it weren't for Columbus Day, we wouldn't observe Pulaski Day. Columbus Day came to be perceived as an ethnic holiday celebrating people of Italian descent, so the sizable Polish population succeeded in equaling the honor with a holiday celebrating one of its own.
For years now, we've had a federal holiday commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the great civil rights leader.
What kind of reaction do you think there would be if a movement started to designate a state or federal holiday honoring someone of Hispanic heritage?
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