Architecture of the Floating (Or Sinking) City: How Was Venice Built? So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). By REAGAN ESCUD SCOTT / Monday, October 10, 2022. Columbus wanted to test this idea. Even if we ignore that, this one still depends on your definition of America. As part of this plan, Spaniards aimed to convert native peoples to Christianity. Growing up, I wasn't exposed to this truth. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. All islands I would love to visit on a single trip. 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. 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 was from a middle class family. Thankfully, Columbus Day has morphed into Indigenous Peoples Day. Columbus day represents an exploration that lead to many discoveries and examples of leadership and control. Columbus Personified the American Spirit. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. 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). Monday marks Columbus Day, in honor of Christopher Columbus but not all will be celebrating the Italian explorer. A main argument for the idealization of the 15th century explorer is the idea that he was the first European to discover the Americas. If it wasnt for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldnt have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. More States Say Goodbye to Columbus Day | The Pew Charitable Trusts On October 11th, 2021 its 529 years since Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, or Cristoforo Colombo as he was probably known in his native Genoa, landed on the island San Salvador. ), Christopher Columbus initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The truth about Columbus Day, explained | Salon.com 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. Both in an effort to secure funding for their expedition. We need students to understand that Columbus is important, even if he isnt someone to be celebrated. You need to be able to deeply understand the profoundly problematic past of this great nation. For a long time, Columbus discovery of America was an universally celebrated event, both in Europe and America. Had he have given up, the world would be drastically different today. Why as a nation we should celebrate Columbus Day (Remember, they werent well versed in Spanish. This was a sign of things to come. If instead of Columbus, a Chinese marine had arrived first and "colonized" America, would be blaming the Chinese for the destruction of American civilizations? Americans have the right to celebrate whatever they chose, but the history behind Columbus Day is not to be ignored. Was Christopher Columbus a Hero or Villain? - Biography Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Now that the truth is becoming more widely known, people are pressuring their communities to stop celebrating Columbus Day. Posted by Zachary Mettler | Oct 14, 2019 | Opinion. Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. Colorado did so on April 1, 1907. The Lefts hatred of Columbus is predicated on the idea that he represents the tyrannical, western force that colonized the Americas at the expense of those already living here. How many countries award holidays to non-natives? 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. But what exactly does it mean to be civilized? But its not recognized in Los Angeles, where I live. The point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. 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I dont think its ever too young. 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. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. He and his crew were greeted with smiles, gifts and food. Truth of Discovery Normally, the notion of discovery means encountering a place or an idea for the very first time.. Columbus Day, the second Monday in October, is a nationally recognized holiday. There are many examples in his writings where he gave instructions to this effect. Columbus tortured and murdered many thousands of native peoples. Another reason why Columbus Day should not be celebrated is because it promotes a distorted view of history. 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. Columbus never stepped foot on North American soil. @uknowhgse. See how Columbus Day actually become a holiday and find out who celebrates it. Chat with professional writers to choose the paper writer that suits you best. Columbus arrival is seen as the beginning of civilization in the Americas. One of the best parts of our humanity is that sense of discovery. The population of the Taino decreased by over two hundred thousand within sixty years. 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. We need to own it. Columbus Day, which is celebrated today in the USA and honours the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the New World, is an example of outdated and misguided history. 2023 PapersOwl.com - All rights reserved. And to see that it is not the essence of Columbus, but rather part of the times. 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. With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.. This has started to cause a change, and many cities within America have taken on a remuneration for the controversial holiday. Columbuss actions arent taken into consideration as much as they should be. But Columbus couldnt deliver on the gold claim. But since the 1990s, a growing number of states have begun to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day - a holiday meant to honor the culture and history of the people living in the Americas both before and after Columbus' arrival. Very trying! sums it up for Daniel, creator of Stories Guaranteed to Make You Sick, Dr. Crankenfuss books, Moose Jokes, & now Practically News. It is true that the conquest of the Americas by Europeans, which starts with Columbus, was very ugly, and involved a lot of violence. Columbus Undertook Adventure for God and Country, After Columbus returned to Spain from his first voyage to the Americas in 1493, he wrote this in his letter to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella: They manifest the greatest affection towards all of us, exchanging valuable things for trifles, content with the very least thing or nothing at all. The Andy Griffith Show Remains a Masterclass in Leadership and Life, Births in Japan Fall to Record Low Amid Catastrophic Population Decline, Foretelling Worlds Future. He thereby claimed the lifetime pension for himself, cheating the rightful claimant out of both glory and a significant amount of money. Within a few decades, only a few hundred of an original native population of 300,000 remained. Because of his voyages to America, other great explorers ventured across the Atlantic and in under one hundred years, settled the new world. Columbus Day is a national holiday in the United States that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. 1. Europe, Asia and Africa, of course, suffered through numerous plagues of their own.). Should columbus day be celebrated. Should Christopher Columbus Be The pro for Columbus Day written by John Wirt. Other times they would go and massacre an entire village. But the fact of the matter is that he started the colonialism within North America, enslaved groups of people, and laid out the groundwork for others to do the same is damning. Pay the writer only for a finished, plagiarism-free essay that meets all your requirements. 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. -- Celebrate the spread of Western civilization. Christopher Columbus may have been a daring adventurer but he is not someone we want our kids to think of as a hero or role model. Specifically, he is credited with being the first European explorer since the Vikings to explore the New World for Europeans. Sure, Chris had been sailing since age 14. Ahh, well, brothers will be brothers. Dominant narratives tend to speak about heroes in a simple sense; counternarratives can be much more critical. First, lets just put aside the paradox of discovering a land that already had a population of indigenous people. Not just Europeans, but everyone. Adults Especially Gen Z Identifying as LGBT. 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 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. . In another case, some people think Columbus was a hero because he represents a leader who went far and beyond to find America. He sailed to Iceland and Ireland in 1477, and to Madeira in 1478. An angry mob decided to drag them. So why Columbus Day? (And yes, I also know many other discoverers have been posited through the ages. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Historical Figures Should Be Viewed in Light of Their Greatest Achievements, Not Their Worst Mistakes. Dating back around 200 years, the nonreligious had been adverse to this celebration. The war against the Western heritage. Stupid but hopeful. Curious, politically homeless, always hopeful. He first went to sea when he was only 14 years old. However, because Columbus brought disasters to the Native Americans, many people opposed the Columbus celebrations. On his third, he named Trinidad and landed in present-day Venezuela. Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. In his free time, Mettler enjoys reading, running, hiking, backpacking, and walking his dog. 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. Columbus stood to gain significant wealth and power from his voyage, terms he negotiated with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. 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. I'm Amy, 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 . The opposition towards Christopher Columbus did not commence in todays society, or even the 21st century. The White House is pushing National Coming Out Day as a way of changing the subject. 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. Yes, we have a federal holiday on Christmas, but Ill put that in a special category (which well call religious.). 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. The Knights of Columbus lobbied state legislatures to legalize the holiday. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Hi! We still have to understand the time he was born but Christopher Columbus. Because thats public history. 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. If this is what it means to be civilized and our children are taught to revere Columbus and his heroic adventure, what hope is there for our future? 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 as a federal holiday: Time to end it? | Pro/Con - Inquirer.com Please follow him or give him some claps please be sure thats in the plural if you enjoyed this. Should the United States continue to celebrate Columbus Day? The plan was to join up once theyd gotten the backing they needed. Last updated by Patrick Bennett on 10/02/2021. Alaska is said not to celebrate the day because it falls too close to Alaska Day (Oct . (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. "Endless testimonies.prove the mild and pacific temperament of the natives. 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. 1. According to a census taken by Columbus' men, in 1496 there were more than 1 million natives on the island of Haiti. If the commemorations dealt at all with the impact of European exploration on the indigenous civilizations already flourishing in these discovered lands, it was often fleeting. Should Christopher Columbus Be Celebrated? - HISTORY CRUNCH Though he didnt discover America, he was the person to show the rest of the developed world that there was more far away lands. Its just that Columbus was the brave one to stake his claim to a land that did not belong to him. But as I got older and began learning more about the history of the Caribbean, the glossy veneer of ol Chris didnt hold up. Marist shows that even with all of the attacks on Columbus, 57 percent of Americans believe it's. Here are five reasons we should still celebrate Columbus Day. Nevertheless, the same could be said of Julius Caesar, but I dont know of many European countries who celebrate Julius Caesar Day. The main reason some Leftists dont want to celebrate Christopher Columbus is because his actions supposedly led to the genocide of Native American peoples. Turning points are powerful lenses through which students need to view our past. 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.

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