Something many people probably don't (shouldn't) know: tomorrow is National Boss's Day. I (shouldn't) know this because I got an invitation in my Outlook box from my boss to celebrate National Boss's Day at the office tomorrow, a place I almost never go because I don't have to and so why would I.

Here I'm conflicted. On the one hand, I do genuinely like my boss. She's good at what she does, yeah, but she's also just a fun person to shoot the shit with. And she puts up with a lot from me. But the idea of a day dedicated to thanking any boss for the courtesy of, what, hiring you so that you can make their company profitable? Grates against my soul-stuff. Shouldn't be a thing. The avenues of power flow certain ways, and those ways sort of preclude us from taking seriously or participating in any nationally-recognized days of boot-lick doublespeak.

While on the subject of ill-recognized holidays. Columbus Day, eh? Okay, so where I live, we've changed it to "Indigenous Peoples' Day," and everybody has given themselves a hearty pat on the back (if there's anything Seattlites excel at, it's auto-back-patting; not so good at interpersonal back-patting, because that would require interpersonal contact, and a much-developed sense of empathy for people on the micro rather than the macro level). But here's the thing. I submit to you. And hear me out. But "Indigenous Peoples' Day" is waaaaaaaaay worse than "Columbus Day." Besides poor branding- doesn't quite roll off of the tongue- it's so audaciously hypocritical that it boggles the mind straight out of the eye-holes. Because out of all the people I heard joining the chant for the name change, I can't think of a single one that did anything of value for "Indigenous Peoples' Day." Except in the commercial sense. I noticed via Facebook that a few of those people got some sweet deals at the local Best Buy- thanks, Indigenous People!

So, what, are we supposed to change the name, dust our hands off on our pants, "whelp, thank god that's settled. Columbus defeated, Indigenous Peoples recognized!" I mean, isn't it like asserting that we're living in a post-racial US because we voted for a black president? It's gotta smart, uh, certain populations. "Hey guys, we're not giving you back any land or using this holiday as an opportunity to involve ourselves with any real measures to improve upon your centuries of subjugation. But we can NOW OFFICIALLY AGREE that Columbus was one bad dude. And we're petitioning the government that you may or may not recognize as legitimate to change the name nationally so that we can celebrate the national holiday (our nation, not yours) in style."

But what do I expect. This isn't Seattle's first rodeo.