5 reasons why columbus day should not be celebrated

Along and through History, conquerors have had violent behaviour. History, in fact, is the story of conquest. If it wasn't for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldn't have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. She is a national writer at Her Campus and the former editor-in-chief of Her Campus Rowan. Most of the time when injustices occurred, Columbus wasnt even there. 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. Why We Do Not Celebrate Columbus Day. 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. And in general, we want to students to engage with controversy. It is perhaps worth revisiting the two distinct reasons why we celebrate Columbus Day in the first place, and . 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. For this nation's over 5 million American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian citizens, Columbus' voyages to the so-called New World inaugurated a long history of exploitation, enslavement, eradication, and erasure (and he himself initiated and sanctioned such actions). Furthermore, Columbus continued to enslave Natives and abuse their nation, damage their environment, and their rights as humans. In 1927, Chicago's outer drive, connecting the city's North and South Sides, was renamed for Leif. Thousands of the Taino, or Indians as Columbus had referred to them, were shipped out to be traded internationally. Columbus wanted to test this idea. We dont know exactly where this is, but its most likely one of the islands that make up modern-day Bahamas. When Columbus first landed on American soil he was met by the Arawak native Americans. 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. A Blazing Weapon: Unraveling the Mystery of Greek Fire. One of the few facts Americans remember from history is "Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 In the early morning hours of the third day on October 12, the lookout . Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. A main argument for the idealization of the 15th century explorer is the idea that he was the first European to discover the Americas. 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. Among the reasons cited for the Columbus Day federal holiday was that it was being observed in 40 states at the time. Howard Zinns A Peoples History of the United States includes horrific, detailed eyewitness accounts of how the Spanish explorers treated the Native Americans. An angry mob decided to drag them. 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. Those left were forced to work in mines and plantations. 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. Truth of Discovery Normally, the notion of discovery means encountering a place or an idea for the very first time.. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. Once upon a time, teachers celebrated Columbus Day by leading children in choruses of song about the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. 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. However, a circumspect understanding of history offers numerous reasons why Columbus should not only be celebrated, but . This kept them from planting crops, leading to widespread starvation. 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. There, the brothers should have been exposed to the adventures of another explorer: Leif Erickson. There were terrible diseases that got communicated to the natives, but he cant be blamed for that., 5. We need to set the record straight early on. Columbus Day should be celebrated because Columbus had done a lot to get to the point of sailing. 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. The evil deeds of Columbus far outweigh the few accomplishments he achieved. It neednt be a battleground, but a chance to celebrate the best within us. Destiny is currently enrolled in Columbia University's MFA Writing program. I remember learning about Columbus as a young child and I was in awe learning about the explorer. After a few weeks sailing, he landed in the present day Bahamas. 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. And its fundamentally important that they do so. This is also apparent when he was trying to get sponsorships for the trips. Columbus arrival is seen as the beginning of civilization in the Americas. I discovered America. Its important to learn about what Columbus did to Native Americans because not everyone knows the truth about him and his treatment of the Natives. (Remember, they werent well versed in Spanish. But its not recognized in Los Angeles, where I live. In addition to The Daily Citizen, his written pieces have appeared in The Daily Signal, Life News, The Colorado Independent, and The Millennial Review. 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. It took tremendous bravery to sail off into the unknown. Elliott Lassitter and John WirtOctober 26, 2017. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. And Washington, D.C., this week renamed the holiday, pending congressional approval. But you didnt discover a place that was already inhabited by a peaceful group of people. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. Columbuss Native American slave trade morphed into the African slave trade by the mid-16th century. Since August, eight cities have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day, including several in just the last week. This has started to cause a change, and many cities within America have taken on a remuneration for the controversial holiday. And hes credited for marking the establishment of institutionalized slavery in the West Indies. 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.. 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. Be careful, this sample is accessible to everyone. ), Christopher Columbus initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade. 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. Norimitsu Odachi: Who Could Have Possibly Wielded This Enormous 15th Century Japanese Sword? 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 . (2020, Aug 20). Not just Europeans, but everyone. Many people believe that Columbus Day should not be a federal holiday because Christopher Columbus was a terrible person. 20 University Rd., 6th Floor And yet he is given an American holiday for discovering AmericaYeah Ill wait for that to make sense. Monday marks Columbus Day, in honor of Christopher Columbus but not all will be celebrating the Italian explorer. If Columbus had been an Englishman, or a Frenchman, would have they behaved in a different way? 1. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Historical Figures Should Be Viewed in Light of Their Greatest Achievements, Not Their Worst Mistakes. If the world was round, this was possible, he thought. Two reasons why Columbus Day should not be celebrated is that we shouldn't 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. Had he have given up, the world would be drastically different today. But as I got older and began learning more about the history of the Caribbean, the glossy veneer of ol Chris didnt hold up. A recent Marist Poll shows why: Those campaigning against Columbus Day are in the minority. "Endless testimonies.prove the mild and pacific temperament of the natives. But Columbus couldnt deliver on the gold claim. Market data provided by Factset. It consisted mostly of about 12,000 public school students grouped into 20 regiments, each commanded by a principal. Our writers can help you with any type of essay. The Vikings sailed to, and colonized parts of Newfoundland, Canada, around AD 1000. If instead of Columbus, a Chinese marine had arrived first and "colonized" America, would be blaming the Chinese for the destruction of American civilizations? 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 fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.. There are many examples in his writings where he gave instructions to this effect. Columbus Personified the American Spirit. Yes, this guy didnt commit genocide. 2023 PapersOwl.com - All rights reserved. By 1555, there were zero full-blooded natives left on the island. 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. Ahh, well, semantics. 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. Except, once Chris had succeeded in Spain, he didnt wait for his brother. Contrary to popular belief, Columbus Day is a celebration of diversity, not oppression. 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. 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 . Interests? 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. Once we do this, Columbus Day can be a truly inclusive holiday. As an anti-paean to a holiday most Americans hardly acknowledge (unless they get a day off), here are a list of reasons that we should remove Columbus Day from our list of federal holidays. (He did follow his big brother to the Caribbean two years later.). Columbus Day, which is celebrated on the second Monday of October each year, has become a controversial subject for many people. The opposition towards Christopher Columbus did not commence in todays society, or even the 21st century. Which, of course, led to a demand for more slaves. Architecture of the Floating (Or Sinking) City: How Was Venice Built? See how Columbus Day actually become a holiday and find out who celebrates it. In fact, the result of Columbuss voyages was mass, Columbus didnt do too well as a governor of these new lands. Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. So yeah, Christopher Columbus, upon closer inspection, is a terrible fellow to honor. 4. Certain states and localities have moved away from celebrating Christopher Columbus, and now celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. Here Are Some Reasons Why. Diseases were spread and were not able to be resisted by the sick slaves. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! Columbus Day is a United States federal holiday that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. Another reason why Columbus Day should not be celebrated is because it promotes a distorted view of history. We need students to understand that Columbus is important, even if he isnt someone to be celebrated. If Columbus is Off Limits to Celebrate, so are Indigenous Peoples. Hoping to bring fresh perspectives to topics like race & politics, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0. He asked for 3 more days, and if land was not sighted, the crew could do with him as they wished. There are still people who believe Christopher Columbus found America and that what he did was harmless because he was being a man of his time. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! Here are three reasons we shouldn't celebrate Columbus Day, as a country. (BTW, you can find a list of over 40 of his articles here.). When I got to high school and learned the truth about Columbus I felt betrayed. If we blame Columbus and the Spanish kings, we should also blame every other invader and conqueror in History. 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. But our work was to exasperate, ravage, kill, mangle and destroy; small wonder," -Bartolome Las Casas, 1527. It was still his idea to sail west, rather than east to hit the East Indies, right? Yes, we have a federal holiday on Christmas, but Ill put that in a special category (which well call religious.). The New World was discovered within the same timeframe as when slave trade had begun to arise. 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Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. Poll shows most Americans want to celebrate Columbus Day. Historical knowledge can help students create an argument to answer those questions. Unfortunately, many irksome doings lay deep under the surface. Of course, Christopher Columbus was Italian, and his day . Columbus may have recorded that he "found" America, but he was a. mass murderer. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Or better yet, follow him. Since then, it's spread across the. 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. How could we look at this from a different perspective? While Columbus Day is not a widely celebrated holiday, the question of whether or not to celebrate it are definitely up for discussion. He is an inspiration to many young people. With three boats, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, he set out in search of a better trade route to India. . This essay is available online and might have been used by another student. Its Cristoforo Colombo. [email protected] And maybe only one reason to celebrate. Consider how the first Columbus Day parade in New York was described in the newspapers. Why does learning about what Columbus did to Native Americans still matter today? However, his other two ships on his first voyage were the Santa Clara and the Gallega. 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. But as far as I know, no U.S. landfall. Yet in the past few decades, something has changed. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. If you still think Columbus Day is something worth celebrating, here are five other reasons why it isnt: After studying a handful of his favorite books, including the journals of Marco Polo, Columbus became convinced that it was possible to sail directly west to reach the Indies, as China, Japan and India were then known as in Europe. 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. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? He was turned down from the Portuguese crown, Genoa crown, Venice crown, and English crown. Both in an effort to secure funding for their expedition. CONTACT US: 1. And he was a talented astronomer and navigator. On October 12,1792was when it was first celebrated. 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. Marist shows that even with all of the attacks on Columbus, 57 percent of Americans believe it's. First, lets just put aside the paradox of discovering a land that already had a population of indigenous people. It involves grappling with multiple perspectives, a fundamental skill for historians. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). 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. All rights reserved. There were already people living wherever he landed. (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! This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. But what exactly does it mean to be civilized? 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 . 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. America is celebrating. 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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. He first went to sea when he was only 14 years old. 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. They have no iron. Medieval Sea Monster Was Likely a Whale, New Research Reveals, What is Shambhala? In response to the rebellion, Columbus ordered a brutal crackdown in which many natives were killed, and their dismembered bodies paraded through the streets. -- Celebrate the spirit of exploration. Columbus killed a tremendous amount of people (genocide), and got away with it because of better equipment, men and control. The main reason Columbus Day draws opposition is because of how the explorer's arrival to the New World affected Indigenous people. South Dakota was the first state to rename Columbus Day, in 1990, electing to go with Native Americans' Day. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Columbus Day, the second Monday in October, is a nationally recognized holiday. The next obvious question is: well, if thats not his name, what were the names of his famous ships? Hi! As known by many, Columbus Day commemorates the discovery of the New World by none other than Christopher Columbus himself. Areas within Texas and California began celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day as a means of pointing the spotlight on the natives, rather than Columbus himself. Stupid but hopeful. Curious, politically homeless, always hopeful. Listen I know almost everyone celebrated in history enslaved people. So, no, Columbus did not discover the New World.. Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. Turning points are powerful lenses through which students need to view our past. This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. @uknowhgse. 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Columbus Day was a solution to a problem that most people didn't know existed. 1. And eventually hundreds of years of African slave trade but uhm, OK, fine, he was a monster. The holiday is typically observed on the second Monday in October. Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+! While we are thankful for this land we call America, it . Christopher Columbus is just one of those English adaptations someone felt was preferable to pronouncing a foreign sounding name. Turning points are powerful lenses through which students need to view our past. Specify your topic, deadline, number of pages and other requirements. Americans, for all our faults, love adventure. Alaska is said not to celebrate the day because it falls too close to Alaska Day (Oct . 1. Congress also believed the holiday would mark the contribution of immigrants to the United States. Exploring the story of Columbus postmortem voyages and the enduring mystery. Columbus stood to gain significant wealth and power from his voyage, terms he negotiated with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain.

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