Turning points are powerful lenses through which students need to view our past. How many countries award holidays to non-natives? This began with the spirit of Christopher Columbus. Lastly, I would contend that historical figures should be honored by their great achievements, and not their mistakes or weaknesses. . If we have a holiday honoring somebody, the question on everyones mind should be, Why are we honoring them? I remember learning about Columbus as a young child and I was in awe learning about the explorer. But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. Columbuss Native American slave trade morphed into the African slave trade by the mid-16th century. Who Destroyed the Great Library of Alexandria? We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. Historical knowledge can help students create an argument to answer those questions. 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. 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. Even if we ignore that, this one still depends on your definition of America. Personally, I dont think we should celebrate Columbus Day. Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. The king wrote, We in his name will receive you with love and charity, respecting your freedom and that of your wives and sons and your rights of possession and we shall not compel you to baptism unless you, informed of the truth, wish to convert to our holy Catholic faith., Columbuss drive for exploration was religious. It consisted mostly of about 12,000 public school students grouped into 20 regiments, each commanded by a principal. matter in the end. Elliott Lassitter and John WirtOctober 26, 2017. 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. Thousands of the Taino, or Indians as Columbus had referred to them, were shipped out to be traded internationally. 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. 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. While we are thankful for this land we call America, it . ," Jake Flanagin explains why many are arguing it . In an era where we are fighting for racial equality celebrating false heroes is detrimental to progress. Like Andrew Jackson, Christopher Columbus is a historical figure who is celebrated as a mythical hero. Just bear in mind that the verb "colonize" and the terms "colony", and "colonial" derive from Columbus ("Colon", in Spanish spelling). 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. Two Reasons why Columbus Day should not be Celebrated, This example was written and submitted by a fellow student. He thereby claimed the lifetime pension for himself, cheating the rightful claimant out of both glory and a significant amount of money. Other times they would go and massacre an entire village. . For instance, they lay out what specific textbooks omitted about Columbuss involvement with the slave trade and genocide. Some committed suicide to avoid subjugation, others fled, but many rebelled. Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/two-reasons-why-columbus-day-should-not-be-celebrated/. Everything that he did sounded like it was so whimsical and as a young child yearning for an adventure I idolized him. This is also apparent when he was trying to get sponsorships for the trips. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. It was first celebrated on October 12, 1792, when the New York Society of Tammany honored Columbus on the 300th anniversary of his first voyage. 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. 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. In 1927, Chicago's outer drive, connecting the city's North and South Sides, was renamed for Leif. Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Columbus in the "New World" (on a small island off Florida) on October 12, 1492. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. Columbuss actions arent taken into consideration as much as they should be. Read More Market data provided by Factset. He was the catalyst that brought more explorers across the Atlantic, who would eventually begin to explore North America, but it is . When he was only 23. he had the idea of going to India, China and Japan. Columbus Personified the American Spirit. 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. Here Are Some Reasons Why. He read books, studied the ocean, and made a name for himself. So yeah, Christopher Columbus, upon closer inspection, is a terrible fellow to honor. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. Within the Italian community, Columbus Day symbolizes the legacy of their ancestors who immigrated to America, overcame poverty, language barriers, and above all, discrimination. Sure, Chris had been sailing since age 14. Until the mid-1700s, Christopher Columbus was not widely known among most Americans. America is celebrating. Stupid but hopeful. Curious, politically homeless, always hopeful. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. A genocide happened in "the Americas," and it began with Columbus. If it wasnt for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldnt have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. When I got to high school and learned the truth about Columbus I felt betrayed. 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. Since August, eight cities have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day, including several in just the last week. . History, in fact, is the story of conquest. Growing up, I wasnt exposed to this truth. Now that the truth is becoming more widely known, people are pressuring their communities to stop celebrating Columbus Day. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Chat with professional writers to choose the paper writer that suits you best. Columbus Day. Along and through History, conquerors have had violent behaviour. The statue of Christopher Columbus remains encased in a wooden box on Marconi Plaza Aug. 12, 2020, as the sun sets on the day the Philadelphia Art Commission voted to remove it and store it while the city deliberates on a new permanent home for the controversial monument. The New York Society of Tammany also honored Columbus of his first voyage with the marking of his 300th anniversary. 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). Consider how the first Columbus Day parade in New York was described in the newspapers. If Columbus had been an Englishman, or a Frenchman, would have they behaved in a different way? I'm not the only Italian American on board with ditching the holiday. Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. In fact, that might have been a good neighbor, whereas today That neighbor would find themselves in jail. We still have to understand the time he was born but Christopher Columbus. Columbus was a brutal and cruel man who . Yet, what is rarely discussed is the barbaric genocide perpetrated by Native American tribes from Mexico to Peru against other Native Americans before the arrival of Europeans. Columbus Day was supposed to recognize the greatness of all of America's people, but especially Italians and Native Americans. A growing number of cities are no longer celebrating Columbus Day, swapping it for "Indigenous Peoples' Day.". Chris wasnt a bad guy right? She is a national writer at Her Campus and the former editor-in-chief of Her Campus Rowan. The holiday celebrates . But its hard for children to understand that someone who they were taught to idolize is a bad guy. Even the Iroquoian peoples, located in present Northeast United States, often took slaves of other tribes. According to, Columbus believed that he was playing a part in a divine plan to Christianize the world. Most of the time when injustices occurred, Columbus wasnt even there. Columbus Did Not Discover North America. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). Columbus killed a tremendous amount of people (genocide), and got away with it because of better equipment, men and control. Columbus inspired countless other explorers, both of his time and of modern time, to explore and make discoveries. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a master navigator and admiral. He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. your personal assistant! Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. When Columbus first landed on American soil he was met by the Arawak native Americans. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Hoping to bring fresh perspectives to topics like race & politics, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0. or redistributed. The first reason for why Christopher Columbus should not be celebrated is because he committed mass genocide against the Native Americans. And most believe the idea came from their familys time in Iceland. We are a hopeful species. For example, a neighbor taking a stick and beating your child as some kind of punishment might have been perfectly fine at one time. We dont want to expose young kids to graphic accounts of brutal treatment of Native Americans, but I think you want them to begin to question: What did this person do? Here are three reasons we shouldn't celebrate Columbus Day, as a country. Poll shows most Americans want to celebrate Columbus Day. 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. Destiny is currently enrolled in Columbia University's MFA Writing program. 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. On his second voyage, he landed at Hispaniola, Cuba, and Jamaica among others. Truth of Discovery Normally, the notion of discovery means encountering a place or an idea for the very first time.. That's my nephew, Trinidad, reveling in the joys of Caribbean sailing somewhere between St. Croix and Buck Island aboard Teroro II. What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? Between 1482 and 1485 Columbus traded along the Guinea and Gold coasts of tropical West Africa and made at least one voyage to Elmina, Ghana. After all of this, he made four transatlantic voyages to the new world beginning with his first famed voyage in 1492. Cambridge, MA 02138, Challenges? Reference list: Herman Lindquist, Christopher Columbus var han riktigt klok, Fischer, 1992. In an era where we are fighting for racial equality celebrating false heroes is detrimental to progress. 1. And he was a talented astronomer and navigator. Yet, many continue to believe that America owes its discovery to Christopher Columbus. Specify your topic, deadline, number of pages and other requirements. - IPL.org; 7.Why We Should Not Celebrate Columbus Day - IPL.org; 8.Why Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated Essay . Be careful, this sample is accessible to everyone. And yet he is given an American holiday for discovering AmericaYeah Ill wait for that to make sense. After Columbus established the first Spanish colony at La Isabela, on the north coast of Hispaniola (modern-day Dominican Republic), relations between the Spanish and the indigenous population quickly deteriorated. Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert. Columbus went on forth with a lot of violence, such as cutting off a slaves nose/hands to signify power against them. Without Columbus, the age of exploration wouldnt have been inspired in the way that it was, and has a vital place in American history. @uknowhgse. Columbus Day is one of America s oldest holidays. Now, I got nothing against thousands of virgins or a good story. He sailed to Iceland and Ireland in 1477, and to Madeira in 1478. Growing up, I wasn't exposed to this truth. Columbus was wrong of course, and needless to say, he didnt actually discover anything the Americas had already been inhabited for thousands of years. For any subject. We should celebrate Indigenous People's Day instead. Once we do this, Columbus Day can be a truly inclusive holiday. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Colorado did so on April 1, 1907. Here are five reasons we should still celebrate Columbus Day. 1. Columbus didnt know shit about geography! But as far as I know, no U.S. landfall. Harvard Graduate School of Education The evil deeds of Columbus far outweigh the few accomplishments he achieved. 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. 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. 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. A recent Marist Poll shows why: Those campaigning against Columbus Day are in the minority. But you didnt discover a place that was already inhabited by a peaceful group of people. Christopher Columbus, as it turned out, was responsible for widespread genocide; he permitted his men to rape, murder, mutilate and enslave indigenous people. Why We Do Not Celebrate Columbus Day. 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. Religion was heavily forced upon the Native American tribes, and the Europeans means of dealing with their obstacles run much more inhumane. Students need to grapple with these multiple perspectives in history and the not-so-pleasant aspects of our past. 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. And the D.C. City Council recently approved a measure to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day. As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. The act moved Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and the new Columbus Day holiday to Mondays. We may not like it, but its our shared heritage. But many would be killed if they did not accept Christ, even if they didnt understand what the Spanish were explaining to them. And #5 gets worse. 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. Large Increase in U.S. But I think considering the fact that Columbus also enslaved a group of people who were otherwise peaceful to him should be noted. And in general, we want to students to engage with controversy. I believe thats the tact to take when looking at Chris. Howell Public Schools Stance on Mask Mandate, In person school, more beneficial to kids. See how Columbus Day actually become a holiday and find out who celebrates it. Pay the writer only for a finished, plagiarism-free essay that meets all your requirements. 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. This was a sign of things to come. Columbus went to live in Portugal. Spanish conquistadors couldn't believe their eyes while exploring the rugged terrain of the Andes during their invasion of Peru. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. Wrong, it was his younger brother Bartholomews. Of course, I learned that everyone expected him to sail off the edge of a flat earth into space or sea monsters or something. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a "master navigator and admiral." He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. The natives were removed from their villages to work in gold mines and colonial plantations. 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. Exploring the story of Columbus postmortem voyages and the enduring mystery. 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. 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. Columbus couldn't be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldn't return. As I said in the beginning of this piece, Columbus did not discover what would become North America. He asked for 3 more days, and if land was not sighted, the crew could do with him as they wished. original papers. If you want a unique paper, order it from our professional writers. 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. It is on public record, that Columbus rewarded his soldiers by giving them Native Americans to rape. Nevertheless, the same could be said of Julius Caesar, but I dont know of many European countries who celebrate Julius Caesar Day. Columbuss men also killed off slaves whenever needed. In response to the rebellion, Columbus ordered a brutal crackdown in which many natives were killed, and their dismembered bodies paraded through the streets. But Columbus couldnt deliver on the gold claim. He would cut off the hands of people living in what now is Haiti for not bringing him enough gold every three months. Why is he important? By 1516, there were 12,000. Back in 1492, Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, where he. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, However, it was his brother, the cartographers idea to sail West. Columbus couldnt be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldnt return. In a letter that has been preserved among his personal historical records, Columbus wrote that God inspired him to make a deal with his Spanish crew and stake his life on it. After a few weeks sailing, he landed in the present day Bahamas. South Dakota was the first state to rename Columbus Day, in 1990, electing to go with Native Americans' Day. 20 University Rd., 6th Floor Make sure your essay is plagiarism-free or hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs. 1. Which, of course, led to a demand for more slaves. In his role, he writes about current political issues, U.S. history, political philosophy, and culture. Columbus Day was invented by the Knights of Columbus in the 1930s when they were looking for a role model for school age children. 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. Columbus Day is a United States federal holiday that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. Christopher Columbus is just one of those English adaptations someone felt was preferable to pronouncing a foreign sounding name. The New World was discovered within the same timeframe as when slave trade had begun to arise. (Sarcasm intended.) Columbus was from a middle class family. After his voyage to America, he became one of the most well known explorers of his time. Howard Zinns A Peoples History of the United States includes horrific, detailed eyewitness accounts of how the Spanish explorers treated the Native Americans. He brought with him a letter from King Ferdinand to the Taino-Arawak Indians. To realize this dream, they split up. Yes, we have a federal holiday on Christmas, but Ill put that in a special category (which well call religious.). Although Columbus Day remains a national holiday, given the criticism surrounding the day, some states and cities have opted to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day instead. 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. The Zinn Education Project also includes a bunch of primary sources related to Columbus, such as writings by Bartolom de La Casas. You can order an original essay written according to your instructions. Specifically, he is credited with being the first European explorer since the Vikings to explore the New World for Europeans. 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. He initiated a turning point in our history. His first impression of the Arawaks, one of the first peoples he encountered, was . Bring them to the light, if you would. 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.
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