Staff Reports
The stronghold of woke ideology among the chattering classes on the left has become more than a curious footnote in modern American life; it has morphed into a pervasive mindset that influences policy, culture, and history. One need only look to President Joe Biden’s recent proclamations regarding “Columbus Day” and “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” to recognize just how deep-rooted this ideology has become within elite liberal circles.
Christopher Columbus, a figure who undeniably changed the course of history with his 1492 voyage to the New World, is now more often vilified than celebrated by the left. Those wading through the mire of the woke narrative won’t find praise for Columbus’s courage or the significant cultural exchanges he facilitated. Instead, they’re greeted with a familiar refrain that reduces historical figures to mere symbols of oppression, ignoring the complexities of their legacies in favor of a simplistic good-versus-evil paradigm.
This holiday is designated as "Columbus Day" in section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code — 𝙣𝙤𝙩 "Indigenous Peoples' Day."
Contrary to what leftists would like to believe, Joe Biden does not have the authority to contravene US Code via Presidential diktat. pic.twitter.com/04J3eLxCaf
— 𝕏avier 𝕆nasis (@HuntKevinlhunt) October 14, 2024
Biden’s proclamations paint an interesting picture. While he managed to throw a passing nod to Columbus’s Italian-American descendants, it came with a caveat that almost feels patronizing. In acknowledging the struggles of Italian Americans—who naturally faced challenges upon entering a new land—the president, in essence, portrayed them as relics of victimhood. This narrative positions them not as resilient individuals but as historical caricatures for modern affluent liberals to bestow their benevolent acknowledgment upon.
Turning to “Indigenous Peoples’ Day,” the proclamation glances at the trials faced by Native American communities. While historical injustices indeed shouldn’t be forgotten, the summation comes across as deeply condescending. Rather than celebrating the strength, resilience, and contributions of these communities, the holiday risks reducing them merely to symbols of past wrongs—a two-dimensional caricature that serves as fodder for the modern left’s political agenda. Underneath the surface, it broadcasts the idea that Native Americans exist solely as victims within the liberal worldview.
This trend reveals a broader issue with how history is interpreted through the lens of woke ideology. Rather than seek a deeper understanding of past events or recognize the multifaceted nature of historical figures, the left simplifies narratives to fit their oppressive-victim dynamic, allowing them to eschew nuance in favor of a convenient narrative. This pattern is alarmingly consistent: failures of the past are attributed to the oppressors, while the oppressed are turned into symbols for modern political movements.
In a culture that thrives on binary classifications of oppressor and victim, it is essential to challenge the prevailing narratives that are offered to the public. Why can’t Columbus be honored for his unprecedented journey without denigrating his Italian-American descendants to the role of historical victims? Likewise, why can’t we celebrate the breadth of Native American achievements without relegating their history to mere footnotes of victimization? A return to thoughtful discourse would benefit all Americans, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of who we are as a nation and the various stories woven into its fabric. Until that day arrives, however, the duty falls to Americans to set the record straight every time Democrat elites indulge in their toxic, one-dimensional views of history.
