(He had plenty of different ships on subsequent voyages.). Reference list: Herman Lindquist, Christopher Columbus var han riktigt klok, Fischer, 1992. In fact, that might have been a good neighbor, whereas today That neighbor would find themselves in jail. Indigenous Peoples' Day now replaces Columbus Day in 14 states, the District of Columbia and more than 130 communities. We need to set the record straight early on. Growing up, I wasn't exposed to this truth. In recent years, the conversation has become more nuanced, as educators and people across the country have begun to explore the many reasons why celebrating Christopher Columbus is problematic: the violent abuse of indigenous peoples, the launch of the transatlantic slave trade, and the introduction of a swath of lethal diseases to an unprepared continent. Cambridge, MA 02138, Challenges? Why is he important? While we are thankful for this land we call America, it . Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. 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. Should Columbus Day Be Replaced With Indigenous Peoples Day? Harvard Graduate School of Education We should stop celebrating Columbus - The Bona Venture Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. The West has its good and bad points, but its best ideasequal rights, freedom of religion, free speech, due process, open scientific inquiry, property rights and so onhave helped all people who adopt them. Columbus killed a tremendous amount of people (genocide), and got away with it because of better equipment, men and control. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. St. Ursula and her eleven thousand virgins, native peoples lived in these places all along. Why We Shouldn't Celebrate Columbus Day - ATTN: 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. And thanks for reading this. What were his actual contributions? Those are important questions we want to ask as citizens. 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. We still have to understand the time he was born but Christopher Columbus. This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. Why We Should Celebrate Columbus Day? Free Essay Example 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. Specify your topic, deadline, number of pages and other requirements. It's also why it's crucial we learn facts about Native Americans and. In the early morning hours of the third day on October 12, the lookout . Though it was disputed for many years, there is conclusive evidence that Neanderthals bred with modern humans (Homo sapiens). How many countries award holidays to non-natives? Columbuss Native American slave trade morphed into the African slave trade by the mid-16th century. Please follow him or give him some claps please be sure thats in the plural if you enjoyed this. 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. A Blazing Weapon: Unraveling the Mystery of Greek Fire. So the discovery of the Western Hemisphere should go to Erickson, no? He thereby claimed the lifetime pension for himself, cheating the rightful claimant out of both glory and a significant amount of money. Yet, despite all the gruesome sacrifice and slavery, some still wish to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. Throughout the history of civilization, the concept of the apocalypse has been ever present, in one way or another. 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. He decimated the native population. 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 . And Washington, D.C., this week renamed the holiday, pending congressional approval. Its the responsibility of our school system to talk about Columbus as part of our work to prepare students to be citizens. Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. 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. CONTACT US: Why Should We Celebrate Columbus Day Essay - 1065 Words | Cram Washington, D.C., has joined hundreds of U.S. cities in seven states in replacing Columbus Day with a day to celebrate Native Americans. Columbus inspired countless other explorers, both of his time and of modern time, to explore and make discoveries. His first impression of the Arawaks, one of the first peoples he encountered, was . Zachary Mettler works as a staff writer and communications liaison for The Daily Citizen at Focus on the Family. On October 11, 2021, America officially recognized the inhumane treatment that the Native Americans faced for centuries and honored the brave warriors who fought against the oppression and genocide of their people. Columbus Day is one of America s oldest holidays. This essay is available online and might have been used by another student. But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. One of the best parts of our humanity is that sense of discovery. Why as a nation we should celebrate Columbus Day Columbus Day: Should it be considered a federal holiday? The act moved Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and the new Columbus Day holiday to Mondays. Another reason why Columbus Day should not be celebrated is because it promotes a distorted view of history. Why We Shouldn't Celebrate Columbus Day Essay - Bartleby Once we do this, Columbus Day can be a truly inclusive holiday. Columbus Day means that finally, America was economically assimilated to Europe, in those times peopled by Western dominant civilizations. Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. But you didnt discover a place that was already inhabited by a peaceful group of people. Now, I got nothing against thousands of virgins or a good story. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. According to a census taken by Columbus' men, in 1496 there were more than 1 million natives on the island of Haiti. 1. In fact, there is proof that the Chinese, Greeks and Italians, all explored America before Columbus. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. - IPL.org; 7.Why We Should Not Celebrate Columbus Day - IPL.org; 8.Why Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated Essay . The idea that Christopher Columbus discovered "The New World" is one of the great fallacies of history. As a direct result of Columbus discovery, indigenous Americans were enslaved, killed and oppressed to such a degree that a population of around 60 million in 1492, fell by 8090% in less than 150 years. 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. Columbus may have recorded that he "found" America, but he was a. mass murderer. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Most of the time when injustices occurred, Columbus wasnt even there. Columbus Day vs Leif Erikson Day: Who 'Discovered' America? | Time Until his dying day Columbus maintained that the land he had discovered was Asia and not a new continent. Two Reasons Why Columbus Day Should Not be Celebrated - Free Essay 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. Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) is generally considered to be a great explorer during the Age of Exploration . Most Americans didn't even know much about Columbus until Washington Irving yes, that Washington Irving wrote. What are some Facts about Christopher Columbus? "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. They would make fine servants. Columbus Day celebrations date back to 1792, when New York City celebrated the 300th anniversary of Columbus' landfall. 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. Since then, it's spread across the. It is true that the conquest of the Americas by Europeans, which starts with Columbus, was very ugly, and involved a lot of violence. The attack on Columbus Day is a major facet of the cultural . Diseases were spread and were not able to be resisted by the sick slaves. And he was a talented astronomer and navigator. History comes with an agenda. ), Christopher Columbus initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade. 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. Among the reasons cited for the Columbus Day federal holiday was that it was being observed in 40 states at the time. Why Columbus Day isn't really a national holiday Why We Shouldn't Celebrate Columbus Day - Her Campus We dont know exactly where this is, but its most likely one of the islands that make up modern-day Bahamas. Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/two-reasons-why-columbus-day-should-not-be-celebrated/. Some committed suicide to avoid subjugation, others fled, but many rebelled. And its fundamentally important that they do so. Sure, he was addicted to opium, but a lot of people were at the time. Many people believe that Columbus Day should not be a federal holiday because Christopher Columbus was a terrible person. Its 2020 people. Religion was heavily forced upon the Native American tribes, and the Europeans means of dealing with their obstacles run much more inhumane. This is also apparent when he was trying to get sponsorships for the trips. According to, Columbus believed that he was playing a part in a divine plan to Christianize the world. Columbus couldnt be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldnt return. Like Andrew Jackson, Christopher Columbus is a historical figure who is celebrated as a mythical hero. Like most Americans, I learned in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Ingrained in my mind are the names of his ships: The Nina, The Pinta and the Santa Maria. Without Columbus, the age of exploration wouldnt have been inspired in the way that it was, and has a vital place in American history. Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated - StudyMode Many believe that they sailed even further south, maybe as far as New Brunswick. Its just that Columbus was the brave one to stake his claim to a land that did not belong to him. Columbus Day was invented by the Knights of Columbus in the 1930s when they were looking for a role model for school age children. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. I believe thats the tact to take when looking at Chris. And, sure he was directly responsible for the enslavement, torture, mutilation, and murder of tens of thousands of Native American people in the Caribbean islands during his quest for riches. by sailing west. There are several reasons why Columbus Day has become controversial. Columbus Day's Meaning For Italian Americans : NPR Read More He was turned down from the Portuguese crown, Genoa crown, Venice crown, and English crown. 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). His father was a wool weaver, and cheese stand owner. Colorado did so on April 1, 1907. The population of the Taino decreased by over two hundred thousand within sixty years. Architecture of the Floating (Or Sinking) City: How Was Venice Built? It involves grappling with multiple perspectives, a fundamental skill for historians. 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. In fact, the result of Columbuss voyages was mass, Columbus didnt do too well as a governor of these new lands. Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide. On his third, he named Trinidad and landed in present-day Venezuela. Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment. October 11, 2021 5:00 am. (Only 23 states give their workers a paid day off to celebrate it, according to a 2013 Pew poll). By 1516, there were 12,000. But what exactly does it mean to be civilized? 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. Here are three reasons we shouldn't celebrate Columbus Day, as a country. I'm not the only Italian American on board with ditching the holiday. There are many examples in his writings where he gave instructions to this effect. He sailed to Iceland and Ireland in 1477, and to Madeira in 1478. Hi! For any subject. Columbus Did Not Discover North America. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! 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. 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. Columbus is also well known as a great explorer, and not the man he truly is, who hurt people in order for things to go his way and for him to get what he wants, which was power., Two Reasons Why Columbus Day Should Not be Celebrated. And #5 gets worse. . The plan was to join up once theyd gotten the backing they needed. 4. Itd be ludicrous to say that Columbuswasnt guilty by association. Why would an academic system praise someone who was so blatantly evil? This began with the spirit of Christopher Columbus. Columbuss men also killed off slaves whenever needed. The pros and cons of Columbus Day - THE MAIN FOUR What is Indigenous Peoples Day? Is it offensive to celebrate Columbus Columbus tried to build and has transformed the America we have today. When Columbus arrived in 1492, he enslaved the Natives, and took control over their way of life, and also made his way into the Caribbean Island. (Though it should be noted a large portion of the deaths of Native Americans was due to disease, not violence--an inevitable consequence of Old World illness in New World soil. Students need to grapple with these multiple perspectives in history and the not-so-pleasant aspects of our past. Twelve Reasons NOT to Celebrate Columbus Day - Medium And Im not one to turn down a national holiday for a day off work! Columbus Day: Why We Shouldn't Celebrate It - MSU Reporter The point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it. Sure, Chris had been sailing since age 14. A recent Marist Poll shows why: Those campaigning against Columbus Day are in the minority. Or Napoleon Bonaparte Day, for that matter. 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 by then he was hardly the first European. When Columbus first landed on American soil he was met by the Arawak native Americans. Columbus and his men raped and mistreated the slaves, especially young girls through ages nine and ten. 5 Things to Know About Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day According to a recent poll, 79% of college students support such a change. With three boats, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, he set out in search of a better trade route to India. Specifically, he is credited with being the first European explorer since the Vikings to explore the New World for Europeans. It consisted mostly of about 12,000 public school students grouped into 20 regiments, each commanded by a principal. Then they would sail away together to claim their riches. Why We Should Not Celebrate Columbus Day | ipl.org Should Christopher Columbus Be Celebrated? - HISTORY CRUNCH Lately a lot of people have been putting down Western civilization, but its spread is one of the greatest things thats ever happened to humanity. He would have peoples ears and noses cut off as punishments. 4 Reasons Why Columbus Day Is the Worst Holiday And those multiple viewpoints may help engage students who might feel otherwise unrepresented in a history class, such as females and students of color. Columbus Day. Sorry, Mr. Alaska was second, in 2017, enacting Indigenous Peoples Day. Lastly, I would contend that historical figures should be honored by their great achievements, and not their mistakes or weaknesses. From early colonial exploration, to our push westward with manifest destiny, to our more modern quest to outer space and landing on the moon, Americans seem to have an innate desire to push the boundaries and discover new places. But in reality, Christopher Columbus is an American hero, and he should remain as such. Historical knowledge can help students create an argument to answer those questions. Listen I know almost everyone celebrated in history enslaved people. Medieval Sea Monster Was Likely a Whale, New Research Reveals, What is Shambhala? And most of all, I was taught of his discovering America. 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 arrival is seen as the beginning of civilization in the Americas. Destiny is currently enrolled in Columbia University's MFA Writing program. 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. However, a circumspect understanding of history offers numerous reasons why Columbus should not only be celebrated, but . To begin, some people think Columbus is a hero because he found America, which is not true. There has been much debate over whether or not Columbus Day should be celebrated. The New World was discovered within the same timeframe as when slave trade had begun to arise. Cathedrals are some of the most awe-inspiring structures in the world, with their grandeur and intricate details captivating visitors for centuries. Some schools, cities, and institutions, such as the. Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Columbus in the "New World" (on a small island off Florida) on October 12, 1492. The point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it. Columbus couldn't be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldn't return. "Ignore the propaganda and instead remember Christopher Columbus with gratitude and a clear conscience. Thats when learning happens. Columbus went to live in Portugal. If you want a unique paper, order it from our professional writers. Elliott Lassitter and John WirtOctober 26, 2017. When Columbus landed on the island of Guanahani in 1492, North and South America were . I discovered America. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! We should honor George Washington, the Indispensable man, for his military bravado and skilled leadership as our first president, even though he owned slaves. Columbus Day should be celebrated because Columbus had done a lot to get to the point of sailing. Columbus Day is a patriotic holiday. 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. 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. While Columbus Day is not a widely celebrated holiday, the question of whether or not to celebrate it are definitely up for discussion. The truth about Columbus Day, explained | Salon.com -- Celebrate the spirit of exploration. So, no, Columbus did not discover the New World.. 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. 97 students ordered this very topic and got But many would be killed if they did not accept Christ, even if they didnt understand what the Spanish were explaining to them. Two Reasons why Columbus Day should not be Celebrated, This example was written and submitted by a fellow student. I want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. If the world was round, this was possible, he thought. 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. 'Green Card Warrior' Nick Adams weighs in on 'Fox & Friends First.'. He initiated a turning point in our history. If it wasn't for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldn't have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. Trends are really hard to detect in a country as divided as ours, but Ive noticed two developments in my work teaching high school and teaching at Harvard. Top 5 Reasons NOT to Celebrate Columbus Day And 1 Reason To If instead of Columbus, a Chinese marine had arrived first and "colonized" America, would be blaming the Chinese for the destruction of American civilizations? "To date, these are the oldest traces of human existence in the Americas," said archaeologist Niede Guidon who has headed a mission to carry out large-scale excavation of Piaui's interior since the 1970's. Their spears are made of cane. The slaves were to do most of Columbuss dirty work, as he was highly demanding of gold, crops, and land, which caused many of the slaves to be malnourished and sick. If it wasnt for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldnt have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. The main reason some Leftists dont want to celebrate Christopher Columbus is because his actions supposedly led to the genocide of Native American peoples. It took tremendous bravery to sail off into the unknown. 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. Some of my students entered high school aware of the problematic nature of Columbus but their thinking is, Well, Columbus is not important to study, because he didnt do anything. We have to push back on that.
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