I understand the true meaning. Many people miss the point of Columbus Day. We don't celebrate Columbus himself, per se, we celebrate how his discovery benefited all of humanity. Changing it to Italian Heritage day does not convey the true meaning.. changing it to Indigenous People's day does not convey the meaning either.. why you may ask? Because 1. Italian heritage day only celebrates Columbus being Italian, when in reality he was better known than that. 2. The indigenous people did not build a boat or wonder if another world really existed. Just because they were here first does not mean they "deserve" the credit. It's not about who was first. It's about what Columbus gave everyone, no-- he did not give everyone diseases or enslavement, at least in the optimistic view he did not. He United 2 worlds together and brought such awareness to them both. The pessimist view would be "slaughtered" them. When really, that is not at all what this holiday is about.