5 reasons why columbus day should not be celebrated

The next obvious question is: well, if thats not his name, what were the names of his famous ships? Columbus was a brutal and cruel man who . If we cannot honor anyone in human history that did not have flaws or imperfections, we cannot honor anyone at all. Growing up, I wasn't exposed to this truth. 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. 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. And eventually hundreds of years of African slave trade but uhm, OK, fine, he was a monster. 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. Columbus killed a tremendous amount of people (genocide), and got away with it because of better equipment, men and control. South Dakota was the first state to rename Columbus Day, in 1990, electing to go with Native Americans' Day. Ahh, well, brothers will be brothers. Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. Cathedrals are some of the most awe-inspiring structures in the world, with their grandeur and intricate details captivating visitors for centuries. Columbus may have recorded that he "found" America, but he was a. mass murderer. In 1892, a joint congressional resolution prompted President Benjamin Harrison to mark the "discovery of America by Columbus," in part because of "the devout faith of the discoverer and for the. It involves grappling with multiple perspectives, a fundamental skill for historians. Its 2020 people. This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. 1. One of the best parts of our humanity is that sense of discovery. 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 . And Im not one to turn down a national holiday for a day off work! 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. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. 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. If it wasn't for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldn't have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. According to a census taken by Columbus' men, in 1496 there were more than 1 million natives on the island of Haiti. Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Columbus in the "New World" (on a small island off Florida) on October 12, 1492. Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. Columbus never even came to this country! Alaska is said not to celebrate the day because it falls too close to Alaska Day (Oct . Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. 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 point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Those left were forced to work in mines and plantations. He decimated the native population. What Columbus did next was nothing less than shameful. A growing number of cities are no longer celebrating Columbus Day, swapping it for "Indigenous Peoples' Day.". A Blazing Weapon: Unraveling the Mystery of Greek Fire. 'Green Card Warrior' Nick Adams weighs in on 'Fox & Friends First.'. Please follow him or give him some claps please be sure thats in the plural if you enjoyed this. While we are thankful for this land we call America, it . Posted by Zachary Mettler | Oct 14, 2019 | Opinion. The evil deeds of Columbus far outweigh the few accomplishments he achieved. hen, on his fourth, final voyage, he landed at present-day Panama. With three boats, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, he set out in search of a better trade route to India. 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 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. Even if we ignore that, this one still depends on your definition of America. Back in 1492, Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, where he. The war against the Western heritage. While there is only limited knowledge of what pre-Columbus America was like, it did feature war, slavery, torture and plenty of brutality. Most of us can remember the day when Americans still seemed to like 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. Though it was disputed for many years, there is conclusive evidence that Neanderthals bred with modern humans (Homo sapiens). Get in touch! Why is he important? Religion was heavily forced upon the Native American tribes, and the Europeans means of dealing with their obstacles run much more inhumane. In the early morning hours of the third day on October 12, the lookout . Columbus Day is a national holiday in the United States that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. This follows both Minneapolis and Seattle, which adopted the new. 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. . James Loewens Lies My Teacher Told Me, and his shorter Lies My Teacher Told Me about Christopher Columbus, critique how textbooks have covered Columbus. Most Americans didn't even know much about Columbus until Washington Irving yes, that Washington Irving wrote. Why are we celebrating him? Listen I know almost everyone celebrated in history enslaved people. This is also apparent when he was trying to get sponsorships for the trips. As these texts have become popular, and more history teachers have read them, more students have learned a more accurate account of Columbus from a younger age. Lets look at Columbus himself, to see if he meets the definition. In response to the rebellion, Columbus ordered a brutal crackdown in which many natives were killed, and their dismembered bodies paraded through the streets. In a letter that has been preserved among his personal historical records, Columbus wrote that God inspired him to make a deal with his Spanish crew and stake his life on it. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 4. Now that the truth is becoming more widely known, people are pressuring their communities to stop celebrating Columbus Day. The pro for Columbus Day written by John Wirt. 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 still have to understand the time he was born but Christopher Columbus. While there is plenty to criticize about Columbus, and what followed his arrival, I think this movement is missing the point. Congress also believed the holiday would mark the contribution of immigrants to the United States. He initiated a turning point in our history. Read More 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. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. Since then, it's spread across the. 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. Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. European settlers not only introduced new diseases to the Americas that wiped out scores of Indigenous people, but also warfare, colonization, enslavement, and torture. By 1516, there were 12,000. With all that, there are reasons to celebrate Columbus Day. Personally, I dont think we should celebrate Columbus Day. Columbus Day was invented by the Knights of Columbus in the 1930s when they were looking for a role model for school age children. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. For the first time this year some calendars don't mention Columbus Day but says October 11 is Indigenous Peoples' Day. 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. Its the responsibility of our school system to talk about Columbus as part of our work to prepare students to be citizens. If Columbus had been an Englishman, or a Frenchman, would have they behaved in a different way? With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.. 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. Specifically, he is credited with being the first European explorer since the Vikings to explore the New World for Europeans. Or Napoleon Bonaparte Day, for that matter. 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. Columbuss Native American slave trade morphed into the African slave trade by the mid-16th century. The point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it. Contrary to popular belief, Columbus Day is a celebration of diversity, not oppression. Published: October 7, 2021 8.23am EDT Updated: October 7, 2021 9.53am EDT. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there existcountless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts thathave yet to be discovered and explained. 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. 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 Knights of Columbus lobbied state legislatures to legalize the holiday. Monday marks Columbus Day, in honor of Christopher Columbus but not all will be celebrating the Italian explorer. Sure, Chris had been sailing since age 14. Except, once Chris had succeeded in Spain, he didnt wait for his brother. To get a custom and plagiarism-free essay. Why We Do Not Celebrate Columbus Day. (2020, Aug 20). 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. Although Columbus Day remains a national holiday, given the criticism surrounding the day, some states and cities have opted to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day instead. First of all, Christopher Columbus isnt even his name. Columbus wanted to test this idea. 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. 2. He would have peoples ears and noses cut off as punishments. That's my nephew, Trinidad, reveling in the joys of Caribbean sailing somewhere between St. Croix and Buck Island aboard Teroro II. Interests? We shouldn't be wasting our time on holidays that won't even. They were the original immigrants to the New World, and deserve their remembrance. But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. But its not recognized in Los Angeles, where I live. Sure, he was addicted to opium, but a lot of people were at the time. Always trying. However, because Columbus brought disasters to the Native Americans, many people opposed the Columbus celebrations. Here Are Some Reasons Why. After a few weeks sailing, he landed in the present day Bahamas. But you didnt discover a place that was already inhabited by a peaceful group of people. Or maybe even plan to discover your own new-to-you islands! The New World was discovered within the same timeframe as when slave trade had begun to arise. The tradition of observing Columbus Day dates back to the 18th century. Three other states New Mexico, Maine, Vermont followed suit this year. Lets stop idolizing people in history who dont deserve it. Chris went to Spain and Bart to France. However, his other two ships on his first voyage were the Santa Clara and the Gallega. Between 1482 and 1485 Columbus traded along the Guinea and Gold coasts of tropical West Africa and made at least one voyage to Elmina, Ghana. After all of this, he made four transatlantic voyages to the new world beginning with his first famed voyage in 1492. But Columbus couldnt deliver on the gold claim. First, lets just put aside the paradox of discovering a land that already had a population of indigenous people. Indigenous Peoples Day: Why it's replacing Columbus Day in many places. Then, two things happened: either Chaos or Gaia created the universe as we know it, or Ouranos and Tethys gave birth to the first beings. It neednt be a battleground, but a chance to celebrate the best within us. In fact, that might have been a good neighbor, whereas today That neighbor would find themselves in jail. (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! 1. Consider how the first Columbus Day parade in New York was described in the newspapers. Even the Iroquoian peoples, located in present Northeast United States, often took slaves of other tribes. 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. Spanish conquistadors couldn't believe their eyes while exploring the rugged terrain of the Andes during their invasion of Peru. Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide. Why is Columbus Day being renamed? Zachary Mettler works as a staff writer and communications liaison for The Daily Citizen at Focus on the Family. Very trying! sums it up for Daniel, creator of Stories Guaranteed to Make You Sick, Dr. Crankenfuss books, Moose Jokes, & now Practically News. 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. I think history teachers have a responsibility to prepare students to comment critically and participate critically in the discourse about who we are honoring, who we are celebrating, and how we are doing it. Yes, this guy didnt commit genocide. If the world was round, this was possible, he thought. We should celebrate Indigenous People's Day instead. Columbus Day was a solution to a problem that most people didn't know existed. You can order an original essay written according to your instructions. 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. Because thats public history. 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. October 11, 2021 5:00 am. Dominant narratives tend to speak about heroes in a simple sense; counternarratives can be much more critical. The act moved Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and the new Columbus Day holiday to Mondays. Americans have the right to celebrate whatever they chose, but the history behind Columbus Day is not to be ignored. Thousands of the Taino, or Indians as Columbus had referred to them, were shipped out to be traded internationally. 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 Should Not Be Celebrated. Colorado did so on April 1, 1907. A genocide happened in "the Americas," and it began with Columbus. 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. This was due to the impression that Columbus was attempting to spread Catholic influence. I want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. Columbus arrival is seen as the beginning of civilization in the Americas. And he was a talented astronomer and navigator. There has been much debate over whether or not Columbus Day should be celebrated. As I said in the beginning of this piece, Columbus did not discover what would become North America.

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