Cathy Creed, Westford Resident
On May 2, the Westford Select Board asked the voters of Westford to decide whether or not the town should eliminate Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous People’s Day.
While I think that the contributions of Native Peoples must be respected and celebrated, I don’t think that it should be done at the expense of significant history that has been celebrated for the past 200 years. All of our history should be remembered and honored.
Diversity and inclusion would not cancel one holiday and replace it with another. Simplifying history into good guys versus bad guys ignores the complexity of our past. This either/or thinking is divisive and extreme and does not comport with the compassion that Americans have towards one another.
By all means, keep November as Native American Heritage Month and recognize August 9 as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People but don’t eliminate Columbus Day. 331 Towns in Massachusetts have NOT eliminated Columbus Day. Westford does not need to either. Please get out and vote NO on question 3 on May 2.
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