The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a master navigator and admiral. He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. 97 students ordered this very topic and got Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. St. Ursula and her eleven thousand virgins, native peoples lived in these places all along. I doubt it. Indigenous Peoples' Day now replaces Columbus Day in 14 states, the District of Columbia and more than 130 communities. But our work was to exasperate, ravage, kill, mangle and destroy; small wonder," -Bartolome Las Casas, 1527. That alone is worth celebrating.". Now that the truth is becoming more widely known, people are pressuring their communities to stop celebrating Columbus Day. In fact, there is proof that the Chinese, Greeks and Italians, all explored America before Columbus. SHOULD CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS BE CELEBRATED? Religion was heavily forced upon the Native American tribes, and the Europeans means of dealing with their obstacles run much more inhumane. Howell Public Schools Stance on Mask Mandate, In person school, more beneficial to kids. We should honor George Washington, the Indispensable man, for his military bravado and skilled leadership as our first president, even though he owned slaves. Columbus Day, which is celebrated today in the USA and honours the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the New World, is an example of outdated and misguided history. It requires looking at dominant narratives and counternarratives. Very trying! sums it up for Daniel, creator of Stories Guaranteed to Make You Sick, Dr. Crankenfuss books, Moose Jokes, & now Practically News. Aside from the despicable acts that Columbus and his people committed, there is plenty of evidence to show that Columbus was not the first foreigner to arrive on the continent anyway. As I said in the beginning of this piece, Columbus did not discover what would become North America. Columbus Personified the American Spirit Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. Many of those enslaved would die, and were then easily replaced by some brought from the Bahamas. Howard Zinns A Peoples History of the United States includes horrific, detailed eyewitness accounts of how the Spanish explorers treated the Native Americans. Two reasons why Columbus Day should not be celebrated is that we shouldnt have a day where we glorify someone who hurt and enslaved innocent people (Native Americans) and because he destroyed the tranquility in the slaves homes and land with genocide and abuse. Indigenous Peoples Day: Why it's replacing Columbus Day in many places. Had he have given up, the world would be drastically different today. Columbus should not be celebrated, let alone given a day. Ahh, well, brothers will be brothers. Herman Lindquist, Christopher Columbus var han riktigt klok, Fischer, 1992, Captivating History, Christopher Columbus: A Captivating Guide to the Life of an Italian Explorer and His Voyages to the Americas, Captivating History, 2020, Encyclopdia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Christopher-Columbus. Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide. In 1891, one of the largest mass lynchings in American history took place in New Orleans after nine Italians were acquitted of murdering the city's police chief. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). Market data provided by Factset. As known by many, Columbus Day commemorates the discovery of the New World by none other than Christopher Columbus himself. The New York Society of Tammany also honored Columbus of his first voyage with the marking of his 300th anniversary. However, a circumspect understanding of history offers numerous reasons why Columbus should not only be celebrated, but . Furthermore, Columbus continued to enslave Natives and abuse their nation, damage their environment, and their rights as humans. Christopher Columbus may have been a daring adventurer but he is not someone we want our kids to think of as a hero or role model. South Dakota was the first state to rename Columbus Day, in 1990, electing to go with Native Americans' Day. After you read both, let us know what you think by posting a comment. He shows the effect of willpower and perseverance. This was due to the impression that Columbus was attempting to spread Catholic influence. America is celebrating. It involves grappling with multiple perspectives, a fundamental skill for historians. And the D.C. City Council recently approved a measure to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day. What were his actual contributions? Those are important questions we want to ask as citizens. This conflict between reality and fiction is what makes Columbus Day one of the most controversial holidays in America. Columbus never even came to this country! Not just Europeans, but everyone. While there is plenty to criticize about Columbus, and what followed his arrival, I think this movement is missing the point. Today's woke perspective condemns Columbus Day as an unworthy holiday. Large Increase in U.S. A lot of depopulation was caused by suicides, including some parents killing their own children to prevent them from living and growing up as a slave. If we cannot honor anyone in human history that did not have flaws or imperfections, we cannot honor anyone at all. Thats when learning happens. For all the reasons listed above, and for how he acted during his stay in the Americas, Christopher Columbus should not be remembered as a voyaging adventurer who discovered America. Based on my experience, I think its vitally essential that teachers engage kids as young as sixth grade in questions that really interrogate Columbus. Washington, D.C., has joined hundreds of U.S. cities in seven states in replacing Columbus Day with a day to celebrate Native Americans. They would make fine servants. A main argument for the idealization of the 15th century explorer is the idea that he was the first European to discover the Americas. He would cut off the hands of people living in what now is Haiti for not bringing him enough gold every three months. Or Napoleon Bonaparte Day, for that matter. Columbus may have recorded that he "found" America, but he was a. mass murderer. But its not recognized in Los Angeles, where I live. Last updated by Patrick Bennett on 10/02/2021. Cambridge, MA 02138, Challenges? Understanding controversies what Columbus did, how he did it, whether we should be commemorating him builds skills that are fundamental for understanding history and social studies. Within the Italian community, Columbus Day symbolizes the legacy of their ancestors who immigrated to America, overcame poverty, language barriers, and above all, discrimination. I dont think that we should start childrens education by saying that the country is built on the genocide of a group and the enslavement of another. Ironically, the District of Columbia is named after, you guessed it, Christopher Columbus. And, sure he was directly responsible for the enslavement, torture, mutilation, and murder of tens of thousands of Native American people in the Caribbean islands during his quest for riches. Most people know of the great construction achievements of the dynastic Egyptians such as the pyramids and temples of the Giza Plateau area as well as the Sphinx. According to, Columbus believed that he was playing a part in a divine plan to Christianize the world. Like most Americans, I learned in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Ingrained in my mind are the names of his ships: The Nina, The Pinta and the Santa Maria. Its the responsibility of our school system to talk about Columbus as part of our work to prepare students to be citizens. He finally ended up getting a sponsorship with the Spanish crown, and was off to explore the world. The main reason some Leftists dont want to celebrate Christopher Columbus is because his actions supposedly led to the genocide of Native American peoples. Columbuss Native American slave trade morphed into the African slave trade by the mid-16th century. Once upon a time, teachers celebrated Columbus Day by leading children in choruses of song about the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Examine Columbuss "discovery" of America. Many people believe that Columbus Day should not be a federal holiday because Christopher Columbus was a terrible person. First, lets just put aside the paradox of discovering a land that already had a population of indigenous people. I remember learning about Columbus as a young child and I was in awe learning about the explorer. In the early morning hours of the third day on October 12, the lookout . Except, once Chris had succeeded in Spain, he didnt wait for his brother. And Im not one to turn down a national holiday for a day off work! Back in 1492, Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, where he. And most of all, I was taught of his discovering America. So why Columbus Day? There are still people who believe Christopher Columbus found America and that what he did was harmless because he was being a man of his time. The natives were removed from their villages to work in gold mines and colonial plantations. And thats even if you discount the fact that native peoples lived in these places all along. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. The slaves were to do most of Columbuss dirty work, as he was highly demanding of gold, crops, and land, which caused many of the slaves to be malnourished and sick. He would have peoples ears and noses cut off as punishments. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. Berkeley originally replaced Columbus Day with show more content. Architecture of the Floating (Or Sinking) City: How Was Venice Built? However, his other two ships on his first voyage were the Santa Clara and the Gallega. Christopher Columbus was a murderer, rapist, and thief who did not actually find America, but indeed only visited a land where Native Americans have already been living. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. They also show evidence that at least 12 other groups of people entered the Americas before Columbus. Below are five reasons why Columbus Day celebrants can hold their head high in 2019 rather than kowtow to guilt-based politics. 2023 PapersOwl.com - All rights reserved. Then they would sail away together to claim their riches. Though he didnt discover America, he was the person to show the rest of the developed world that there was more far away lands. When confronted with evidence to the contrary, he simply could not conceive of the the idea that he might be wrong. As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. Mother and Child Reunion Of Thetis And Achilles, Seductive Sirens of Greek Mythology and How Heroes Resisted Them, Celestial Goddess Selene: The Ancient Greek Goddess of the Moon, Pegasus of Greek Mythology: Majestic Winged Horse of Mount Olympus, Dreams of Human-Powered Flight: Daedalus and the Story of Icarus, The Warriors Who Shaped African History: The Horsemen of Oyo, Royal Mistress Jane Shore Walked Streets of London in her Underwear, Leonardo Da Vincis Notes Show He Understood Gravity Long Before Newton, Talks Begin on Repatriating Remains of Patrick Sarsfield, Irish War Hero, The Ramessid Dynasty: A Golden Era in Ancient Egypt, Unraveling the Mystery of the Carnac Stones: An Ancient Puzzle of Epic Proportions, Unraveling the Enigma of Aramu Muru, The Mysterious Gate of the Gods. History comes with an agenda. And Bart was left behind on the cutting room floor of history. 1. Exploring the story of Columbus postmortem voyages and the enduring mystery. Understanding the Mysterious Kingdom of Shambhala, Alleged Sighting of the Mythical Manananggal in the Philippines Causes Public Anxiety, The Truth Behind the Christ Myth: Ancient Origins of the Often Used Legend Part I, The Evidence is Cut in Stone: A Compelling Argument for Lost High Technology in Ancient Egypt, Caesars Savage Human Skewers Unearthed In German Fort. There has been much debate over whether or not Columbus Day should be celebrated. Since August, eight cities have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day, including several in just the last week. In recent years, the conversation has become more nuanced, as educators and people across the country have begun to explore the many reasons why celebrating Christopher Columbus is problematic: the violent abuse of indigenous peoples, the launch of the transatlantic slave trade, and the introduction of a swath of lethal diseases to an unprepared continent. It's also why it's crucial we learn facts about Native Americans and. I dont think its ever too young. First of all, Christopher Columbus isnt even his name. When Columbus landed on the island of Guanahani in 1492, North and South America were . She likes thrifting, romance novels, cooking shows, and can often be found binging documentaries. CONTACT US: It involves really unpacking the past, looking for complications, and making a deep exploration into the people that made history happen, rather than just looking for a glossy overview. In our opinion, this is something to celebrate, not the arrival of Christopher Columbus who led the way for these indigenous populations to have their culture decimated and their population murdered, displaced or forced into slavery. Nevertheless, Italians claim him today and Columbus Day is a good chance to recognize what Italians have contributed to America, and the world. After his voyage to America, he became one of the most well known explorers of his time. Don't know where to start? The main reason Columbus Day draws opposition is because of how the explorer's arrival to the New World affected Indigenous people. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Elliott Lassitter and John WirtOctober 26, 2017. Columbus inspired countless other explorers, both of his time and of modern time, to explore and make discoveries. In fact, that might have been a good neighbor, whereas today That neighbor would find themselves in jail. In a racially equal world, Columbus shouldn't be celebrated. . With all that, there are reasons to celebrate Columbus Day. Unfortunately, many irksome doings lay deep under the surface. . April Holloway is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! Other times they would go and massacre an entire village. Consider how the first Columbus Day parade in New York was described in the newspapers. If this is what it means to be civilized and our children are taught to revere Columbus and his heroic adventure, what hope is there for our future? According to a census taken by Columbus' men, in 1496 there were more than 1 million natives on the island of Haiti. Every Columbus Day I am forcibly reminded of my hatred for Christopher Columbus. About the author: Daniel Berenson contributes to Medium now and then in this case now with original and unique views on such things as squirrels, politics, fairy tales, history, and Spanish telenovelas. Bring them to the light, if you would. The United States and several Latin American countries celebrate Columbus Day to recognize Christopher Columbus striking land in the Americas and the mixing of European and Native American Cultures. "Ignore the propaganda and instead remember Christopher Columbus with gratitude and a clear conscience. Europe, Asia and Africa, of course, suffered through numerous plagues of their own.). The American Indian Movement, among other groups, have gone as far as to state that the continuous celebration of this holiday is oppressive towards Native Americans. Thousands of the Taino, or Indians as Columbus had referred to them, were shipped out to be traded internationally. Why We Do Not Celebrate Columbus Day. His father was a wool weaver, and cheese stand owner. "Endless testimonies.prove the mild and pacific temperament of the natives. It was still his idea to sail west, rather than east to hit the East Indies, right? This began with the spirit of Christopher Columbus. Cal Poly State University - San Luis Obispo, California State University - Los Angeles, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, California State University, Channel Islands, Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Federal University Of Agriculture Abeokuta, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico San German campus, Keiser University - Latin American Campus, London School of Economics and Political Science, California State University of Sacramento, Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, University of North Carolina - Wilmington, University of South Florida - St. Petersburg, William Paterson University of New Jersey. Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert. We need students to understand that Columbus is important, even if he isnt someone to be celebrated. Christopher Columbus wasnt American! We need to set the record straight early on. Ahh, well, semantics. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a. Henry IV of Spain known as "The Impotent" for his weakness, both on the throne and (allegedly) in the marriage chamber died in 1474. This kept them from planting crops, leading to widespread starvation. Most of us can remember the day when Americans still seemed to like Christopher Columbus. Top 5 Reasons NOT to Celebrate Columbus Day And 1 Reason To History comes with an agenda. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. So the discovery of the Western Hemisphere should go to Erickson, no? He asked for 3 more days, and if land was not sighted, the crew could do with him as they wished. One of the few facts Americans remember from history is "Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 I'm Amy, But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. They were the original immigrants to the New World, and deserve their remembrance. But Columbus couldnt deliver on the gold claim. Indeed, Columbus was mostly benign in his interaction with native populations. Areas within Texas and California began celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day as a means of pointing the spotlight on the natives, rather than Columbus himself. The reason Columbus set sail on his epic journey in the first place was because he raped the 13-year-old daughter of a Spanish Duchess. All rights reserved. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. Columbus was a brutal and cruel man who . (Though it should be noted a large portion of the deaths of Native Americans was due to disease, not violence--an inevitable consequence of Old World illness in New World soil. The reason Columbus set sail on his epic journey in the first place was because he raped the 13-year-old daughter of a Spanish Duchess. Columbus made a total of four voyages to the Americas, visiting the following places (and sighting many others): Interestingly, Columbus never set foot in modern-day USA, nor anywhere else in North America. Chris wasnt a bad guy right? It is claimed by these people that the enjoyment and simplicity of Columbus day is almost a mask or distraction to divert the people from the many indigenous lives lost after the discovery of the New World. By REAGAN ESCUD SCOTT / Monday, October 10, 2022. I believe thats the tact to take when looking at Chris. Columbus did not "discover America," but his voyages began the Columbian exchange, a turning point in world history involving the massive transfers of human populations, cultures, ideas, animals, plants, and diseases. The plan was to join up once theyd gotten the backing they needed. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Jarrett Stepman writes at The Daily Signal, While Columbus, and certainly his Spanish benefactors, had an interest in the goods and gold he could return from what they thought would be Asia, the explorers primary motivation was religious., 3. The Zinn Education Project also includes a bunch of primary sources related to Columbus, such as writings by Bartolom de La Casas. For example, a neighbor taking a stick and beating your child as some kind of punishment might have been perfectly fine at one time. Here are five reasons we should still celebrate Columbus Day. Personally, I dont think we should celebrate Columbus Day. Until his dying day Columbus maintained that the land he had discovered was Asia and not a new continent. If it wasn't for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldn't have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. Those left were forced to work in mines and plantations. James Loewens Lies My Teacher Told Me, and his shorter Lies My Teacher Told Me about Christopher Columbus, critique how textbooks have covered Columbus. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He brought with him a letter from King Ferdinand to the Taino-Arawak Indians. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. (Remember, they werent well versed in Spanish. One of the best parts of our humanity is that sense of discovery. You can order an original essay written according to your instructions. Right now, across the country, cities and schools are faced with the question, Should we celebrate Columbus? Were facing similar questions about how we commemorate the confederacy and the Civil War. Columbus couldnt be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldnt return. Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. October 11, 2021 5:00 am. Growing up, I wasnt exposed to this truth. If you still think Columbus Day is something worth celebrating, here are five other reasons why it isnt: After studying a handful of his favorite books, including the journals of Marco Polo, Columbus became convinced that it was possible to sail directly west to reach the Indies, as China, Japan and India were then known as in Europe. He never set foot on any part of the 50 United States. If we blame Columbus and the Spanish kings, we should also blame every other invader and conqueror in History. . Like Andrew Jackson, Christopher Columbus is a historical figure who is celebrated as a mythical hero. The war against the Western heritage. Monday marks Columbus Day, in honor of Christopher Columbus but not all will be celebrating the Italian explorer. Although many people have adopted Columbus day as "Indigenous People's Day," many people will not agree that we should also have a holiday . Hence, the inducement cited above.). And if you can, take some time to learn more about all the diversity that makes the Caribbean great. For this nation's over 5 million American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian citizens, Columbus' voyages to the so-called New World inaugurated a long history of exploitation, enslavement, eradication, and erasure (and he himself initiated and sanctioned such actions). I gave them many beautiful and pleasing things, which I had brought with me, for no return whatever, in order to win their affection, and that they might become Christians and inclined to love our King and Queen and Princes and all the people of Spain., Columbus usually treated the Native Americans kindly and brought them gifts in order to win their favor. The artefacts include cave paintings and ceramic art depicting animals, hunting expeditions and the daily lives of people who lived around the Serra da Capivara in Brazil for tens of thousands of years. The initial recorded Columbus Day celebration in the United States was on October 12, 1792. Fine, fine But he did discover America right? Here are five reasons we should still celebrate Columbus Day. We dont know exactly where this is, but its most likely one of the islands that make up modern-day Bahamas. Columbus stood to gain significant wealth and power from his voyage, terms he negotiated with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. In his role, he writes about current political issues, U.S. history, political philosophy, and culture. Or maybe even plan to discover your own new-to-you islands! And maybe only one reason to celebrate. On October 11th, 2021 its 529 years since Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, or Cristoforo Colombo as he was probably known in his native Genoa, landed on the island San Salvador. But as far as I know, no U.S. landfall. In another case, some people think Columbus was a hero because he represents a leader who went far and beyond to find America. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. Two reasons why Columbus Day should not be celebrated is that we shouldn't have a day where we glorify someone who hurt and enslaved innocent people (Native Americans) and because he destroyed the tranquility in the slaves homes and land with genocide and abuse. And Washington, D.C., this week renamed the holiday, pending congressional approval. After Columbus established the first Spanish colony at La Isabela, on the north coast of Hispaniola (modern-day Dominican Republic), relations between the Spanish and the indigenous population quickly deteriorated. Among the reasons cited for the Columbus Day federal holiday was that it was being observed in 40 states at the time. By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. Columbus was from a middle class family. . While we are thankful for this land we call America, it . - IPL.org; 7.Why We Should Not Celebrate Columbus Day - IPL.org; 8.Why Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated Essay . Yet, many continue to believe that America owes its discovery to Christopher Columbus. The City Council recently voted to get rid of Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day, commemorating indigenous, aboriginal and native people.. If you dont like it, well kill you.) Besides that, there is ample evidence of Leif Erickson and his fellow Vikings landing in Newfoundland/Labrador around five centuries earlier. Alaska was second, in 2017, enacting Indigenous Peoples Day. Destiny is currently enrolled in Columbia University's MFA Writing program. But its hard for children to understand that someone who they were taught to idolize is a bad guy. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! Columbus Day is a patriotic holiday. Why are we celebrating him? This is also apparent when he was trying to get sponsorships for the trips. It was first celebrated on October 12, 1792, when the New York Society of Tammany honored Columbus on the 300th anniversary of his first voyage.
Fort Custer National Cemetery Burial Schedule,
Saint Ophelia Catholic,
Bullet'' Bob Armstrong Wife,
Who Said Democracy Is The Tyranny Of The Uninformed,
Mayor Of Hamilton Salary,
Articles OTHER