decolonizing & deconstructing

October reminded us of our past colonized histories. Starting with the October 12 celebration of 65 years of Philippine-German diplomatic ties. When Martina and Issa had fun dressing up in our national attires and taking photos in our New Jersey neighborhood. 

Followed on October 13 by International Day for Disaster Reduction. Started in 1989 by the United Nations General Assembly as a day to promote the global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction.

Its 2019 theme is to reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services. Perfect for our escalating over populations and climate crisis. 

Mexico City Earthquake

Which brings us to October 14 and the historical disasters in the wake of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas. More than 500 years after stepping ashore on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, Christopher Columbus is a divisive figure in the New World he opened to European explorers and settlers. 

On Oct. 14, as many Americans celebrate Columbus Day with a fall cookout or big sales at the mall, others will observe Indigenous Peoples' Day, a holiday born of protest against a historical icon now accused of genocide. Of all the Europeans or even past colonizers to celebrate, why choose the one who brought us measles and slavery? 

Christopher Columbus encountering the Taino people

Time to abolish Columbus Day, blog by Bill Bigelow

In May 2019, Vermont became the most recent state to officially replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day on the second Monday in October, joining seven other states — North Carolina, Alaska, South Dakota, Oregon, Minnesota, Maine and New Mexico — plus the District of Columbia and at least 130 cities across the United States that have repealed Columbus Day over the tainted legacy of the 15th-century explorer. 

Happy Oktoberfest folks! Are you prepared for our next holiday? Halloween, All Hallows Eve or Samhain - depending on your preferred choice.