What are some Facts about Christopher Columbus? Columbus couldnt be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldnt return. While there is plenty to criticize about Columbus, and what followed his arrival, I think this movement is missing the point. It involves grappling with multiple perspectives, a fundamental skill for historians. Then they would sail away together to claim their riches. We shouldn't be wasting our time on holidays that won't even. "It's difficult to think there exists a site anywhere with a higher concentration of cave art.". 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. So partly, out of spite, here are a few reasons why Columbus Day shouldnt be celebrated. Howard Zinns A Peoples History of the United States includes horrific, detailed eyewitness accounts of how the Spanish explorers treated the Native Americans. Posted by Zachary Mettler | Oct 14, 2019 | Opinion. uknow@gse.harvard.edu (Not that the West solely had these ideas, but it put them in a package that wasnt generally available elsewhere.). The next obvious question is: well, if thats not his name, what were the names of his famous ships? Some schools, cities, and institutions, such as the. Columbus and St. Croix We need students to understand that Columbus is important, even if he isnt someone to be celebrated. But heres the kicker. There are many examples in his writings where he gave instructions to this effect. So before waving the US flag in celebration of a criminal who did not discover America, spare a thought for the millions of Native Americans who were murdered as a result of Christopher Columbus arrival on American soil. Certain states and localities have moved away from celebrating Christopher Columbus, and now celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. By 1516, there were 12,000. This conflict between reality and fiction is what makes Columbus Day one of the most controversial holidays in America. "Ignore the propaganda and instead remember Christopher Columbus with gratitude and a clear conscience. However, his other two ships on his first voyage were the Santa Clara and the Gallega. Columbus Day is one of America s oldest holidays. Howell Public Schools Stance on Mask Mandate, In person school, more beneficial to kids. Their spears are made of cane. Consider how the first Columbus Day parade in New York was described in the newspapers. Not just Europeans, but everyone. (And yes, I also know many other discoverers have been posited through the ages. Yeah. However, it was his brother, the cartographers idea to sail West. Since then, its spread across the nation with increasing speed, as more than 60 cities from Maine to Washington have supported the idea. 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. 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. 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. Nevertheless, the first official Columbus Day happened in 1892, when President Harrison issued a proclamation for Americans to commemorate the day. Stupid but hopeful. Curious, politically homeless, always hopeful. Most Americans didn't even know much about Columbus until Washington Irving yes, that Washington Irving wrote. Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) is generally considered to be a great explorer during the Age of Exploration . Columbus may have recorded that he "found" America, but he was a. mass murderer. Columbus went to live in Portugal. 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. Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. Even perpetually leftward NPR admitted today . 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. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a "master navigator and admiral." He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. A Blazing Weapon: Unraveling the Mystery of Greek Fire. 1. Yes, this guy didnt commit genocide. We think of Columbus Day as a heroic and triumphant day ever since 1970, when the holiday was legally made a national holiday. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. A growing number of cities are no longer celebrating Columbus Day, swapping it for "Indigenous Peoples' Day.". But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. Columbus Day means that finally, America was economically assimilated to Europe, in those times peopled by Western dominant civilizations. To get a custom and plagiarism-free essay. But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. For the first time this year some calendars don't mention Columbus Day but says October 11 is Indigenous Peoples' Day. 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. 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.. Some committed suicide to avoid subjugation, others fled, but many rebelled. To realize this dream, they split up. Monday marks Columbus Day, in honor of Christopher Columbus but not all will be celebrating the Italian explorer. (He had plenty of different ships on subsequent voyages.). We need to own it. Though it has its controversies, Columbus day should be celebrated. European settlers not only introduced new diseases to the Americas that wiped out scores of Indigenous people, but also warfare, colonization, enslavement, and torture. Columbus was a brutal and cruel man who . Itd be ludicrous to say that Columbuswasnt guilty by association. 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. "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. 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. Sure, Chris had been sailing since age 14. The main reason Columbus Day draws opposition is because of how the explorer's arrival to the New World affected Indigenous people. In another case, some people think Columbus was a hero because he represents a leader who went far and beyond to find America. Columbus Day is a patriotic holiday. 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). Yet, many continue to believe that America owes its discovery to Christopher Columbus. In fact, there is proof that the Chinese, Greeks and Italians, all explored America before Columbus. 1. Its 2020 people. Examine Columbuss "discovery" of America. Yet in the past few decades, something has changed. The Knights of Columbus lobbied state legislatures to legalize the holiday. All islands I would love to visit on a single trip. Contrary to popular belief, Columbus Day is a celebration of diversity, not oppression. In any case, we know for a fact that Europeans traveled to America almost 500 years before Columbus. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). 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. I doubt it. So, yes, in 1498 and 1502, he did reach the continental Americas. Or Napoleon Bonaparte Day, for that matter. And eventually hundreds of years of African slave trade but uhm, OK, fine, he was a monster. The things Columbus did such as capturing the Natives as slaves just made him the man of his time, saying everyone did this, and that he needed the help anyway. (2020, Aug 20). There are many good reasons as to why Columbus Day is such a controversial holiday. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a. Back in 1492, Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, where he. He sailed to Iceland and Ireland in 1477, and to Madeira in 1478. Berkeley originally replaced Columbus Day with show more content. 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. In fact, the result of Columbuss voyages was mass, Columbus didnt do too well as a governor of these new lands. 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. or redistributed. The pro for Columbus Day written by John Wirt. He decided at an early age that this was not the life for him. Washington, D.C., has joined hundreds of U.S. cities in seven states in replacing Columbus Day with a day to celebrate Native Americans. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Thats when learning happens. Two Reasons why Columbus Day should not be Celebrated, This example was written and submitted by a fellow student. Since then, it's spread across the. Of course, Christopher Columbus was Italian, and his day . 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. Within a few decades, only a few hundred of an original native population of 300,000 remained. 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 . 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. Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Columbus in the "New World" (on a small island off Florida) on October 12, 1492. Here are three reasons we shouldn't celebrate Columbus Day, as a country. Even though Eratosthenes (Greek mathematician living in Alexandria, Egypt, Columbus never discovered anything. Christopher Columbus, as it turned out, was responsible for widespread genocide; he permitted his men to rape, murder, mutilate and enslave indigenous people. 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. But that, for better or worse, is how history worked pretty much everywhere for thousands of years. Zachary Mettler works as a staff writer and communications liaison for The Daily Citizen at Focus on the Family. We still have to understand the time he was born but Christopher Columbus. If the world was round, this was possible, he thought. Columbus Day is a United States federal holiday that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. The opposition towards Christopher Columbus did not commence in todays society, or even the 21st century. Upon arriving in the New World, one of the first observations Columbus made with regards to the indigenous people was the following: 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. The Iliad can provide new insights on the role of motherhood among the ancient Greek gods, and by extension, amongst ancient mortal Greek women themselves. Why are we celebrating him? Who Destroyed the Great Library of Alexandria? Furthermore, Columbus continued to enslave Natives and abuse their nation, damage their environment, and their rights as humans. Nevertheless, Italians claim him today and Columbus Day is a good chance to recognize what Italians have contributed to America, and the world. Columbus went on forth with a lot of violence, such as cutting off a slaves nose/hands to signify power against them. Columbuss men used native girls as young as nine or ten as their sex slaves. Three other states New Mexico, Maine, Vermont followed suit this year. He completely miscalculated the distance between Europe and Japan however, estimating it to be around 2,000 nautical miles when the real distance is closer to 11,000. 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. The idea that Christopher Columbus discovered "The New World" is one of the great fallacies of history. Another reason why Columbus Day should not be celebrated is because it promotes a distorted view of history. And now Ill claim it for us! He read books, studied the ocean, and made a name for himself. What Columbus did next was nothing less than shameful. 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. -- Celebrate Italians (though there is some question as to whether Columbus would have considered himself an Italian -- he was long thought to have been born in Genoa, then an independent city-state in what is now Italy, though everyone from Greece to Portugal to Poland have claimed him as their own). 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. Reference list: Herman Lindquist, Christopher Columbus var han riktigt klok, Fischer, 1992. And Erickson was certainly as European as Columbus (at least in todays geographical terminology.) Legal Statement. 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. I'm Amy, What were his actual contributions? Those are important questions we want to ask as citizens. Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated. Once we do this, Columbus Day can be a truly inclusive holiday. Specifically, he is credited with being the first European explorer since the Vikings to explore the New World for Europeans. By 1555, there were zero full-blooded natives left on the island. Most of us can remember the day when Americans still seemed to like Christopher Columbus. His father was a wool weaver, and cheese stand owner. First, lets just put aside the paradox of discovering a land that already had a population of indigenous people. But what exactly does it mean to be civilized? The Lefts hatred of Columbus is predicated on the idea that he represents the tyrannical, western force that colonized the Americas at the expense of those already living here. On his second voyage, he landed at Hispaniola, Cuba, and Jamaica among others. Understanding controversies what Columbus did, how he did it, whether we should be commemorating him builds skills that are fundamental for understanding history and social studies. 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? Columbus Day is a national holiday in the United States that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. If the commemorations dealt at all with the impact of European exploration on the indigenous civilizations already flourishing in these discovered lands, it was often fleeting. The plan was to join up once theyd gotten the backing they needed. Thats a lesson for later. But, again, no mainland United States. Which, of course, led to a demand for more slaves. An angry mob decided to drag them. Turning points are powerful lenses through which students need to view our past. The evil deeds of Columbus far outweigh the few accomplishments he achieved. April Holloway is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. 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. Indeed, Columbus was mostly benign in his interaction with native populations. The White House is pushing National Coming Out Day as a way of changing the subject. ). Columbuss Native American slave trade morphed into the African slave trade by the mid-16th century. 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 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. Well, the Pinta was indeed, the Pinta. Columbus Day. 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. Poll shows most Americans want to celebrate Columbus Day. In response to the rebellion, Columbus ordered a brutal crackdown in which many natives were killed, and their dismembered bodies paraded through the streets. The Zinn Education Project also includes a bunch of primary sources related to Columbus, such as writings by Bartolom de La Casas. The Columbus controversy can also help students see that history is still applicable today. Read More 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. Alaska is said not to celebrate the day because it falls too close to Alaska Day (Oct . I dont think that we should start childrens education by saying that the country is built on the genocide of a group and the enslavement of another. This essay is available online and might have been used by another student. Christopher Columbus is just one of those English adaptations someone felt was preferable to pronouncing a foreign sounding name. For example, a neighbor taking a stick and beating your child as some kind of punishment might have been perfectly fine at one time. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. Now that the truth is becoming more widely known, people are pressuring their communities to stop celebrating Columbus Day. Mettler earned his Bachelors degree from William Jessup University and is an alumnus of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. When I got to high school and learned the truth about Columbus I felt betrayed. Cathedrals are some of the most awe-inspiring structures in the world, with their grandeur and intricate details captivating visitors for centuries. This follows both Minneapolis and Seattle, which adopted the new. Indigenous Peoples' Day now replaces Columbus Day in 14 states, the District of Columbia and more than 130 communities. (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. Adults Especially Gen Z Identifying as LGBT. A genocide happened in "the Americas," and it began with Columbus. He first went to sea when he was only 14 years old. 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. Spanish conquistadors couldn't believe their eyes while exploring the rugged terrain of the Andes during their invasion of Peru. Columbus Day, which is celebrated on the second Monday of October each year, has become a controversial subject for many people.

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