I discovered America. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. On his second voyage, he landed at Hispaniola, Cuba, and Jamaica among others. 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.. Exploring the story of Columbus postmortem voyages and the enduring mystery. Large Increase in U.S. There were terrible diseases that got communicated to the natives, but he cant be blamed for that., 5. He shows the effect of willpower and perseverance. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. When I got to high school and learned the truth about Columbus I felt betrayed. CONTACT US: Then they would sail away together to claim their riches. In response to the rebellion, Columbus ordered a brutal crackdown in which many natives were killed, and their dismembered bodies paraded through the streets. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). 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, the second Monday in October, is a nationally recognized holiday. Columbus Day is one of America s oldest holidays. . Yet, many continue to believe that America owes its discovery to Christopher Columbus. And Bart was left behind on the cutting room floor of history. History, in fact, is the story of conquest. But many would be killed if they did not accept Christ, even if they didnt understand what the Spanish were explaining to them. It is on public record, that Columbus rewarded his soldiers by giving them Native Americans to rape. Columbuss actions arent taken into consideration as much as they should be. Its Cristoforo Colombo. Despite not finding any of the places that his favorite books described (places in China, India and Japan), he convinced himself that they were just around the corner. After you read both, let us know what you think by posting a comment. -- Celebrate the spirit of exploration. Why is he important? (Only 23 states give their workers a paid day off to celebrate it, according to a 2013 Pew poll). Most Americans didn't even know much about Columbus until Washington Irving yes, that Washington Irving wrote. As known by many, Columbus Day commemorates the discovery of the New World by none other than Christopher Columbus himself. 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. 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. While deprivations did occur, Columbus was quick to punish those under his command who committed unjust acts against local populations Columbus did not engage in the savage acts that have been pinned on him., In addition, Columbus strictly told the crew not to do things like maraud, or rape, and instead to treat the native people with respect. This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. 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. Three other states New Mexico, Maine, Vermont followed suit this year. Columbus Day's only silver lining may be found at historically significant sites throughout the Caribbean that connect us to history. Columbus and his men raped and mistreated the slaves, especially young girls through ages nine and ten. These books have fueled the trends I mentioned around Columbus Day. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. In his role, he writes about current political issues, U.S. history, political philosophy, and culture. 4. (He had plenty of different ships on subsequent voyages.). Yet, despite all the gruesome sacrifice and slavery, some still wish to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. Give us your paper requirements, choose a writer and well deliver the highest-quality essay! Well, the Pinta was indeed, the Pinta. First of all, Christopher Columbus isnt even his name. He decided at an early age that this was not the life for him. Columbus Day should be celebrated because Columbus had done a lot to get to the point of sailing. While we are thankful for this land we call America, it . Jarrett Stepman also writes in his book The War on History, What is never explained is why so-called indigenous peoples are worthy of celebration if Columbus is not. Published: October 7, 2021 8.23am EDT Updated: October 7, 2021 9.53am EDT. 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. She likes thrifting, romance novels, cooking shows, and can often be found binging documentaries. Those left were forced to work in mines and plantations. Last updated by Patrick Bennett on 10/02/2021. Not just Europeans, but everyone. The evil deeds of Columbus far outweigh the few accomplishments he achieved. "This historically problematic holiday Columbus never actually set foot on the continental U.S. has made an increasing number of people wince, given the enslavement and genocide of Native. As a direct result of Columbus discovery, indigenous Americans were enslaved, killed and oppressed to such a degree that a population of around 60 million in 1492, fell by 8090% in less than 150 years. 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 the responsibility of our school system to talk about Columbus as part of our work to prepare students to be citizens. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, - IPL.org; 7.Why We Should Not Celebrate Columbus Day - IPL.org; 8.Why Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated Essay . Her Campus may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. I dont think its ever too young. 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. Furthermore, Columbus continued to enslave Natives and abuse their nation, damage their environment, and their rights as humans. 2. Washington, D.C., has joined hundreds of U.S. cities in seven states in replacing Columbus Day with a day to celebrate Native Americans. Because thats public history. Many people believe that Columbus Day should not be a federal holiday because Christopher Columbus was a terrible person. If we blame Columbus and the Spanish kings, we should also blame every other invader and conqueror in History. So partly, out of spite, here are a few reasons why Columbus Day shouldnt be celebrated. Based on my experience, I think its vitally essential that teachers engage kids as young as sixth grade in questions that really interrogate Columbus. Columbus day represents an exploration that lead to many discoveries and examples of leadership and control. 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. Areas within Texas and California began celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day as a means of pointing the spotlight on the natives, rather than Columbus himself. Lets stop idolizing people in history who dont deserve it. Well, the tough thing about labeling someone as good or bad is the definitions change with the times. 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. 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. Market data provided by Factset. 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. Get in touch! How could we look at this from a different perspective? Columbus tortured and murdered many thousands of native peoples. You need to be able to deeply understand the profoundly problematic past of this great nation. Columbus Day was invented by the Knights of Columbus in the 1930s when they were looking for a role model for school age children. These Natives are so nice, wed be crazy not to enslave them is one contentious quote by Christopher Columbus. . Ahh, well, semantics. This is the Monster Celebrated on Columbus Day, The American Holocaust: Columbus and the Conquest of the New World, Multicultural View of Christopher Columbus Story, The Rise of Sexual Assault in the Military. However, his other two ships on his first voyage were the Santa Clara and the Gallega. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. Our writers can help you with any type of essay. And eventually hundreds of years of African slave trade but uhm, OK, fine, he was a monster. Thousands of the Taino, or Indians as Columbus had referred to them, were shipped out to be traded internationally. Columbus didnt know shit about geography! As of September 2019, nine states (Alaska, Minnesota, Vermont, South Dakota, New Mexico, Oregon, Maine and Louisiana) have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day. Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+! 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. October 11, 2021 5:00 am. Or better yet, follow him. If I sailed to Italy and said that I discovered this land in the name of Rowan University it wouldnt fly right? Columbus Day means that finally, America was economically assimilated to Europe, in those times peopled by Western dominant civilizations. He was the catalyst that brought more explorers across the Atlantic, who would eventually begin to explore North America, but it is . He never set foot on any part of the 50 United States. She is a national writer at Her Campus and the former editor-in-chief of Her Campus Rowan. There has been much debate over whether or not Columbus Day should be celebrated. We shouldn't be wasting our time on holidays that won't even. 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. And Im not one to turn down a national holiday for a day off work! By 1555, there were zero full-blooded natives left on the island. Medieval Sea Monster Was Likely a Whale, New Research Reveals, What is Shambhala? Turning points are powerful lenses through which students need to view our past. The first complete mapping of a Neanderthal genome took place about five years ago - supporting the human-Neanderthal hook-up and also showing that Neanderthal DNA in humans is a thing. 1. He even made his crew swear an oath that Cuba was not an island but indeed the mainland of Asia, and that China could be reached overland from there. 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. All rights reserved. And the D.C. City Council recently approved a measure to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day. Columbuss men used native girls as young as nine or ten as their sex slaves. He is an inspiration to many young people. 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. Growing up, I wasn't exposed to this truth. In another case, some people think Columbus was a hero because he represents a leader who went far and beyond to find America. If Columbus had been an Englishman, or a Frenchman, would have they behaved in a different way? Nevertheless, the same could be said of Julius Caesar, but I dont know of many European countries who celebrate Julius Caesar Day. In fact, the result of Columbuss voyages was mass, Columbus didnt do too well as a governor of these new lands. They were the original immigrants to the New World, and deserve their remembrance. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. Other times they would go and massacre an entire village. When he was only 23. he had the idea of going to India, China and Japan. But our work was to exasperate, ravage, kill, mangle and destroy; small wonder," -Bartolome Las Casas, 1527. According to a census taken by Columbus' men, in 1496 there were more than 1 million natives on the island of Haiti. Americans have the right to celebrate whatever they chose, but the history behind Columbus Day is not to be ignored. Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide. Specify your topic, deadline, number of pages and other requirements. Yet in the past few decades, something has changed. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. "Ignore the propaganda and instead remember Christopher Columbus with gratitude and a clear conscience. Most of the time when injustices occurred, Columbus wasnt even there. Harvard Graduate School of Education What were his actual contributions? Those are important questions we want to ask as citizens. Among the reasons cited for the Columbus Day federal holiday was that it was being observed in 40 states at the time. 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. 1. He cheekily claimed that he had spotted land a few hours before Triana and Pinzo, but that he hadnt said anything in case it was a false alarm. Italian heritage. He would have peoples ears and noses cut off as punishments. I believe thats the tact to take when looking at Chris. When Columbus first landed on American soil he was met by the Arawak native Americans. And #5 gets worse. 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. From early colonial exploration, to our push westward with manifest destiny, to our more modern quest to outer space and landing on the moon, Americans seem to have an innate desire to push the boundaries and discover new places. Surprisingly, this holiday was first celebrated by Italians of New York in 1866 honoring Columbus's Italian Heritage, but the official celebration in Spain did not . Within the Italian community, Columbus Day symbolizes the legacy of their ancestors who immigrated to America, overcame poverty, language barriers, and above all, discrimination. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Had he have given up, the world would be drastically different today. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. And Erickson was certainly as European as Columbus (at least in todays geographical terminology.) A Blazing Weapon: Unraveling the Mystery of Greek Fire. Some schools, cities, and institutions, such as the. 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. Reference list: Herman Lindquist, Christopher Columbus var han riktigt klok, Fischer, 1992. Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. Christopher Columbus wasnt American! 2023 President and Fellows of Harvard College, Who do we celebrate, and why? Another reason why Columbus Day should not be celebrated is because it promotes a distorted view of history. Columbus is often portrayed as a heroic figure who bravely discovered America, but this narrative ignores the fact that the Americas were already inhabited by millions of people before Columbus arrived. St. Ursula and her eleven thousand virgins, native peoples lived in these places all along. A main argument for the idealization of the 15th century explorer is the idea that he was the first European to discover the Americas. 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. For example, a neighbor taking a stick and beating your child as some kind of punishment might have been perfectly fine at one time. As a result, in 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Columbus Day into law as a way to celebrate the hero who changed the world (Bragdon 12). It involves grappling with multiple perspectives, a fundamental skill for historians. The Knights of Columbus lobbied state legislatures to legalize the holiday. Norimitsu Odachi: Who Could Have Possibly Wielded This Enormous 15th Century Japanese Sword? Even if we ignore that, this one still depends on your definition of America. On his 1492 voyage, Chris landed on a number of islands including some in the Bahamas very close to mainland Florida. Indeed, Columbus was mostly benign in his interaction with native populations. Columbuss men also killed off slaves whenever needed. 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. With three boats, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, he set out in search of a better trade route to India. Students need to grapple with these multiple perspectives in history and the not-so-pleasant aspects of our past. One of the best parts of our humanity is that sense of discovery. And to see that it is not the essence of Columbus, but rather part of the times. (2020, Aug 20). (And yes, I also know many other discoverers have been posited through the ages. (BTW, you can find a list of over 40 of his articles here.). Columbus Day is a United States federal holiday that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. Very trying! sums it up for Daniel, creator of Stories Guaranteed to Make You Sick, Dr. Crankenfuss books, Moose Jokes, & now Practically News. Some committed suicide to avoid subjugation, others fled, but many rebelled. That is, South and Central America to be exact. The first reason for why Christopher Columbus should not be celebrated is because he committed mass genocide against the Native Americans. By 1516, there were 12,000. Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. Columbus couldn't be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldn't return. Yet, what is rarely discussed is the barbaric genocide perpetrated by Native American tribes from Mexico to Peru against other Native Americans before the arrival of Europeans. Most of us can remember the day when Americans still seemed to like Christopher Columbus. He would cut off the hands of people living in what now is Haiti for not bringing him enough gold every three months. In any case, we know for a fact that Europeans traveled to America almost 500 years before Columbus. For any subject. I remember learning about Columbus as a young child and I was in awe learning about the explorer. Columbus inspired countless other explorers, both of his time and of modern time, to explore and make discoveries. In fact, there is proof that the Chinese, Greeks and Italians, all explored America before Columbus. Religion was heavily forced upon the Native American tribes, and the Europeans means of dealing with their obstacles run much more inhumane. They would make fine servants. Berkeley originally replaced Columbus Day with show more content. "It's difficult to think there exists a site anywhere with a higher concentration of cave art.". In an era where we are fighting for racial equality celebrating false heroes is detrimental to progress. I'm not the only Italian American on board with ditching the holiday. We asked Eric Shed, a veteran history teacher who now directs the Harvard Teacher Fellows Program, to share perspectives on the changing currents around Columbus Day and the challenges of learning and teaching history, as distinct from celebrating it. To get a custom and plagiarism-free essay. If you want a unique paper, order it from our professional writers. Within a few decades, only a few hundred of an original native population of 300,000 remained. Congress also believed the holiday would mark the contribution of immigrants to the United States. Alaska was second, in 2017, enacting Indigenous Peoples Day. We should celebrate Indigenous People's Day instead. Despite the time that has passed, Columbus Day still remains a subject that most people would rather not think about. Its like me walking into your house (with my gang and all of us armed to the teeth) and saying, Wow, look what I found here, boys. Should the United States continue to celebrate Columbus Day? Nevertheless, the first official Columbus Day happened in 1892, when President Harrison issued a proclamation for Americans to commemorate the day. I am sure you are familiar with his legend which states that he was born in a manger surrounded by shepherds, about Christopher Columbus: Master Double Agent and Portugals 007, about Roman Sword discovered off Oak Island radically suggests Ancient Mariners visited New World 1,000 years before Columbus, For Sale In Britain: A Small Ancient Man With A Colossal Penis, Sacred Marvels: 17 Cathedrals That Will Take Your Breath Away, In Pictures, Egyptologists Reveal a Lost Chamber in the Great Pyramid With Cosmic Rays, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Unleashing the End of the World. 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. Americans, for all our faults, love adventure. Here are five reasons we should still celebrate Columbus Day. When Columbus landed on the island of Guanahani in 1492, North and South America were . 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. 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. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. There were already people living wherever he landed. This is where many of the peaceful natives were met with brutal deaths onboard, whether it be from disease or mistreatment from the handlers. It neednt be a battleground, but a chance to celebrate the best within us. He was turned down from the Portuguese crown, Genoa crown, Venice crown, and English crown. Columbus couldnt be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldnt return. And thats even if you discount the fact that native peoples lived in these places all along. (Remember, they werent well versed in Spanish. One of the few facts Americans remember from history is "Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 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. 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 . Diseases were spread and were not able to be resisted by the sick slaves. All islands I would love to visit on a single trip. But the fact of the matter is that he started the colonialism within North America, enslaved groups of people, and laid out the groundwork for others to do the same is damning. And those multiple viewpoints may help engage students who might feel otherwise unrepresented in a history class, such as females and students of color. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. Historical Figures Should Be Viewed in Light of Their Greatest Achievements, Not Their Worst Mistakes. But its not recognized in Los Angeles, where I live. Rather than celebrate, we believe it should be a day to mourn the destruction of an indigenous population which had lived in peace for tens of thousands of years before Columbus a rapist and murderer set foot on American soil. If we have a holiday honoring somebody, the question on everyones mind should be, Why are we honoring them? An angry mob decided to drag them. The initial recorded Columbus Day celebration in the United States was on October 12, 1792. -- Celebrate the spread of Western civilization.
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