We dont want to expose young kids to graphic accounts of brutal treatment of Native Americans, but I think you want them to begin to question: What did this person do? Columbus Day was invented by the Knights of Columbus in the 1930s when they were looking for a role model for school age children. The West has its good and bad points, but its best ideasequal rights, freedom of religion, free speech, due process, open scientific inquiry, property rights and so onhave helped all people who adopt them. (Sarcasm intended.) Until the mid-1700s, Christopher Columbus was not widely known among most Americans. Be careful, this sample is accessible to everyone. original papers. Columbus Is Innocent of Most of the Charges Against Him, Christopher Columbus was not perfect, but he is innocent of most of his alleged crimes. He finally ended up getting a sponsorship with the Spanish crown, and was off to explore the world. Lets stop idolizing people in history who dont deserve it. When Columbus arrived in 1492, he enslaved the Natives, and took control over their way of life, and also made his way into the Caribbean Island. Not many civilizations were safe when invaders arrived, from Assirians to Vikings; from Gengis Khan to the Roman Empire; from the Jewish general Joshua to the colonial British Empire. If the commemorations dealt at all with the impact of European exploration on the indigenous civilizations already flourishing in these discovered lands, it was often fleeting. Its the responsibility of our school system to talk about Columbus as part of our work to prepare students to be citizens. There, the brothers should have been exposed to the adventures of another explorer: Leif Erickson. Here are five reasons we should still celebrate Columbus Day. 1. 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. Columbus Personified the American Spirit Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In another case, some people think Columbus was a hero because he represents a leader who went far and beyond to find America. She likes thrifting, romance novels, cooking shows, and can often be found binging documentaries. hen, on his fourth, final voyage, he landed at present-day Panama. While there is plenty to criticize about Columbus, and what followed his arrival, I think this movement is missing the point. Of course, I learned that everyone expected him to sail off the edge of a flat earth into space or sea monsters or something. 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. Diseases were spread and were not able to be resisted by the sick slaves. Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. The Columbus controversy can also help students see that history is still applicable today. His contract with the monarchs, called The Capitulations. As Columbus might have quipped, One good turn deserves another. Okay, he never said that, but his writings prove that he would not have been opposed to it in the least. This is where many of the peaceful natives were met with brutal deaths onboard, whether it be from disease or mistreatment from the handlers. But you didnt discover a place that was already inhabited by a peaceful group of people. Columbus Day, the second Monday in October, is a nationally recognized holiday. How many countries award holidays to non-natives? This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. The Andy Griffith Show Remains a Masterclass in Leadership and Life, Births in Japan Fall to Record Low Amid Catastrophic Population Decline, Foretelling Worlds Future. And most believe the idea came from their familys time in Iceland. But Columbus couldnt deliver on the gold claim. Dominant narratives tend to speak about heroes in a simple sense; counternarratives can be much more critical. He thereby claimed the lifetime pension for himself, cheating the rightful claimant out of both glory and a significant amount of money. Nevertheless, the first official Columbus Day happened in 1892, when President Harrison issued a proclamation for Americans to commemorate the day. Our writers can help you with any type of essay. It consisted mostly of about 12,000 public school students grouped into 20 regiments, each commanded by a principal. The con for Columbus Day written by Elliot Lassitter. Washington, D.C., has joined hundreds of U.S. cities in seven states in replacing Columbus Day with a day to celebrate Native Americans. Though it was disputed for many years, there is conclusive evidence that Neanderthals bred with modern humans (Homo sapiens). Just as the country grapples with the meaning and problems of Confederate monuments, so too are schools, towns, and even whole states grappling with Columbus Day. Many are deciding to rename and refocus the holiday, choosing to call it Indigenous Peoples' Day to honor the people whose lives and cultures were irreparably damaged by the colonial conquest that the age of exploration ushered into being. In an era where we are fighting for racial equality celebrating false heroes is detrimental to progress. I think there is a ton of potential in celebrating an Indigenous Peoples' Day, but what that is, what it looks like we need to start with asking indigenous folks to define it. Chris wasnt a bad guy right? On his first voyage, Columbus promised the crew on his three ships (Santa Maria, Pinta and Santa Clara) that the first person who spotted land would receive a lifetime pension. How could we look at this from a different perspective? Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. When Columbus first landed on American soil he was met by the Arawak native Americans. It is on public record, that Columbus rewarded his soldiers by giving them Native Americans to rape. As known by many, Columbus Day commemorates the discovery of the New World by none other than Christopher Columbus himself. This claim has been proven recently as Viking Leif Ericksson was the first European to discover the New World, about 500 years prior to Columbus' famous journey. That is, South and Central America to be exact. Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October. He first went to sea when he was only 14 years old. But that, for better or worse, is how history worked pretty much everywhere for thousands of years. Columbus day is a national holiday that many countries (not all) in the USA celebrate to mark the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. And those multiple viewpoints may help engage students who might feel otherwise unrepresented in a history class, such as females and students of color. He should be remembered as the cruel and incompetent man he was who let his sailors rape and pillage the islands they landed on as they pleased. For instance, they lay out what specific textbooks omitted about Columbuss involvement with the slave trade and genocide. Indigenous Peoples' Day now replaces Columbus Day in 14 states, the District of Columbia and more than 130 communities. He decided at an early age that this was not the life for him. 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. In his free time, Mettler enjoys reading, running, hiking, backpacking, and walking his dog. There are many examples in his writings where he gave instructions to this effect. Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. But since the 1990s, a growing number of states have begun to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day - a holiday meant to honor the culture and history of the people living in the Americas both before and after Columbus' arrival. And yet he is given an American holiday for discovering AmericaYeah Ill wait for that to make sense. But what exactly does it mean to be civilized? I believe thats the tact to take when looking at Chris. His father was a wool weaver, and cheese stand owner. Pre-Columbian civilizations from Mexico to Peru were nearly all responsible for brutal violence on a large scale long before Columbus arrived on the shores of the New World including human sacrifices, even of children, sometimes by tearing out the victims still-beating heart.. If Columbus had been an Englishman, or a Frenchman, would have they behaved in a different way? Columbus tortured and murdered many thousands of native peoples. Here Are Some Reasons Why. Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. 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. So why Columbus Day? Sure, Chris had been sailing since age 14. In his role, he writes about current political issues, U.S. history, political philosophy, and culture. We shouldn't be wasting our time on holidays that won't even. History, in fact, is the story of conquest. The holiday is typically observed on the second Monday in October. By 1555, there were zero full-blooded natives left on the island. There were already people living wherever he landed. Americans, for all our faults, love adventure. . Destiny is currently enrolled in Columbia University's MFA Writing program. He was a man of faith for whom God provided, and his discovery led to the eventual establishment of the Western values we know and seek to preserve today. And most of all, I was taught of his discovering America. And Washington, D.C., this week renamed the holiday, pending congressional approval. In fact, a new exhibition in Brazil features more than 100 artefacts dating back as far as 30,000 years ago, 18,000 years earlier than previously believed. Which, of course, led to a demand for more slaves. Historical Figures Should Be Viewed in Light of Their Greatest Achievements, Not Their Worst Mistakes. First, lets just put aside the paradox of discovering a land that already had a population of indigenous people. One of the (many) perks of growing up on an island in the Caribbean was that we could actually take a field trip to Columbus Landing a spot fairly close to my school where Columbus and his crew set foot in 1493 among islands he called Las Islas Virgenes, after St. Ursula and her eleven thousand virgins. One of the best parts of our humanity is that sense of discovery. But its not recognized in Los Angeles, where I live. In 1927, Chicago's outer drive, connecting the city's North and South Sides, was renamed for Leif. Like Andrew Jackson, Christopher Columbus is a historical figure who is celebrated as a mythical hero. It not only invalidates the legitimacy of the natives people claim to their land but also projects the notion that the natives arent people at all. Back in 1492, Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, where he. Not if we cant celebrate Christopher Columbus. Poll shows most Americans want to celebrate Columbus Day. your personal assistant! There are also theories that the Irish arrived far before the Vikings, and that the Chinese and Polynesians may also have also visited the Americas before Columbus. While Columbus Day is not a widely celebrated holiday, the question of whether or not to celebrate it are definitely up for discussion. 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. According to documents 6 " Christopher Columbus was the greatest, because he accomplished the most against the highest odds before Columbus ' time all European voyages had followed coastlines, or cross open seas to land previously known or at . 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. Lately a lot of people have been putting down Western civilization, but its spread is one of the greatest things thats ever happened to humanity. Interests? Ironically, the District of Columbia is named after, you guessed it, Christopher Columbus. However, because Columbus brought disasters to the Native Americans, many people opposed the Columbus celebrations. 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. Among the reasons cited for the Columbus Day federal holiday was that it was being observed in 40 states at the time. But our work was to exasperate, ravage, kill, mangle and destroy; small wonder," -Bartolome Las Casas, 1527. And #5 gets worse. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. Columbus wanted to expand knowledge about the world and what more it consisted of by going across the ocean. If you want a unique paper, order it from our professional writers. For the first time this year some calendars don't mention Columbus Day but says October 11 is Indigenous Peoples' Day. 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. 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. Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide. Why We Do Not Celebrate Columbus Day. This began with the spirit of Christopher Columbus. Why is he important? And hes credited for marking the establishment of institutionalized slavery in the West Indies. (See, Columbus promised Ferdinand and Isabella so much, including gold, they had given him 17 ships and well over a thousand men for his second voyage! 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. Most Americans didn't even know much about Columbus until Washington Irving yes, that Washington Irving wrote. A recent Marist Poll shows why: Those campaigning against Columbus Day are in the minority. The holiday celebrates . Reference list: Herman Lindquist, Christopher Columbus var han riktigt klok, Fischer, 1992. Over a dozen states and more than 130 local governments have chosen to not celebrate Columbus Day altogether or replace it with Indigenous Peoples' Day. 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. Columbus was from a middle class family. Large Increase in U.S. Europe, Asia and Africa, of course, suffered through numerous plagues of their own.). Within a few decades, only a few hundred of an original native population of 300,000 remained. Legal Statement. Why are we celebrating him? Although Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering America, people had been inhabiting both North and South America for thousands of years before the 15 th century criminal explorer actually first set foot there. 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. In fact, the result of Columbuss voyages was mass, Columbus didnt do too well as a governor of these new lands. When I got to high school and learned the truth about Columbus I felt betrayed. Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated. Within the Italian community, Columbus Day symbolizes the legacy of their ancestors who immigrated to America, overcame poverty, language barriers, and above all, discrimination. He wrote in his log: They brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things they willingly traded everything they owned They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They would make fine servants With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.. St. Ursula and her eleven thousand virgins, native peoples lived in these places all along. (BTW, you can find a list of over 40 of his articles here.). As a citizen, you need to be able to critically engage and reflect in a discourse around the public celebration and honoring of historical events and figures. Columbus Personified the American Spirit. Trends are really hard to detect in a country as divided as ours, but Ive noticed two developments in my work teaching high school and teaching at Harvard. All rights reserved. He initiated a turning point in our history. Christopher Columbus wasnt American! At times, they would make an example of a Native by cutting his hands off and tying them around his neck, then telling him to go and 'share the message' with the rest of his tribe. Mettler earned his Bachelors degree from William Jessup University and is an alumnus of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. Once we do this, Columbus Day can be a truly inclusive holiday. Ahh, well, brothers will be brothers. We need students to understand that Columbus is important, even if he isnt someone to be celebrated. According to, Columbus believed that he was playing a part in a divine plan to Christianize the world. Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert. Throughout the history of civilization, the concept of the apocalypse has been ever present, in one way or another. Certain states and localities have moved away from celebrating Christopher Columbus, and now celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. . (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. April Holloway is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. As awareness has grown about the catastrophic effect his discovery had on Americas indigenous populations, it has increasingly been viewed as a disaster rather than triumph, and rightly so. Read more TOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer by Staff Reports -- Celebrate the spread of Western civilization. Lastly, I would contend that historical figures should be honored by their great achievements, and not their mistakes or weaknesses. "Ignore the propaganda and instead remember Christopher Columbus with gratitude and a clear conscience. So before waving the US flag in celebration of a criminal who did not discover America, spare a thought for the millions of Native Americans who were murdered as a result of Christopher Columbus arrival on American soil. Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Columbus in the "New World" (on a small island off Florida) on October 12, 1492. Henry IV of Spain known as "The Impotent" for his weakness, both on the throne and (allegedly) in the marriage chamber died in 1474. Truth of Discovery Normally, the notion of discovery means encountering a place or an idea for the very first time.. He completely miscalculated the distance between Europe and Japan however, estimating it to be around 2,000 nautical miles when the real distance is closer to 11,000. Marist shows that even with all of the attacks on Columbus, 57 percent of Americans believe it's. There are many good reasons as to why Columbus Day is such a controversial holiday. "To date, these are the oldest traces of human existence in the Americas," said archaeologist Niede Guidon who has headed a mission to carry out large-scale excavation of Piaui's interior since the 1970's. We all own it. Yes, we have a federal holiday on Christmas, but Ill put that in a special category (which well call religious.). Growing up, I wasnt exposed to this truth. He brought with him a letter from King Ferdinand to the Taino-Arawak Indians. Columbus Undertook Adventure for God and Country, After Columbus returned to Spain from his first voyage to the Americas in 1493, he wrote this in his letter to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella: They manifest the greatest affection towards all of us, exchanging valuable things for trifles, content with the very least thing or nothing at all. Its Cristoforo Colombo. Though it has its controversies, Columbus day should be celebrated. Both in an effort to secure funding for their expedition. . The statue of Christopher Columbus remains encased in a wooden box on Marconi Plaza Aug. 12, 2020, as the sun sets on the day the Philadelphia Art Commission voted to remove it and store it while the city deliberates on a new permanent home for the controversial monument. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a "master navigator and admiral." He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. Columbus Day is a United States federal holiday that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. So yeah, Christopher Columbus, upon closer inspection, is a terrible fellow to honor. Most of the time when injustices occurred, Columbus wasnt even there. He read books, studied the ocean, and made a name for himself. Columbus stood to gain significant wealth and power from his voyage, terms he negotiated with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Many states celebrate both. The point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it. 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. Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. You need to be able to deeply understand the profoundly problematic past of this great nation. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, University Overrules Student Senate Activists; Recognizes Conservative Club, A Mansion, Yemen, and Stories of Gods Goodness, Tennessee and Mississippi Pass Bills to Protect Children from Harmful Sex Change Procedures. He would cut off the hands of people living in what now is Haiti for not bringing him enough gold every three months. Though he didnt discover America, he was the person to show the rest of the developed world that there was more far away lands. Today's woke perspective condemns Columbus Day as an unworthy holiday. European settlers not only introduced new diseases to the Americas that wiped out scores of Indigenous people, but also warfare, colonization, enslavement, and torture. Likewise, Thomas Jefferson, also a slave owner, should be remembered for writing one of the most brilliant documents in the history of mankind, the Declaration of Independence, which contributed greatly to the ending of slavery and segregation in the United States. Equipping students to grapple with the complexities of the past and the controversies of today, By grappling with the question of who we celebrate, and why, history teachers can help students navigate the complexities of the past, Resurfacing the lessons of Ferguson, which continue to resonate today, From Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day, Theres definitely a trend toward questioning Columbus Day. The initial recorded Columbus Day celebration in the United States was on October 12, 1792. 2023 PapersOwl.com - All rights reserved. If we have a holiday honoring somebody, the question on everyones mind should be, Why are we honoring them? Columbuss men used native girls as young as nine or ten as their sex slaves. 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. Specifically, he is credited with being the first European explorer since the Vikings to explore the New World for Europeans. 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. He would have peoples ears and noses cut off as punishments. Columbus never even came to this country! Students need to grapple with these multiple perspectives in history and the not-so-pleasant aspects of our past. Columbus went on forth with a lot of violence, such as cutting off a slaves nose/hands to signify power against them. But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. This is also apparent when he was trying to get sponsorships for the trips. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. This kept them from planting crops, leading to widespread starvation. 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. Yet in the past few decades, something has changed. Columbus Day was supposed to recognize the greatness of all of America's people, but especially Italians and Native Americans. 'Green Card Warrior' Nick Adams weighs in on 'Fox & Friends First.'. We may not like it, but its our shared heritage. The New York Society of Tammany also honored Columbus of his first voyage with the marking of his 300th anniversary. The first reason for why Christopher Columbus should not be celebrated is because he committed mass genocide against the Native Americans. Now, I got nothing against thousands of virgins or a good story.
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