2008 Woodie Awards
Chavez an American hero worthy of recognition
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Opinion
It's been a long time since we first learned of the heroic exploits of Christopher Columbus, his daring bid to find a shorter route to the West Indies - an adventure that ended in unexpected but welcome glory for Europe.
For most of us, it took years for anyone to point out that Columbus wasn't all he's cracked up to be. Violence toward and enslavement of native peoples, not to mention an absence of navigational skills, leave the heroism projected onto Columbus as just that: mere projection.
And still, we have Columbus Day, a holiday held with such reverence that the U.S. Postal Service opts not to deliver the mail that day.
But why is Columbus Day worthy of the same veneration as holidays that honor real heroes like Abraham Lincoln or Martin Luther King Jr.? Does heroism even matter anymore? Or are we all merely seeking an opportunity to break from the daily grind of walking to and from the mailbox?
We, at the Collegio, believe that days of remembrance are at their best when the memories of people they honor can still rouse real feeling and pride. That's why we support Hispanics of Today (HOT) group members' goal to establish a national holiday honoring the life of nonviolent Mexican-American civil rights activist Cesar Chavez.
Latinos make up a huge slice of the American populace, and it seems only right that in the patchwork of holidays we celebrate that someone of such prestige from the Mexican-American community can have a time to be recognized across the country.
Of course, one might argue that heroes worthy of national recognition, are few and far between. Perhaps this is as it should be, thus illustrating the rare strength these individuals showed in changing the world for the better.
Chavez is a wonderful example of such a unique individual, regardless of his heritage.
We ask our readers to consider stopping by HOT's information table in the Oval from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, March 31, and sign a petition to give a great hero his dues.
For most of us, it took years for anyone to point out that Columbus wasn't all he's cracked up to be. Violence toward and enslavement of native peoples, not to mention an absence of navigational skills, leave the heroism projected onto Columbus as just that: mere projection.
And still, we have Columbus Day, a holiday held with such reverence that the U.S. Postal Service opts not to deliver the mail that day.
But why is Columbus Day worthy of the same veneration as holidays that honor real heroes like Abraham Lincoln or Martin Luther King Jr.? Does heroism even matter anymore? Or are we all merely seeking an opportunity to break from the daily grind of walking to and from the mailbox?
We, at the Collegio, believe that days of remembrance are at their best when the memories of people they honor can still rouse real feeling and pride. That's why we support Hispanics of Today (HOT) group members' goal to establish a national holiday honoring the life of nonviolent Mexican-American civil rights activist Cesar Chavez.
Latinos make up a huge slice of the American populace, and it seems only right that in the patchwork of holidays we celebrate that someone of such prestige from the Mexican-American community can have a time to be recognized across the country.
Of course, one might argue that heroes worthy of national recognition, are few and far between. Perhaps this is as it should be, thus illustrating the rare strength these individuals showed in changing the world for the better.
Chavez is a wonderful example of such a unique individual, regardless of his heritage.
We ask our readers to consider stopping by HOT's information table in the Oval from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, March 31, and sign a petition to give a great hero his dues.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Beatrice Frevele
posted 3/28/08 @ 6:30 PM CST
I am complete agreement with those who want to give Cesar Chavez proper recognition! I will not be able to sign the petition on Monday as I will be in Kansas City during the hours that signatures are being taken. (Continued…)
Ben Kalafut
posted 4/03/08 @ 12:46 PM CST
A little bit of a "local" perspective: Chavez was an identity-politician and union organizer and little more.
He even turned a blind eye, like many, to the worker-intimidation and violence committed by his union. (Continued…)
Bill Offerman
posted 4/04/08 @ 11:49 AM CST
I agree with Mr. Kalafut post. I was a young man in the 60's and 70's and live in deep S. Texas and saw the things that happen when Chavez came here. (Continued…)
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