Columbus Day

[Stretch]

HIGH! ALL!

Re: Columbus Day. This is a VERY controversial celebration in Denver. The Italians vs the Indians - Native Peoples. Four Native American parades, demonstrations, etc. Issues of racism, genocide, vs First Amendment Rights, etc. Possible violence, press coverage, editorials, talk show topic, etc. Lots of passion on this.

So I'm wondering how the rest of the country reacts to this? How as a clown would you approach this? Both cultures embrace the Clown in various guises: jester, shaman, merry maker, teacher.

So how would you wrap yourself around this situation? So far I've stayed the H E dbl. hockey sticks away. While it is too late for this year for me to participate, I'm wondering about the future. So far it seems the groups are very polarized, with little in common.

Any Amer-Indian-Italians out there with a political bent - or anyone else, care to comment?

Walking tall and befuddled,
Bill "Stretch" Coleman

http://www.stiltwalker.com/

http://www.bubbletower.com/

[scot]

I have no good solution

Berkeley city officials call it Indigeonous Peoples' Day.

Dress like a buffalo and run from everyone.

Dress as a vaccuum cleaner salesman with arrows and bullet holes stuck in him. You could squirt blood (really cranberry sauce) into people's plates.

You're a cowboy in tails at a little pulpit w/ a phone on it. A sign in front of you says "now taking reservations"

[Peter]

On this one the Italians and the American Indians can both go to hell. Columbus day has been celebrated for a LONG time and no one took (or gave) offense at it. As a kid in schools in the U.S. back in the 50's and 60's we had the day off and banks were closed and all the other good stuff that happens today, and I went to school in Montana, the heart of indian country. There were NO COMPLAINTS, NO hard feelings, No problems, we just got to stay home for a day and play.

Everybody today is trying to create a name for themselves by screaming "Prejudice" and "I'm a victim so give me money." And then, like the damn fools we are in the U.S. the government gives them money at everyone else's expence until the "new victim" starts to raise hell.

End of rant.

Peter

[Doctor Eric]

The American Indian didn't really have a voice to complain during the fifties and sixties, in case you've never read a !@#?ing book. They were too busy trying to keep their children from being stolen by the BIA and shipped off to catholic schools where they would have their hair cut and get beaten for speaking their own language. There was a LOT of complaining, you just didn't get to hear it, button-eye. Do any of your rants ever contain an original thought or idea? You just seem to regurgititate alot of tired, uninformed Rush Limbaugh reruns in unwarranted situations. Perhaps you are angry that you weren't molested enough as a child.

[scot]

cross over

Yes some Native Americans are castrated, have you ever watched it happen?

*reference

[Peter]

Eric and Scot, nice that you have listened to the liberal bullshit and I am sorry to have to burst your myths. However, the problem is that none of it is based in truth. The BIA schools were government school set up on the reservations. Agreed they were run by the U.S. government which meant they were poor, and the idea of reservations itself is bad, but the idians did get an education and did not have to face the prejudice of the white schools.

The castration thing was what one tribe did to other tribes, not what the whites did to indians.

[scot]

Slavery and the crusades weren't that bad either. Ignorant people were finally educated.

Who do you feel is the best candidate for pres. and why?

[Chance]

me, me, me, my turn, my turn

Add me to your list, Peter. Just because Columbus was a historical figure, like, for example, Hitler or Mussolini, doesn't mean he is automatically a role model, now does it?

By way of contast, Dr. Martin Luther King, while certainly not a perfect example of what a Christian minister ought to be when no one is looking, can still be respected and honored for facing down the white racist establishment as we all know. His day of national recognition is well deserved, in other words. To millions of people, from all races and creeds, Dr. King is undoubtedly a first class role model.

Ghandi also comes to mind.

Columbus died poor and miserable and lonely. Too bad he didn't stay that way.

As for the Native American Indian, white America can never repay the injustice we have caused those people. The early settlers were no better than Columbus. Genocide is genocide is genocide. Just because you are better armed does not make your cause more just. And from the looks of things in Iraq, is seems that truth is still with us today.

[Stretch]

So back to my question: How, as a clown do you recognise, celebrate, the common interests of these two poloarised groups?

Seems the only thing they have in common is their exersize of first amendment rights to speach and assembly.

Going back to Scott's comment:

Clown Buffalo for free speech?
C Columbo's cabin boy. If you don't know the limric, google it, it's hilarious.
Bead trader
A lost C Columbo asking for directions to China.
Uncle Sam in fur

What, besides pasta, is an Italian Icon?

"Dress as a vaccuum cleaner salesman . . ." What would an

Italian vaccum cleaner salesman look like.

I can see ways to make fun of both sides, Having trouble coming up with something they can both laugh together with, instead of at. Any suggestions?

[Chance]

Other Italian icons might include sunglasses, chic clothing, ice cream, pizza, or the mafia. And sing when you speak, don't just speak. Italian is a very lyrical language. Capice? Capito!

But looking at everything mentioned so far, even the mini flame war happening, I wonder if you aren't trying too hard? If you want to offer them something to enjoy together, then why not just offer them your usual routines? Injecting either the Italian or Indian elements (or even both) only leaves open the possiblity of misinterpretation.

[Woofnah]

hee hee

"What, besides pasta, is an Italian Icon? "

Mario brothers

[NYSB_Craig]

Denver Columbus Day

Stretch- did you hear that over 200 people were arrested during the parades?

[Stretch]

Ya , The Rocky Mountain News carried the story. Big headline, turned out it was a "sit in" style protest, and they police took them away peacably, booked them and released them. (the Indians protesting the C Day Parade) The Indians are quite upset about identifieng Columbus as a hero. From what I gather, they don't have a beef with the Italians, per say, just Columbus. Rapist, genocide, etc.

The C. parade organisers on the other hand seem to think there are no alternatives except a Columbus Day , Columbus with a capital C by god! Parade, until the national holiday is changed. Calling on their first amendment rights, etc. . Seems like a case of poor manners to me, but I'm not a expert.

In grade school, in Michigan, a long time ago, I went to a Catholic Parocial school, so we never had the day off, or made much of it.