Poll shows most Americans want to celebrate Columbus Day. Her Campus may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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. A Blazing Weapon: Unraveling the Mystery of Greek Fire. Indigenous Peoples' Day now replaces Columbus Day in 14 states, the District of Columbia and more than 130 communities. According to a census taken by Columbus' men, in 1496 there were more than 1 million natives on the island of Haiti. 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. Columbus Day, which is celebrated on the second Monday of October each year, has become a controversial subject for many people. 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. For a long time, Columbus discovery of America was an universally celebrated event, both in Europe and America. 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. We still have to understand the time he was born but Christopher Columbus. To begin, some people think Columbus is a hero because he found America, which is not true. . On his 1492 voyage, Chris landed on a number of islands including some in the Bahamas very close to mainland Florida. If we cannot honor anyone in human history that did not have flaws or imperfections, we cannot honor anyone at all. He first went to sea when he was only 14 years old. Truth of Discovery Normally, the notion of discovery means encountering a place or an idea for the very first time.. When I got to high school and learned the truth about Columbus I felt betrayed. But as I got older and began learning more about the history of the Caribbean, the glossy veneer of ol Chris didnt hold up. Areas within Texas and California began celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day as a means of pointing the spotlight on the natives, rather than Columbus himself. 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 . The pro for Columbus Day written by John Wirt. If Columbus had been an Englishman, or a Frenchman, would have they behaved in a different way? 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. Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. Hire a verified expert to write you a 100% Plagiarism-Free paper. It requires looking at dominant narratives and counternarratives. And now Ill claim it for us! Henry IV of Spain known as "The Impotent" for his weakness, both on the throne and (allegedly) in the marriage chamber died in 1474. But our work was to exasperate, ravage, kill, mangle and destroy; small wonder," -Bartolome Las Casas, 1527. As known by many, Columbus Day commemorates the discovery of the New World by none other than Christopher Columbus himself. 2023 PapersOwl.com - All rights reserved. Columbus Day was invented by the Knights of Columbus in the 1930s when they were looking for a role model for school age children. Congress also believed the holiday would mark the contribution of immigrants to the United States. Lets stop idolizing people in history who dont deserve it. 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 wanted to expand knowledge about the world and what more it consisted of by going across the ocean. Many believe that they sailed even further south, maybe as far as New Brunswick. @uknowhgse. There are many examples in his writings where he gave instructions to this effect. Along and through History, conquerors have had violent behaviour. "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. There are many good reasons as to why Columbus Day is such a controversial holiday. Columbus was wrong of course, and needless to say, he didnt actually discover anything the Americas had already been inhabited for thousands of years. (Remember, they werent well versed in Spanish. . (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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. While there is plenty to criticize about Columbus, and what followed his arrival, I think this movement is missing the point. 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. All rights reserved. Market data provided by Factset. But as far as I know, no U.S. landfall. Everything that he did sounded like it was so whimsical and as a young child yearning for an adventure I idolized him. And if you can, take some time to learn more about all the diversity that makes the Caribbean great. Legal Statement. Well, the Pinta was indeed, the Pinta. (Sarcasm intended.) Growing up, I wasn't exposed to this truth. Religion was heavily forced upon the Native American tribes, and the Europeans means of dealing with their obstacles run much more inhumane. He initiated a turning point in our history. Growing up in St. Croix, I had a fairly typical U.S. education with fairly typical U.S. textbooks as far as I can remember. Another reason why Columbus Day should not be celebrated is because it promotes a distorted view of history. ), Christopher Columbus initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. I doubt it. It neednt be a battleground, but a chance to celebrate the best within us. Who Destroyed the Great Library of Alexandria? We need to set the record straight early on. Once we do this, Columbus Day can be a truly inclusive holiday. After a few weeks sailing, he landed in the present day Bahamas. Land was first spotted by Rodrigo de Triana, a lookout on the Pinta, and thereafter by its captain Martin Alonso Pinzo, who notified Columbus. The main reason some Leftists dont want to celebrate Christopher Columbus is because his actions supposedly led to the genocide of Native American peoples. Yet, despite all the gruesome sacrifice and slavery, some still wish to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. 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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. When confronted with evidence to the contrary, he simply could not conceive of the the idea that he might be wrong. But by then he was hardly the first European. By 1555, there were zero full-blooded natives left on the island. Very much like the lyrics of the famous She may be ancient Egypts most famous face, but the quest to find the eternal resting place of Queen Nefertiti has never been hotter. Indigenous Peoples Day: Why it's replacing Columbus Day in many places. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. There were already people living wherever he landed. The point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it. Every Columbus Day I am forcibly reminded of my hatred for Christopher Columbus. Columbus arrival is seen as the beginning of civilization in the Americas. For privacy reasons, she has previously written on Ancient Origins under the pen name April Holloway, but is now choosing to use her real name, Joanna Gillan. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Back in 1492, Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, where he. Though it was disputed for many years, there is conclusive evidence that Neanderthals bred with modern humans (Homo sapiens). 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. Columbus Day is a United States federal holiday that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. original papers. A main argument for the idealization of the 15th century explorer is the idea that he was the first European to discover the Americas. The initial recorded Columbus Day celebration in the United States was on October 12, 1792. Architecture of the Floating (Or Sinking) City: How Was Venice Built? Columbuss men also killed off slaves whenever needed. Christopher Columbus wasnt American! Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. 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. For example, a neighbor taking a stick and beating your child as some kind of punishment might have been perfectly fine at one time. We may not like it, but its our shared heritage. St. Ursula and her eleven thousand virgins, native peoples lived in these places all along. And most believe the idea came from their familys time in Iceland. 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. In fact, there is proof that the Chinese, Greeks and Italians, all explored America before Columbus. One of the best parts of our humanity is that sense of discovery. I want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. 20 University Rd., 6th Floor Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Columbus in the "New World" (on a small island off Florida) on October 12, 1492. Growing up, I wasnt exposed to this truth. But in reality, Christopher Columbus is an American hero, and he should remain as such. If the world was round, this was possible, he thought. Why We Do Not Celebrate Columbus Day. So, enjoy the day off and celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day. 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. Listen I know almost everyone celebrated in history enslaved people. Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated. Chris went to Spain and Bart to France. Contrary to popular belief, Columbus Day is a celebration of diversity, not oppression. If we need a national holiday for the second Monday in October, lets at least honor an AMERICAN who hasnt been shown to be the prime mover in the torture/death/destruction of so many people. 1. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. According to a recent poll, 79% of college students support such a change. What Columbus did next was nothing less than shameful. And its fundamentally important that they do so. Sorry, Mr. Always trying. Every year, on the second Monday in October, the people in the United States celebrate a national holiday in memory of Christopher Columbus, the one who discovered the new continent. First, lets just put aside the paradox of discovering a land that already had a population of indigenous people. Thankfully, Columbus Day has morphed into Indigenous Peoples Day. He finally ended up getting a sponsorship with the Spanish crown, and was off to explore the world. Columbus couldnt be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldnt return. So why Columbus Day? Had he have given up, the world would be drastically different today.

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