Many states celebrate both. Many believe that they sailed even further south, maybe as far as New Brunswick. 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. All rights reserved. Columbus Day should be celebrated because Columbus had done a lot to get to the point of sailing. Nevertheless, the first official Columbus Day happened in 1892, when President Harrison issued a proclamation for Americans to commemorate the day. Nefer Say Nefer - Was Nefertiti Buried in the Valley of the Queens? But by then he was hardly the first European. Personally, I dont think we should celebrate Columbus Day. He is an inspiration to many young people. If Columbus had been an Englishman, or a Frenchman, would have they behaved in a different way? Furthermore, Columbus continued to enslave Natives and abuse their nation, damage their environment, and their rights as humans. "Reason: he may have discovered America before Columbus; Columbus is now commonplace as . ," Jake Flanagin explains why many are arguing it . 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. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. If the world was round, this was possible, he thought. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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.. Growing up, I wasn't exposed to this truth. Columbus Day is one of the oldest holidays in the USA Observing Columbus Day started back in the 18th century. In fact, the result of Columbuss voyages was mass, Columbus didnt do too well as a governor of these new lands. 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. So, enjoy the day off and celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day. He read books, studied the ocean, and made a name for himself. And Washington, D.C., this week renamed the holiday, pending congressional approval. The artefacts include cave paintings and ceramic art depicting animals, hunting expeditions and the daily lives of people who lived around the Serra da Capivara in Brazil for tens of thousands of years. If I sailed to Italy and said that I discovered this land in the name of Rowan University it wouldnt fly right? Not if we cant celebrate Christopher Columbus. The next obvious question is: well, if thats not his name, what were the names of his famous ships? Likewise, Thomas Jefferson, also a slave owner, should be remembered for writing one of the most brilliant documents in the history of mankind, the Declaration of Independence, which contributed greatly to the ending of slavery and segregation in the United States. Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. Since then, it's spread across the. And #5 gets worse. Columbus stood to gain significant wealth and power from his voyage, terms he negotiated with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. So, yes, in 1498 and 1502, he did reach the continental Americas. 1. There, the brothers should have been exposed to the adventures of another explorer: Leif Erickson. He initiated a turning point in our history. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Unfortunately, many irksome doings lay deep under the surface. In 1927, Chicago's outer drive, connecting the city's North and South Sides, was renamed for Leif. And Im not one to turn down a national holiday for a day off work! Turning points are powerful lenses through which students need to view our past. According to a census taken by Columbus' men, in 1496 there were more than 1 million natives on the island of Haiti. First, lets just put aside the paradox of discovering a land that already had a population of indigenous people. 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. Or Napoleon Bonaparte Day, for that matter. In any case, we know for a fact that Europeans traveled to America almost 500 years before Columbus. Indigenous Peoples Day: Why it's replacing Columbus Day in many places. Columbus may have recorded that he "found" America, but he was a. mass murderer. The point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it. All islands I would love to visit on a single trip. When Columbus landed on the island of Guanahani in 1492, North and South America were . Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. Here are five reasons we should still celebrate Columbus Day. CONTACT US: He decided at an early age that this was not the life for him. Americans, for all our faults, love adventure. The natives were removed from their villages to work in gold mines and colonial plantations. Christopher Columbus, as it turned out, was responsible for widespread genocide; he permitted his men to rape, murder, mutilate and enslave indigenous people. 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. 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 is known by many as to what had happened after Americas discovery. Columbuss Native American slave trade morphed into the African slave trade by the mid-16th century. . And now Ill claim it for us! Harvard Graduate School of Education Now, I got nothing against thousands of virgins or a good story. Columbus Day was a solution to a problem that most people didn't know existed. On his second voyage, he landed at Hispaniola, Cuba, and Jamaica among others. This follows both Minneapolis and Seattle, which adopted the new. 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. As known by many, Columbus Day commemorates the discovery of the New World by none other than Christopher Columbus himself. The White House is pushing National Coming Out Day as a way of changing the subject. (Remember, they werent well versed in Spanish. But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. His first impression of the Arawaks, one of the first peoples he encountered, was . He would cut off the hands of people living in what now is Haiti for not bringing him enough gold every three months. In this 2014 piece, " Columbus Day, or 'Indigenous Peoples' Day'? For instance, they lay out what specific textbooks omitted about Columbuss involvement with the slave trade and genocide. Two Reasons why Columbus Day should not be Celebrated, This example was written and submitted by a fellow student. And Erickson was certainly as European as Columbus (at least in todays geographical terminology.) The point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it. 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 . South Dakota was the first state to rename Columbus Day, in 1990, electing to go with Native Americans' Day. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. After a few weeks sailing, he landed in the present day Bahamas. Then they would sail away together to claim their riches. And yet he is given an American holiday for discovering AmericaYeah Ill wait for that to make sense. In a racially equal world, Columbus shouldn't be celebrated. We are a hopeful species. It's also why it's crucial we learn facts about Native Americans and. Yet, many continue to believe that America owes its discovery to Christopher Columbus. 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. So, no, Columbus did not discover the New World.. Please follow him or give him some claps please be sure thats in the plural if you enjoyed this. 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. Lets look at Columbus himself, to see if he meets the definition. Had he have given up, the world would be drastically different today. Columbus Did Not Discover North America. 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. We all own it. And, while we celebrate Columbus Day, we can learn from history and also take time to honor Native Americans. In another case, some people think Columbus was a hero because he represents a leader who went far and beyond to find America. This began with the spirit of Christopher Columbus. Yes, this guy didnt commit genocide. Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. Why We Do Not Celebrate Columbus Day. 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. We may not like it, but its our shared heritage. Columbus couldn't be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldn't return. He brought with him a letter from King Ferdinand to the Taino-Arawak Indians. Columbus Day was invented by the Knights of Columbus in the 1930s when they were looking for a role model for school age children. Market data provided by Factset. 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. 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. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. October 11, 2021 5:00 am. If Columbus is Off Limits to Celebrate, so are Indigenous Peoples. How many countries award holidays to non-natives? (See, Columbus promised Ferdinand and Isabella so much, including gold, they had given him 17 ships and well over a thousand men for his second voyage! And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there existcountless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts thathave yet to be discovered and explained. The New York Society of Tammany also honored Columbus of his first voyage with the marking of his 300th anniversary. Sure, Chris had been sailing since age 14. Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment. . She is a national writer at Her Campus and the former editor-in-chief of Her Campus Rowan. Columbus Personified the American Spirit Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. Exploring the story of Columbus postmortem voyages and the enduring mystery. Examine Columbuss "discovery" of America. Columbus went to live in Portugal. Alaska is said not to celebrate the day because it falls too close to Alaska Day (Oct . Even though Eratosthenes (Greek mathematician living in Alexandria, Egypt, Columbus never discovered anything. 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. Its the responsibility of our school system to talk about Columbus as part of our work to prepare students to be citizens. 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 holiday is typically observed on the second Monday in October. Not many civilizations were safe when invaders arrived, from Assirians to Vikings; from Gengis Khan to the Roman Empire; from the Jewish general Joshua to the colonial British Empire. European settlers not only introduced new diseases to the Americas that wiped out scores of Indigenous people, but also warfare, colonization, enslavement, and torture. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. Columbus couldnt be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldnt return. "Ignore the propaganda and instead remember Christopher Columbus with gratitude and a clear conscience. Posted by Zachary Mettler | Oct 14, 2019 | Opinion. Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. 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 . Americans have the right to celebrate whatever they chose, but the history behind Columbus Day is not to be ignored. 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. Read More What were his actual contributions? Those are important questions we want to ask as citizens. We should honor George Washington, the Indispensable man, for his military bravado and skilled leadership as our first president, even though he owned slaves. Except, once Chris had succeeded in Spain, he didnt wait for his brother. While there is only limited knowledge of what pre-Columbus America was like, it did feature war, slavery, torture and plenty of brutality. They were the original immigrants to the New World, and deserve their remembrance. According to documents 6 " Christopher Columbus was the greatest, because he accomplished the most against the highest odds before Columbus ' time all European voyages had followed coastlines, or cross open seas to land previously known or at . Poll shows most Americans want to celebrate Columbus Day. Indeed, the promise of the West has delivered freedom and bounty such as humanity has never known. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. The pro for Columbus Day written by John Wirt. (BTW, you can find a list of over 40 of his articles here.). Nevertheless, the same could be said of Julius Caesar, but I dont know of many European countries who celebrate Julius Caesar 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. 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. 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. These books have fueled the trends I mentioned around Columbus Day. However, a circumspect understanding of history offers numerous reasons why Columbus should not only be celebrated, but . Spanish conquistadors couldn't believe their eyes while exploring the rugged terrain of the Andes during their invasion of Peru. 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. We need students to understand that Columbus is important, even if he isnt someone to be celebrated. 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. This criticism had quickly faded over time, and was replaced by a more pressing issue; the improper treatment towards indigenous people. When Columbus first landed on American soil he was met by the Arawak native Americans. 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. Ironically, the District of Columbia is named after, you guessed it, Christopher Columbus. I want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. We need to set the record straight early on. Columbus was taking advantage of opportunities to find goods by getting the help of slaves. Not just Europeans, but everyone. The holiday celebrates . It consisted mostly of about 12,000 public school students grouped into 20 regiments, each commanded by a principal. Now theres a deed worth celebrating every year! Destiny is currently enrolled in Columbia University's MFA Writing program. 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. They have no iron. And most of all, I was taught of his discovering America. 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. Without Columbus, the age of exploration wouldnt have been inspired in the way that it was, and has a vital place in American history. Be careful, this sample is accessible to everyone. Within the Italian community, Columbus Day symbolizes the legacy of their ancestors who immigrated to America, overcame poverty, language barriers, and above all, discrimination. And if you can, take some time to learn more about all the diversity that makes the Caribbean great. I dont think its ever too young. For the first time this year some calendars don't mention Columbus Day but says October 11 is Indigenous Peoples' Day. -- Celebrate the spread of Western civilization. Based on my experience, I think its vitally essential that teachers engage kids as young as sixth grade in questions that really interrogate Columbus. matter in the end. 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. When he was only 23. he had the idea of going to India, China and Japan. To realize this dream, they split up. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a master navigator and admiral. He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. ), Christopher Columbus initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade. That's my nephew, Trinidad, reveling in the joys of Caribbean sailing somewhere between St. Croix and Buck Island aboard Teroro II. Columbus and his men raped and mistreated the slaves, especially young girls through ages nine and ten. Here Are Some Reasons Why. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The Knights of Columbus lobbied state legislatures to legalize the holiday. Despite the time that has passed, Columbus Day still remains a subject that most people would rather not think about. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. Marist shows that even with all of the attacks on Columbus, 57 percent of Americans believe it's. Ahh, well, brothers will be brothers. This was a sign of things to come. 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? The main reason some Leftists dont want to celebrate Christopher Columbus is because his actions supposedly led to the genocide of Native American peoples. 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). What are some Facts about Christopher Columbus? Columbus Day, which is celebrated on the second Monday of October each year, has become a controversial subject for many people. Diseases were spread and were not able to be resisted by the sick slaves. Make sure your essay is plagiarism-free or hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs. "Endless testimonies.prove the mild and pacific temperament of the natives. As I said in the beginning of this piece, Columbus did not discover what would become North America. We asked Eric Shed, a veteran history teacher who now directs the Harvard Teacher Fellows Program, to share perspectives on the changing currents around Columbus Day and the challenges of learning and teaching history, as distinct from celebrating it. And those multiple viewpoints may help engage students who might feel otherwise unrepresented in a history class, such as females and students of color. Not just Europeans, but everyone. 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? But in reality, Christopher Columbus is an American hero, and he should remain as such. 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. 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. Aside from the despicable acts that Columbus and his people committed, there is plenty of evidence to show that Columbus was not the first foreigner to arrive on the continent anyway. 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. America is celebrating. Listen I know almost everyone celebrated in history enslaved people. This essay is available online and might have been used by another student. With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.. (2020, Aug 20). Though it was disputed for many years, there is conclusive evidence that Neanderthals bred with modern humans (Homo sapiens). We think of Columbus Day as a heroic and triumphant day ever since 1970, when the holiday was legally made a national holiday. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. This kept them from planting crops, leading to widespread starvation. Although many people have adopted Columbus day as "Indigenous People's Day," many people will not agree that we should also have a holiday . Many people believe that Columbus Day should not be a federal holiday because Christopher Columbus was a terrible person. However, his other two ships on his first voyage were the Santa Clara and the Gallega. - IPL.org; 7.Why We Should Not Celebrate Columbus Day - IPL.org; 8.Why Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated Essay . The Chilling Mystery of the Octavius Ghost Ship, Film Footage Provides Intimate View of HMS Gloucester Shipwreck, Top 8 Legendary Parties - Iconic Celebrations in Ancient History, The Spanish Inquisition: The Truth Behind the Black Legend (Part II), The Spanish Inquisition: The Truth behind the Dark Legend (Part I), Bloodthirsty Buddhists: The Sohei Warrior Monks of Feudal Japan, Dizzying Inca Rope Bridges Were Grass-Made Marvels of Engineering, Two Centuries Of Naval Espionage In Europe, Research Confirms That 20% of the Neanderthal Genome Can Be Found In Modern Humans, The Curious Apparitions of Pagan Goddesses to the German Knights Templar, The origins of human beings according to ancient Sumerian texts, Evidence that Noahs Ark Landed on a Mountain 17 Miles South of Ararat, Library in Stone: The Ica Stones of Professor Cabrera Part I, Two Sides to Every Story: The North American Martyrs Shrines and Indigenous/ Roman Catholic Relations, The Origins of the Faeries: Encoded in our Cultures Part I, Curse of the Buried Pearl: The Hunt for Ancient Treasures Part I, The Enigma of the Shugborough Inscription, Christopher Columbus: Master Double Agent and Portugals 007, Roman Sword discovered off Oak Island radically suggests Ancient Mariners visited New World 1,000 years before Columbus.

Rolla Police Department Reports, Articles OTHER