The city of Bloomington, Indiana renamed two paid holidays to “better reflect cultural sensitivity in the workplace,” Mayor John Hamilton told the Herald Times.
“All city employees receive paid time off for Columbus Day, a federal holiday celebrating the discovery of the United States of America by explorer Christopher Columbus, and Good Friday, the Friday before Easter Sunday,” according to the news site. “In the future, the city will be calling these paid days off ‘Fall Holiday’ and ‘Spring Holiday.’”
Hamilton announced the change Friday in a memo to employees of the traditionally liberal city where Hillary Clinton received 58.6 percent of the vote in the Nov. 8 presidential election, BBC reports.
“We are terrifically proud of our diverse workforce in the city,” Hamilton wrote. “That diversity makes us stronger and more representative of the public we proudly serve. These updated names for two days of well-merited time off is another way we can demonstrate our commitment to inclusivity.”
BBC reports:
Columbus Day became a federal holiday in the United States in 1937 and celebrates the arrival of explorer Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492.
The holiday falls on the second Monday of October.
However, it has drawn significant opposition from those who regard Columbus’s arrival as a prelude to centuries of oppression.
A movement began in 1977 to replace it with a holiday that celebrates the indigenous peoples of North America. A few states now do not mark Columbus Day, or give it another title.
Good Friday is one of the most important dates of the Christian faith, marking the day Jesus Christ was crucified by the Romans.
The move prompted cries about overbearing political correctness run amok by many folks who commented online.
“Bloomington, Indiana renames Good Friday & Columbus Day to Spring Holiday and Fall Holiday,” Ann Marie posted to Twitter with a link to a Fox News story about the change. “The PC Gestapo strikes again.”
“May of Bloomington, IN says Good Friday not inclusive,” Adam Stacey tweeted. “Christ died so that all could go to heaven. Can’t get more inclusive than that.”
BBC cited opposition to the decision, as well.
“How is the day Jesus died insensitive?” one reader commented.
“I’m guessing they will next rename Christmas to winter holiday,” another wrote.
A few folks also seemed to support the move.
“I seriously have no idea why we have a holiday for a man that committed mass murder and mayhem and discovered ‘nothing,’” Mark Own posted.
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