5 reasons why columbus day should not be celebrated
Get in touch! Columbus and his men raped and mistreated the slaves, especially young girls through ages nine and ten. Though flawed, Columbus was a great man with an adventurous spirit, sailing the seas to prepare to establish a new world. In short, today is Christopher Columbus Day, and we should all celebrate that. With all that, there are reasons to celebrate Columbus Day. As I said in the beginning of this piece, Columbus did not discover what would become North America. As Columbus might have quipped, One good turn deserves another. Okay, he never said that, but his writings prove that he would not have been opposed to it in the least. - IPL.org; 7.Why We Should Not Celebrate Columbus Day - IPL.org; 8.Why Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated Essay . After a few weeks sailing, he landed in the present day Bahamas. Columbus Day is a United States federal holiday that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. For example, a neighbor taking a stick and beating your child as some kind of punishment might have been perfectly fine at one time. The initial recorded Columbus Day celebration in the United States was on October 12, 1792. 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. With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.. It was still his idea to sail west, rather than east to hit the East Indies, right? Interests? So, no, Columbus did not discover the New World.. With three boats, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, he set out in search of a better trade route to India. When I got to high school and learned the truth about Columbus I felt betrayed. 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. Columbuss Native American slave trade morphed into the African slave trade by the mid-16th century. Growing up, I wasnt exposed to this truth. 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. 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). Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. The war against the Western heritage. Columbus Day is a patriotic holiday. Two Reasons why Columbus Day should not be Celebrated, This example was written and submitted by a fellow student. In addition to The Daily Citizen, his written pieces have appeared in The Daily Signal, Life News, The Colorado Independent, and The Millennial Review. It consisted mostly of about 12,000 public school students grouped into 20 regiments, each commanded by a principal. If this is what it means to be civilized and our children are taught to revere Columbus and his heroic adventure, what hope is there for our future? 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. History comes with an agenda. 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. He would cut off the hands of people living in what now is Haiti for not bringing him enough gold every three months. Now that the truth is becoming more widely known, people are pressuring their communities to stop celebrating Columbus Day. 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. Ahh, well, brothers will be brothers. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. It is true that the conquest of the Americas by Europeans, which starts with Columbus, was very ugly, and involved a lot of violence. SHOULD CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS BE CELEBRATED? uknow@gse.harvard.edu He is an inspiration to many young people. He shows the effect of willpower and perseverance. And #5 gets worse. While we are thankful for this land we call America, it . By REAGAN ESCUD SCOTT / Monday, October 10, 2022. 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. I remember learning about Columbus as a young child and I was in awe learning about the explorer. Columbus Personified the American Spirit Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. As part of this plan, Spaniards aimed to convert native peoples to Christianity. He should be remembered as the cruel and incompetent man he was who let his sailors rape and pillage the islands they landed on as they pleased. Columbus Day is a national holiday in the United States that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. 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. He sailed to Iceland and Ireland in 1477, and to Madeira in 1478. Three other states New Mexico, Maine, Vermont followed suit this year. Americans, for all our faults, love adventure. And thats even if you discount the fact that native peoples lived in these places all along. Henry IV of Spain known as "The Impotent" for his weakness, both on the throne and (allegedly) in the marriage chamber died in 1474. As known by many, Columbus Day commemorates the discovery of the New World by none other than Christopher Columbus himself. Fine, fine But he did discover America right? 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. We think of Columbus Day as a heroic and triumphant day ever since 1970, when the holiday was legally made a national holiday. (Not that the West solely had these ideas, but it put them in a package that wasnt generally available elsewhere.). Columbus and St. Croix Yeah. Itd be ludicrous to say that Columbuswasnt guilty by association. Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide. Is Columbus' tomb in the Dominican Republic or Seville? Columbus Day should be celebrated because Columbus had done a lot to get to the point of sailing. Turning points are powerful lenses through which students need to view our past. When it comes to celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day, I want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. 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. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. Chris wasnt a bad guy right? "Endless testimonies.prove the mild and pacific temperament of the natives. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. If you want a unique paper, order it from our professional writers. Yes, this guy didnt commit genocide. Here are three reasons we shouldn't celebrate Columbus Day, as a country. Columbus Day. -- Celebrate the spirit of exploration. European settlers not only introduced new diseases to the Americas that wiped out scores of Indigenous people, but also warfare, colonization, enslavement, and torture. 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. Harvard Graduate School of Education 1. Without him, the modern world would not be the way it is today. The main reason some Leftists dont want to celebrate Christopher Columbus is because his actions supposedly led to the genocide of Native American peoples. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Columbus never stepped foot on North American soil. Why We Do Not Celebrate Columbus Day. Now theres a deed worth celebrating every year! Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Though it was disputed for many years, there is conclusive evidence that Neanderthals bred with modern humans (Homo sapiens). 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. The evil deeds of Columbus far outweigh the few accomplishments he achieved. And to see that it is not the essence of Columbus, but rather part of the times. (Remember, they werent well versed in Spanish. Columbus was from a middle class family. Religion was heavily forced upon the Native American tribes, and the Europeans means of dealing with their obstacles run much more inhumane. Top 5 Reasons NOT to Celebrate Columbus Day And 1 Reason To History comes with an agenda. We are a hopeful species. This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. Market data provided by Factset. Even perpetually leftward NPR admitted today . Christopher Columbus wasnt American! (And yes, I also know many other discoverers have been posited through the ages. And Im not one to turn down a national holiday for a day off work! Stupid but hopeful. Curious, politically homeless, always hopeful. Ironically, the District of Columbia is named after, you guessed it, Christopher Columbus. But I think considering the fact that Columbus also enslaved a group of people who were otherwise peaceful to him should be noted. This is where many of the peaceful natives were met with brutal deaths onboard, whether it be from disease or mistreatment from the handlers. Columbus Day was supposed to recognize the greatness of all of America's people, but especially Italians and Native Americans. Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert. On his 1492 voyage, Chris landed on a number of islands including some in the Bahamas very close to mainland Florida. South Dakota was the first state to rename Columbus Day, in 1990, electing to go with Native Americans' Day. 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. Even though Eratosthenes (Greek mathematician living in Alexandria, Egypt, Columbus never discovered anything. Like Andrew Jackson, Christopher Columbus is a historical figure who is celebrated as a mythical hero. Within the Italian community, Columbus Day symbolizes the legacy of their ancestors who immigrated to America, overcame poverty, language barriers, and above all, discrimination. So why Columbus Day? Columbus arrival is seen as the beginning of civilization in the Americas. He was the catalyst that brought more explorers across the Atlantic, who would eventually begin to explore North America, but it is . All rights reserved. 2. Dating back around 200 years, the nonreligious had been adverse to this celebration. They also show evidence that at least 12 other groups of people entered the Americas before Columbus. Make sure your essay is plagiarism-free or hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs. Monday marks Columbus Day, in honor of Christopher Columbus but not all will be celebrating the Italian explorer. Even if we ignore that, this one still depends on your definition of America. However, a circumspect understanding of history offers numerous reasons why Columbus should not only be celebrated, but . Columbus wanted to expand knowledge about the world and what more it consisted of by going across the ocean. Historical Figures Should Be Viewed in Light of Their Greatest Achievements, Not Their Worst Mistakes. For instance, they lay out what specific textbooks omitted about Columbuss involvement with the slave trade and genocide. 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. One of the (many) perks of growing up on an island in the Caribbean was that we could actually take a field trip to Columbus Landing a spot fairly close to my school where Columbus and his crew set foot in 1493 among islands he called Las Islas Virgenes, after St. Ursula and her eleven thousand virgins. If the world was round, this was possible, he thought. 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. The pro for Columbus Day written by John Wirt. Legal Statement. Which, of course, led to a demand for more slaves. We shouldn't be wasting our time on holidays that won't even. If instead of Columbus, a Chinese marine had arrived first and "colonized" America, would be blaming the Chinese for the destruction of American civilizations? It neednt be a battleground, but a chance to celebrate the best within us. 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. 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. "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. This essay is available online and might have been used by another student. Sure, Chris had been sailing since age 14. 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. 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. So, yes, in 1498 and 1502, he did reach the continental Americas. (BTW, you can find a list of over 40 of his articles here.). They have no iron. 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. 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. Many people believe that Columbus Day should not be a federal holiday because Christopher Columbus was a terrible person. Not just Europeans, but everyone. And Washington, D.C., this week renamed the holiday, pending congressional approval. Although Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering America, people had been inhabiting both North and South America for thousands of years before the 15 th century criminal explorer actually first set foot there. 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. Below are five reasons why Columbus Day celebrants can hold their head high in 2019 rather than kowtow to guilt-based politics. I dont think its ever too young. hen, on his fourth, final voyage, he landed at present-day Panama. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a "master navigator and admiral." He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. 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. Had he have given up, the world would be drastically different today. We should honor George Washington, the Indispensable man, for his military bravado and skilled leadership as our first president, even though he owned slaves. 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. Hence, the inducement cited above.). Examine Columbuss "discovery" of America. Yet in the past few decades, something has changed. As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. We may not like it, but its our shared heritage. And thanks for reading this. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. After his voyage to America, he became one of the most well known explorers of his time. What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? Columbus killed a tremendous amount of people (genocide), and got away with it because of better equipment, men and control. And now Ill claim it for us! There are many examples in his writings where he gave instructions to this effect. The act moved Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and the new Columbus Day holiday to Mondays. 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Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. 1. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. Well, the tough thing about labeling someone as good or bad is the definitions change with the times. Give us your paper requirements, choose a writer and well deliver the highest-quality essay! 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. Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated. Columbus tried to build and has transformed the America we have today. 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. But as far as I know, no U.S. landfall. Please follow him or give him some claps please be sure thats in the plural if you enjoyed this. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. On his third, he named Trinidad and landed in present-day Venezuela. 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. Of course, Christopher Columbus was Italian, and his day . The Zinn Education Project also includes a bunch of primary sources related to Columbus, such as writings by Bartolom de La Casas. 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. Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Columbus in the "New World" (on a small island off Florida) on October 12, 1492. Many believe that they sailed even further south, maybe as far as New Brunswick. Listen I know almost everyone celebrated in history enslaved people. Europe, Asia and Africa, of course, suffered through numerous plagues of their own.). Should the United States continue to celebrate Columbus Day? On October 12,1792was when it was first celebrated. Adults Especially Gen Z Identifying as LGBT. Captivating History, Christopher Columbus: A Captivating Guide to the Life of an Italian Explorer and His Voyages to the Americas, Captivating History, 2020 Read More 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. The next obvious question is: well, if thats not his name, what were the names of his famous ships? That is, South and Central America to be exact. 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 an era where we are fighting for racial equality celebrating false heroes is detrimental to progress. 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. Very trying! sums it up for Daniel, creator of Stories Guaranteed to Make You Sick, Dr. Crankenfuss books, Moose Jokes, & now Practically News. The New World was discovered within the same timeframe as when slave trade had begun to arise. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). Land was first spotted by Rodrigo de Triana, a lookout on the Pinta, and thereafter by its captain Martin Alonso Pinzo, who notified Columbus. Columbus Day means that finally, America was economically assimilated to Europe, in those times peopled by Western dominant civilizations. We need to own it. Most of us can remember the day when Americans still seemed to like Christopher Columbus. But heres the kicker. Why would an academic system praise someone who was so blatantly evil? Areas within Texas and California began celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day as a means of pointing the spotlight on the natives, rather than Columbus himself. Columbuss men used native girls as young as nine or ten as their sex slaves. 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.. Most of the time when injustices occurred, Columbus wasnt even there. If it wasnt for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldnt have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. The Knights of Columbus lobbied state legislatures to legalize the holiday. I'm not the only Italian American on board with ditching the holiday. The White House is pushing National Coming Out Day as a way of changing the subject. 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. And hes credited for marking the establishment of institutionalized slavery in the West Indies. 2023 President and Fellows of Harvard College, Who do we celebrate, and why? That alone is worth celebrating.". 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. Chat with professional writers to choose the paper writer that suits you best. But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. And yet he is given an American holiday for discovering AmericaYeah Ill wait for that to make sense. Specify your topic, deadline, number of pages and other requirements. Nevertheless, the first official Columbus Day happened in 1892, when President Harrison issued a proclamation for Americans to commemorate the day. Thankfully, Columbus Day has morphed into Indigenous Peoples Day. ," Jake Flanagin explains why many are arguing it . Columbus couldn't be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldn't return. Our writers can help you with any type of essay. Columbus day represents an exploration that lead to many discoveries and examples of leadership and control. Legal Statement. In his role, he writes about current political issues, U.S. history, political philosophy, and culture. Market data provided by Factset. 1. Always trying. Medieval Sea Monster Was Likely a Whale, New Research Reveals, What is Shambhala? Nevertheless, the same could be said of Julius Caesar, but I dont know of many European countries who celebrate Julius Caesar Day. Why is he important? Except, once Chris had succeeded in Spain, he didnt wait for his brother. 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. Last updated by Patrick Bennett on 10/02/2021. Along and through History, conquerors have had violent behaviour. If we blame Columbus and the Spanish kings, we should also blame every other invader and conqueror in History. This is also apparent when he was trying to get sponsorships for the trips. The first reason for why Christopher Columbus should not be celebrated is because he committed mass genocide against the Native Americans. Colorado did so on April 1, 1907. Architecture of the Floating (Or Sinking) City: How Was Venice Built? The natives were removed from their villages to work in gold mines and colonial plantations. His contract with the monarchs, called The Capitulations. Columbuss actions arent taken into consideration as much as they should be. Of course, I learned that everyone expected him to sail off the edge of a flat earth into space or sea monsters or something. Diseases were spread and were not able to be resisted by the sick slaves. Hoping to bring fresh perspectives to topics like race & politics, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0. He never set foot on any part of the 50 United States. The con for Columbus Day written by Elliot Lassitter. Columbus may have recorded that he "found" America, but he was a. mass murderer. 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 . But its hard for children to understand that someone who they were taught to idolize is a bad guy. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. What are some Facts about Christopher Columbus? matter in the end. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. 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. 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. We all own it. This conflict between reality and fiction is what makes Columbus Day one of the most controversial holidays in America. Some schools, cities, and institutions, such as the. Columbus went on forth with a lot of violence, such as cutting off a slaves nose/hands to signify power against them. Alaska is said not to celebrate the day because it falls too close to Alaska Day (Oct . The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a master navigator and admiral. He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. This began with the spirit of Christopher Columbus. While there is plenty to criticize about Columbus, and what followed his arrival, I think this movement is missing the point.
5 reasons why columbus day should not be celebrated