Marilyn Katler, Westford resident 

Hi,

I am saddened to learn that a few have taken on the will of the majority by again bringing up abandoning Indigenous People’s Day in its own right. I am even more astounded that the Select Board voted to support this action. Is this just another case of who is in the room at town meeting? The ballot proves that Westford Residents want this change. 

I voted for this change and will vote for it again and again when it comes up. It is said that history goes to the winners. Well maybe it is time for history to be true to the facts. The current theory is that Native Americans were originally from Siberia and crossed an ice bridge called the Berring Straight. After came the Vikings and after them came Christopher Columbus. Though Christopher Columbus was born in Italy, he sailed for Spain, not Italy.

But whether Columbus was Italian or not, does not matter. What does matter is the brutality and genocide committed against Native Americans. Much like the evils humans do to other humans in their native countries, this aspect of Columbus and the Europeans that have followed is little talked about in the general school room or in the public at large. Our country has been deceitful at best about our history. To take away a vote, especially this vote, is to continue to dishonor the true history of our Country.

I leave you with this link to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. 

https://sites.uab.edu/humanrights/tag/christopher-columbus/

Disclaimer: If you would like to submit a letter to the editor, contact managing editor Ben Domaingue at bdomaingue@westfordcat.org. Letters to the editor are reviewed and published at the discretion of the editor. Letters to the editor represent the opinion of the reader who submits it and do not necessarily represent the opinions of WestfordCAT or its employees. WestfordCAT retains the right to refuse any letter to the editor for publication as it deems necessary.

Letters should be 750 words or less. Letters should include the name, address, phone number, email of the individual submitting it. Only name and town will be published. Submissions do not necessarily have to be from Westford residents, however, those with Westford ties will have priority. Letters that contain direct personal attacks against an individual will not be published. Letters that contain libelous content will not be published. Readers may only submit one letter per 30-day period.