Despite being controversial, residents say Columbus Day should continue being celebrated

COLUMBUS - On Monday, the flags were out in downtown Columbus and city offices were closed to celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas.

“I enjoy anything that a community like Columbus celebrates that’s patriotic," resident Jeff Mulder said.  "I think it shows somewhat of our patriotic spirit.”

The majority of people who talked to News Channel Nebraska said the same thing.

Of course, not everyone shares those feelings.  Some see it as honoring a man who, along with European settlers, mistreated indigenous people. 

Some towns, like Lincoln, no longer celebrate Columbus Day.  They mark it as Indigenous Peoples' Day instead.

“It certainly sounds like Lincoln is being politically correct," Mulder said.  I understand it, in this day and age, why they do that.  Being a traditionalist, the way we were raised, I think we understand the trials and tribulations of the indigenous people, but I don’t know that changing the names of things is going to make a difference.”

While people aren't embracing everything Columbus did, they said there is something to take away from it.

"It’s part of history and hopefully, as we grow as a country, we’ve learned from the mistakes in the past and that makes us better in the future,” Mulder said.

Yesenia Salas, another resident, said she can see how celebrating Columbus Day can be harmful because settlers' treatment of American Indians caused a lot of suffering.  However, she said she's not sure if people should stop celebrating Columbus Day altogether.