It is on public record, that Columbus rewarded his soldiers by giving them Native Americans to rape. by sailing west. (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. Some schools, cities, and institutions, such as the. There are many examples in his writings where he gave instructions to this effect. Columbus was taking advantage of opportunities to find goods by getting the help of slaves. 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. Medieval Sea Monster Was Likely a Whale, New Research Reveals, What is Shambhala? Columbus went on forth with a lot of violence, such as cutting off a slaves nose/hands to signify power against them. Give us your paper requirements, choose a writer and well deliver the highest-quality essay! This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. 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. . 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 . On his 1492 voyage, Chris landed on a number of islands including some in the Bahamas very close to mainland Florida. Examine Columbuss "discovery" of America. You can order an original essay written according to your instructions. Consider how the first Columbus Day parade in New York was described in the newspapers. First, lets just put aside the paradox of discovering a land that already had a population of indigenous people. The point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it. Don't know where to start? Now, I got nothing against thousands of virgins or a good story. European settlers not only introduced new diseases to the Americas that wiped out scores of Indigenous people, but also warfare, colonization, enslavement, and torture. And its fundamentally important that they do so. Columbus Day: Should it be considered a federal holiday? Students need to grapple with these multiple perspectives in history and the not-so-pleasant aspects of our past. While there is plenty to criticize about Columbus, and what followed his arrival, I think this movement is missing the point. 20 University Rd., 6th Floor Very trying! sums it up for Daniel, creator of Stories Guaranteed to Make You Sick, Dr. Crankenfuss books, Moose Jokes, & now Practically News. Zachary Mettler works as a staff writer and communications liaison for The Daily Citizen at Focus on the Family. As I said in the beginning of this piece, Columbus did not discover what would become North America. The New York Society of Tammany also honored Columbus of his first voyage with the marking of his 300th anniversary. There, the brothers should have been exposed to the adventures of another explorer: Leif Erickson. They also show evidence that at least 12 other groups of people entered the Americas before Columbus. This conflict between reality and fiction is what makes Columbus Day one of the most controversial holidays in America. Since then, it's spread across the. Why Columbus Day isn't really a national holiday However, his other two ships on his first voyage were the Santa Clara and the Gallega. 10+ why columbus day should not be celebrated essay most standard "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. Ahh, well, brothers will be brothers. Columbus wanted to expand knowledge about the world and what more it consisted of by going across the ocean. 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. Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. 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. When Columbus first landed on American soil he was met by the Arawak native Americans. Ahh, well, semantics. In 1927, Chicago's outer drive, connecting the city's North and South Sides, was renamed for Leif. Three other states New Mexico, Maine, Vermont followed suit this year. 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. . Why We Should Celebrate Columbus Day? Free Essay Example He would cut off the hands of people living in what now is Haiti for not bringing him enough gold every three months. Howard Zinns A Peoples History of the United States includes horrific, detailed eyewitness accounts of how the Spanish explorers treated the Native Americans. Those left were forced to work in mines and plantations. In any case, we know for a fact that Europeans traveled to America almost 500 years before Columbus. "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. Americans, for all our faults, love adventure. Indeed, Columbus was mostly benign in his interaction with native populations. But as I got older and began learning more about the history of the Caribbean, the glossy veneer of ol Chris didnt hold up. For instance, they lay out what specific textbooks omitted about Columbuss involvement with the slave trade and genocide. Hi! Columbus day represents an exploration that lead to many discoveries and examples of leadership and control. Architecture of the Floating (Or Sinking) City: How Was Venice Built? Columbus killed a tremendous amount of people (genocide), and got away with it because of better equipment, men and control. I'm Amy, Her Campus may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Columbus Did Not Discover North America. Many states celebrate both. Most Americans didn't even know much about Columbus until Washington Irving yes, that Washington Irving wrote. Columbus arrival is seen as the beginning of civilization in the Americas. 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. When confronted with evidence to the contrary, he simply could not conceive of the the idea that he might be wrong. Legal Statement. Most of the time when injustices occurred, Columbus wasnt even there. 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. But its not recognized in Los Angeles, where I live. Columbus Day. I want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Why We Shouldn't Celebrate Columbus Day - 1191 Words - StudyMode 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. Indigenous Peoples Day: Why it's replacing Columbus Day in many places. The next obvious question is: well, if thats not his name, what were the names of his famous ships? 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. "Reason: he may have discovered America before Columbus; Columbus is now commonplace as . We still have to understand the time he was born but Christopher Columbus. . Mettler earned his Bachelors degree from William Jessup University and is an alumnus of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. Nevertheless, the first official Columbus Day happened in 1892, when President Harrison issued a proclamation for Americans to commemorate the day. 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. Indigenous Peoples' Day now replaces Columbus Day in 14 states, the District of Columbia and more than 130 communities. (Only 23 states give their workers a paid day off to celebrate it, according to a 2013 Pew poll). Columbus Personified the American Spirit Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. The Columbus controversy can also help students see that history is still applicable today. The con for Columbus Day written by Elliot Lassitter. 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 . 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. Except, once Chris had succeeded in Spain, he didnt wait for his brother. But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. Always trying. Read More 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. Many of those enslaved would die, and were then easily replaced by some brought from the Bahamas. What Columbus Day Really Means - The American Scholar The Zinn Education Project also includes a bunch of primary sources related to Columbus, such as writings by Bartolom de La Casas. Get in touch! PDF what is now Haiti. During this first trip to what Columbus thought was By 1555, there were zero full-blooded natives left on the island. The population of the Taino decreased by over two hundred thousand within sixty years. This follows both Minneapolis and Seattle, which adopted the new. Columbus is also well known as a great explorer, and not the man he truly is, who hurt people in order for things to go his way and for him to get what he wants, which was power., Two Reasons Why Columbus Day Should Not be Celebrated. Why does learning about what Columbus did to Native Americans still matter today? He was turned down from the Portuguese crown, Genoa crown, Venice crown, and English crown. uknow@gse.harvard.edu Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Columbus Day is one of America s oldest holidays. If we cannot honor anyone in human history that did not have flaws or imperfections, we cannot honor anyone at all. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. History, in fact, is the story of conquest. A genocide happened in "the Americas," and it began with Columbus. The holiday is typically observed on the second Monday in October. 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. 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. April Holloway is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. Throughout the history of civilization, the concept of the apocalypse has been ever present, in one way or another. Why I proudly celebrate Columbus Day | Washington Examiner According to a census taken by Columbus' men, in 1496 there were more than 1 million natives on the island of Haiti. The tradition of observing Columbus Day dates back to the 18th century. Howell Public Schools Stance on Mask Mandate, In person school, more beneficial to kids. On October 11, 2021, America officially recognized the inhumane treatment that the Native Americans faced for centuries and honored the brave warriors who fought against the oppression and genocide of their people. This was a sign of things to come. Reference list: Herman Lindquist, Christopher Columbus var han riktigt klok, Fischer, 1992. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. Growing up, I wasnt exposed to this truth. And hes credited for marking the establishment of institutionalized slavery in the West Indies. Why We Shouldn't Celebrate Columbus Day - ATTN: 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. The White House is pushing National Coming Out Day as a way of changing the subject. Lets look at Columbus himself, to see if he meets the definition. Sure, he was addicted to opium, but a lot of people were at the time. But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. For any subject. He was the catalyst that brought more explorers across the Atlantic, who would eventually begin to explore North America, but it is . Well, the tough thing about labeling someone as good or bad is the definitions change with the times. Norimitsu Odachi: Who Could Have Possibly Wielded This Enormous 15th Century Japanese Sword? Hoping to bring fresh perspectives to topics like race & politics, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0. 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. Why should we celebrate a man who promoted and distributed so much violence when we can celebrate and honor the history of Indigenous people? 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. In his role, he writes about current political issues, U.S. history, political philosophy, and culture. Columbus may have recorded that he "found" America, but he was a. mass murderer. Destiny is currently enrolled in Columbia University's MFA Writing program. 1. Until the mid-1700s, Christopher Columbus was not widely known among most Americans. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The act moved Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and the new Columbus Day holiday to Mondays. Here are five reasons we should still celebrate Columbus Day. Why we should celebrate "Indigenous Peoples' Day" instead of "Columbus For if we celebrate Columbus, we are celebrating a racist genocide, massive land robbery, barbaric slavery, serial rape and systemic torture. Why is he important? 5 Things to Know About Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day 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. Despite the time that has passed, Columbus Day still remains a subject that most people would rather not think about. Columbus tried to build and has transformed the America we have today. Columbuss men used native girls as young as nine or ten as their sex slaves. Its just that Columbus was the brave one to stake his claim to a land that did not belong to him. Why columbus day should not be celebrated. Why Columbus Day Should Not If the world was round, this was possible, he thought. Even perpetually leftward NPR admitted today . Though it was disputed for many years, there is conclusive evidence that Neanderthals bred with modern humans (Homo sapiens). It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. We all own it. All rights reserved. South Dakota was the first state to rename Columbus Day, in 1990, electing to go with Native Americans' Day. matter in the end. Nevertheless, the same could be said of Julius Caesar, but I dont know of many European countries who celebrate Julius Caesar Day. If it wasnt for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldnt have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. But its hard for children to understand that someone who they were taught to idolize is a bad guy. This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. 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. It involves grappling with multiple perspectives, a fundamental skill for historians. "Endless testimonies.prove the mild and pacific temperament of the natives. Columbus Day is a patriotic holiday. More States Say Goodbye to Columbus Day | The Pew Charitable Trusts 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. Make sure your essay is plagiarism-free or hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs. (He did follow his big brother to the Caribbean two years later.). 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. Read more TOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer by Staff Reports After you read both, let us know what you think by posting a comment. Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. All rights reserved. Even though Eratosthenes (Greek mathematician living in Alexandria, Egypt, Columbus never discovered anything. Why as a nation we should celebrate Columbus Day Columbus Day means that finally, America was economically assimilated to Europe, in those times peopled by Western dominant civilizations. Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. Specify your topic, deadline, number of pages and other requirements. Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. If we have a holiday honoring somebody, the question on everyones mind should be, Why are we honoring them? But that, for better or worse, is how history worked pretty much everywhere for thousands of years. If we blame Columbus and the Spanish kings, we should also blame every other invader and conqueror in History. Some of my students entered high school aware of the problematic nature of Columbus but their thinking is, Well, Columbus is not important to study, because he didnt do anything. We have to push back on that. But you didnt discover a place that was already inhabited by a peaceful group of people. Areas within Texas and California began celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day as a means of pointing the spotlight on the natives, rather than Columbus himself. It requires looking at dominant narratives and counternarratives. 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. 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. The first reason for why Christopher Columbus should not be celebrated is because he committed mass genocide against the Native Americans. 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. 2. 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.. He read books, studied the ocean, and made a name for himself. Columbus couldn't be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldn't return. 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. Columbus Day's Meaning For Italian Americans : NPR Why celebrate Columbus Day? Here are a few reasons Interests? 3.Two Reasons Why Columbus Day Should Not be Celebrated; 4.Should Christopher Columbus Day Be Celebrated Essay Example; 5.Columbus Day Is Not Worth Celebrating - GradesFixer; 6.Why Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated? Elliott Lassitter and John WirtOctober 26, 2017. Yeah. (He had plenty of different ships on subsequent voyages.). He finally ended up getting a sponsorship with the Spanish crown, and was off to explore the world. 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. 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. The City Council recently voted to get rid of Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day, commemorating indigenous, aboriginal and native people.. In an era where we are fighting for racial equality celebrating false heroes is detrimental to progress. Although it has been a tradition in the United States to recognize this day as a federal holiday for many years, whether Christopher Columbus' actions merit celebration is now being questioned, and rightly so . The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a master navigator and admiral. He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. The main reason Columbus Day draws opposition is because of how the explorer's arrival to the New World affected Indigenous people. Europe, Asia and Africa, of course, suffered through numerous plagues of their own.). So the discovery of the Western Hemisphere should go to Erickson, no? Well, the Pinta was indeed, the Pinta. 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And Washington, D.C., this week renamed the holiday, pending congressional approval. Who Destroyed the Great Library of Alexandria? 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. His father was a wool weaver, and cheese stand owner. This has started to cause a change, and many cities within America have taken on a remuneration for the controversial holiday. He would have peoples ears and noses cut off as punishments. If Columbus is Off Limits to Celebrate, so are Indigenous Peoples. 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. He sailed to Iceland and Ireland in 1477, and to Madeira in 1478. Yes, this guy didnt commit genocide. hen, on his fourth, final voyage, he landed at present-day Panama.