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. 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. Specify your topic, deadline, number of pages and other requirements. Should the United States continue to celebrate Columbus Day? But in reality, Christopher Columbus is an American hero, and he should remain as such. Is Columbus' tomb in the Dominican Republic or Seville? Elliott Lassitter and John WirtOctober 26, 2017. "Endless testimonies.prove the mild and pacific temperament of the natives. Those left were forced to work in mines and plantations. . To realize this dream, they split up. 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. 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. 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. We are a hopeful species. What Columbus did next was nothing less than shameful. How Columbus Sailed Into U.S. History, Thanks To Italians Once we do this, Columbus Day can be a truly inclusive holiday. The holiday is typically observed on the second Monday in October. As I said in the beginning of this piece, Columbus did not discover what would become North America. Columbus and his men raped and mistreated the slaves, especially young girls through ages nine and ten. Why We Shouldn't Celebrate Columbus Day - ATTN: Thats when learning happens. The idea that Christopher Columbus discovered "The New World" is one of the great fallacies of history. Areas within Texas and California began celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day as a means of pointing the spotlight on the natives, rather than Columbus himself. (He had plenty of different ships on subsequent voyages.). Growing up in St. Croix, I had a fairly typical U.S. education with fairly typical U.S. textbooks as far as I can remember. Despite not finding any of the places that his favorite books described (places in China, India and Japan), he convinced himself that they were just around the corner. Some committed suicide to avoid subjugation, others fled, but many rebelled. 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. Columbus Day: Should it be considered a federal holiday? 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. If it wasn't for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldn't have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. His first impression of the Arawaks, one of the first peoples he encountered, was . In fact, the result of Columbuss voyages was mass, Columbus didnt do too well as a governor of these new lands. Why Should We Celebrate Columbus Day Essay - 1065 Words | Cram In an era where we are fighting for racial equality celebrating false heroes is detrimental to progress. The initial recorded Columbus Day celebration in the United States was on October 12, 1792. Dominant narratives tend to speak about heroes in a simple sense; counternarratives can be much more critical. I'm Amy, We need to set the record straight early on. Religion was heavily forced upon the Native American tribes, and the Europeans means of dealing with their obstacles run much more inhumane. 10+ why columbus day should not be celebrated essay most standard Zachary Mettler works as a staff writer and communications liaison for The Daily Citizen at Focus on the Family. The New York Society of Tammany also honored Columbus of his first voyage with the marking of his 300th anniversary. There, the brothers should have been exposed to the adventures of another explorer: Leif Erickson. matter in the end. And most of all, I was taught of his discovering America. Why should we celebrate a man who promoted and distributed so much violence when we can celebrate and honor the history of Indigenous people? -- 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). But as I got older and began learning more about the history of the Caribbean, the glossy veneer of ol Chris didnt hold up. And if you can, take some time to learn more about all the diversity that makes the Caribbean great. Get in touch! "Ignore the propaganda and instead remember Christopher Columbus with gratitude and a clear conscience. This follows both Minneapolis and Seattle, which adopted the new. 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. 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. We all own it. She is a national writer at Her Campus and the former editor-in-chief of Her Campus Rowan. Despite the time that has passed, Columbus Day still remains a subject that most people would rather not think about. 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. 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 perpetually leftward NPR admitted today . 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. It involves really unpacking the past, looking for complications, and making a deep exploration into the people that made history happen, rather than just looking for a glossy overview. 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. There are many examples in his writings where he gave instructions to this effect. 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. Even after spending his whole career exploring the Caribbean, Columbus never at any point thought he had landed anywhere other than his intended destination, Asia. Until the mid-1700s, Christopher Columbus was not widely known among most Americans. 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. Mettler earned his Bachelors degree from William Jessup University and is an alumnus of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. This was a sign of things to come. One of the few facts Americans remember from history is "Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 Even if we ignore that, this one still depends on your definition of America. 2023 President and Fellows of Harvard College, Who do we celebrate, and why? 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. The population of the Taino decreased by over two hundred thousand within sixty years. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. Until his dying day Columbus maintained that the land he had discovered was Asia and not a new continent. A genocide happened in "the Americas," and it began with Columbus. I want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. Washington, D.C., has joined hundreds of U.S. cities in seven states in replacing Columbus Day with a day to celebrate Native Americans. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Not just Europeans, but everyone. Within a few decades, only a few hundred of an original native population of 300,000 remained. 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. Should Christopher Columbus Be Celebrated? - HISTORY CRUNCH Many books and videos show depictions of vast work forces hewing blocks of stone in the hot desert sun and carefully setting them into place. 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. He brought with him a letter from King Ferdinand to the Taino-Arawak Indians. These Natives are so nice, wed be crazy not to enslave them is one contentious quote by Christopher Columbus. Columbus killed a tremendous amount of people (genocide), and got away with it because of better equipment, men and control. 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. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). Why would an academic system praise someone who was so blatantly evil? 1. European settlers not only introduced new diseases to the Americas that wiped out scores of Indigenous people, but also warfare, colonization, enslavement, and torture. Nefer Say Nefer - Was Nefertiti Buried in the Valley of the Queens? What is Indigenous Peoples' Day? Does it replace Columbus - USA TODAY Columbus Personified the American Spirit Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. Why Should Columbus Day Be Celebrated | Hearinnh The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a master navigator and admiral. He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. Adults Especially Gen Z Identifying as LGBT. Many believe that they sailed even further south, maybe as far as New Brunswick. Top 5 Reasons NOT to Celebrate Columbus Day And 1 Reason To History comes with an agenda. They also show evidence that at least 12 other groups of people entered the Americas before Columbus. We still have to understand the time he was born but Christopher Columbus. 5 Reasons Not to Celebrate Columbus Day | by Dave | An Injustice! - Medium Students need to grapple with these multiple perspectives in history and the not-so-pleasant aspects of our past. 97 students ordered this very topic and got It is on public record, that Columbus rewarded his soldiers by giving them Native Americans to rape. Growing up, I wasn't exposed to this truth. Nevertheless, the same could be said of Julius Caesar, but I dont know of many European countries who celebrate Julius Caesar Day. Twelve Reasons NOT to Celebrate Columbus Day - Medium Why are we celebrating him? It doesn't make sense for the United States to recognize this supposed Christian with ashow more content That is, South and Central America to be exact. Bring them to the light, if you would. The main reason some Leftists dont want to celebrate Christopher Columbus is because his actions supposedly led to the genocide of Native American peoples. And its fundamentally important that they do so. Mother and Child Reunion Of Thetis And Achilles, Seductive Sirens of Greek Mythology and How Heroes Resisted Them, Celestial Goddess Selene: The Ancient Greek Goddess of the Moon, Pegasus of Greek Mythology: Majestic Winged Horse of Mount Olympus, Dreams of Human-Powered Flight: Daedalus and the Story of Icarus, The Warriors Who Shaped African History: The Horsemen of Oyo, Royal Mistress Jane Shore Walked Streets of London in her Underwear, Leonardo Da Vincis Notes Show He Understood Gravity Long Before Newton, Talks Begin on Repatriating Remains of Patrick Sarsfield, Irish War Hero, The Ramessid Dynasty: A Golden Era in Ancient Egypt, Unraveling the Mystery of the Carnac Stones: An Ancient Puzzle of Epic Proportions, Unraveling the Enigma of Aramu Muru, The Mysterious Gate of the Gods. Howell Public Schools Stance on Mask Mandate, In person school, more beneficial to kids. Columbus Day is a national holiday in the United States that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. And most believe the idea came from their familys time in Iceland. When I got to high school and learned the truth about Columbus I felt betrayed. 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.. 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. Why does learning about what Columbus did to Native Americans still matter today? Americans, for all our faults, love adventure. We dont know exactly where this is, but its most likely one of the islands that make up modern-day Bahamas. History, in fact, is the story of conquest. He asked for 3 more days, and if land was not sighted, the crew could do with him as they wished. Land was first spotted by Rodrigo de Triana, a lookout on the Pinta, and thereafter by its captain Martin Alonso Pinzo, who notified Columbus. What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? Columbus Day, which is celebrated on the second Monday of October each year, has become a controversial subject for many people. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. Most Americans didn't even know much about Columbus until Washington Irving yes, that Washington Irving wrote. 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. However, it was his brother, the cartographers idea to sail West. 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. What is Indigenous Peoples Day? Is it offensive to celebrate Columbus Well, the Pinta was indeed, the Pinta. By 1516, there were 12,000. The act moved Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and the new Columbus Day holiday to Mondays. 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. Why Columbus Day isn't really a national holiday Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. Cathedrals are some of the most awe-inspiring structures in the world, with their grandeur and intricate details captivating visitors for centuries. Howard Zinns A Peoples History of the United States includes horrific, detailed eyewitness accounts of how the Spanish explorers treated the Native Americans. Of course, I learned that everyone expected him to sail off the edge of a flat earth into space or sea monsters or something. Every Columbus Day I am forcibly reminded of my hatred for Christopher Columbus. Among the reasons cited for the Columbus Day federal holiday was that it was being observed in 40 states at the time. Medieval Sea Monster Was Likely a Whale, New Research Reveals, What is Shambhala? Yes, we have a federal holiday on Christmas, but Ill put that in a special category (which well call religious.). Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Exploring the story of Columbus postmortem voyages and the enduring mystery. 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. Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? 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. 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). How many countries award holidays to non-natives? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Why We Do Not Celebrate Columbus Day. Columbus couldnt be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldnt return. This is the Monster Celebrated on Columbus Day, The American Holocaust: Columbus and the Conquest of the New World, Multicultural View of Christopher Columbus Story, The Rise of Sexual Assault in the Military. If the world was round, this was possible, he thought. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. . Here are five reasons we should still celebrate Columbus Day. Historical Figures Should Be Viewed in Light of Their Greatest Achievements, Not Their Worst Mistakes. After you read both, let us know what you think by posting a comment. (You may want to add this into the equation.). She likes thrifting, romance novels, cooking shows, and can often be found binging documentaries. What Columbus Day Really Means - The American Scholar Columbus Day is a patriotic holiday. Dating back around 200 years, the nonreligious had been adverse to this celebration. We shouldn't be wasting our time on holidays that won't even. Columbus Day is one of America s oldest holidays. We need to own it. 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. Christopher Columbus, as it turned out, was responsible for widespread genocide; he permitted his men to rape, murder, mutilate and enslave indigenous people. Columbus Day was a solution to a problem that most people didn't know existed. The natives were removed from their villages to work in gold mines and colonial plantations. Once upon a time, teachers celebrated Columbus Day by leading children in choruses of song about the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. The next obvious question is: well, if thats not his name, what were the names of his famous ships? Columbus tortured and murdered many thousands of native peoples. Be careful, this sample is accessible to everyone. Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. Columbus Day celebrations date back to 1792, when New York City celebrated the 300th anniversary of Columbus' landfall. Why Columbus Does Not Deserve A Holiday - The Odyssey Online If we cannot honor anyone in human history that did not have flaws or imperfections, we cannot honor anyone at all. According to a recent poll, 79% of college students support such a change. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. In the early morning hours of the third day on October 12, the lookout . Analysis Of Columbus Day Controversy By Nannette Croce "Reason: he may have discovered America before Columbus; Columbus is now commonplace as . Italian heritage. Last updated by Patrick Bennett on 10/02/2021. When confronted with evidence to the contrary, he simply could not conceive of the the idea that he might be wrong. 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. Though it has its controversies, Columbus day should be celebrated. The holiday celebrates . Chris went to Spain and Bart to France. 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. Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. 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? 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. 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. Columbus Day vs Leif Erikson Day: Who 'Discovered' America? | Time And yes, I know Columbus was at least in part a product of his brutish times and any nation who landed on Hispaniola in 1492 might have done similar things. Except, once Chris had succeeded in Spain, he didnt wait for his brother. For the first time this year some calendars don't mention Columbus Day but says October 11 is Indigenous Peoples' Day. Columbus and St. Croix So partly, out of spite, here are a few reasons why Columbus Day shouldnt be celebrated. Certain states and localities have moved away from celebrating Christopher Columbus, and now celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated. But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. When Columbus first landed on American soil he was met by the Arawak native Americans. Both in an effort to secure funding for their expedition. . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. 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. All islands I would love to visit on a single trip. Since then, it's spread across the. Should the United States Celebrate Columbus Day? It is perhaps worth revisiting the two distinct reasons why we celebrate Columbus Day in the first place, and . And the D.C. City Council recently approved a measure to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day. And, while we celebrate Columbus Day, we can learn from history and also take time to honor Native Americans.