5 reasons why columbus day should not be celebrated

The Vikings sailed to, and colonized parts of Newfoundland, Canada, around AD 1000. The American Indian Movement, among other groups, have gone as far as to state that the continuous celebration of this holiday is oppressive towards Native Americans. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. You need to be able to deeply understand the profoundly problematic past of this great nation. The attack on Columbus Day is a major facet of the cultural . And thanks for reading this. And hes credited for marking the establishment of institutionalized slavery in the West Indies. Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. (He had plenty of different ships on subsequent voyages.). Dominant narratives tend to speak about heroes in a simple sense; counternarratives can be much more critical. We still have to understand the time he was born but Christopher Columbus. 1. When Columbus first landed on American soil he was met by the Arawak native Americans. As I said in the beginning of this piece, Columbus did not discover what would become North America. He decided at an early age that this was not the life for him. (And yes, I also know many other discoverers have been posited through the ages. Posted by Zachary Mettler | Oct 14, 2019 | Opinion. There are many good reasons as to why Columbus Day is such a controversial holiday. He led the way for future colonists to settle the United States. Italian heritage. There, the brothers should have been exposed to the adventures of another explorer: Leif Erickson. 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. 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 . ), Christopher Columbus initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade. your personal assistant! Columbus wanted to expand knowledge about the world and what more it consisted of by going across the ocean. Columbus Day was invented by the Knights of Columbus in the 1930s when they were looking for a role model for school age children. This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. He thereby claimed the lifetime pension for himself, cheating the rightful claimant out of both glory and a significant amount of money. This has started to cause a change, and many cities within America have taken on a remuneration for the controversial holiday. Now that the truth is becoming more widely known, people are pressuring their communities to stop celebrating Columbus Day. Why are we celebrating him? Two Reasons why Columbus Day should not be Celebrated, This example was written and submitted by a fellow student. The New World was discovered within the same timeframe as when slave trade had begun to arise. 1. Exploring the story of Columbus postmortem voyages and the enduring mystery. 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. Along and through History, conquerors have had violent behaviour. And those multiple viewpoints may help engage students who might feel otherwise unrepresented in a history class, such as females and students of color. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. He and his crew were greeted with smiles, gifts and food. In any case, we know for a fact that Europeans traveled to America almost 500 years before Columbus. (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. Among the reasons cited for the Columbus Day federal holiday was that it was being observed in 40 states at the time. 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. Nevertheless, Italians claim him today and Columbus Day is a good chance to recognize what Italians have contributed to America, and the world. Christopher Columbus was a murderer, rapist, and thief who did not actually find America, but indeed only visited a land where Native Americans have already been living. 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. A genocide happened in "the Americas," and it began with Columbus. Columbus is often portrayed as a heroic figure who bravely discovered America, but this narrative ignores the fact that the Americas were already inhabited by millions of people before Columbus arrived. Unfortunately, many irksome doings lay deep under the surface. But as I got older and began learning more about the history of the Caribbean, the glossy veneer of ol Chris didnt hold up. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). I am sure you are familiar with his legend which states that he was born in a manger surrounded by shepherds, about Christopher Columbus: Master Double Agent and Portugals 007, about Roman Sword discovered off Oak Island radically suggests Ancient Mariners visited New World 1,000 years before Columbus, For Sale In Britain: A Small Ancient Man With A Colossal Penis, Sacred Marvels: 17 Cathedrals That Will Take Your Breath Away, In Pictures, Egyptologists Reveal a Lost Chamber in the Great Pyramid With Cosmic Rays, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Unleashing the End of the World. 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. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? Every Columbus Day I am forcibly reminded of my hatred for Christopher Columbus. Nevertheless, the first official Columbus Day happened in 1892, when President Harrison issued a proclamation for Americans to commemorate the day. Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/two-reasons-why-columbus-day-should-not-be-celebrated/. Or maybe even plan to discover your own new-to-you islands! And, while we celebrate Columbus Day, we can learn from history and also take time to honor Native Americans. Though it was disputed for many years, there is conclusive evidence that Neanderthals bred with modern humans (Homo sapiens). Because thats public history. Marist shows that even with all of the attacks on Columbus, 57 percent of Americans believe it's. uknow@gse.harvard.edu It's also why it's crucial we learn facts about Native Americans and. 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. It neednt be a battleground, but a chance to celebrate the best within us. Columbus Day is a United States federal holiday that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. To get a custom and plagiarism-free essay. As part of this plan, Spaniards aimed to convert native peoples to Christianity. 4. Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. 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. Why is he important? The Knights of Columbus lobbied state legislatures to legalize the holiday. Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. Columbuss actions arent taken into consideration as much as they should be. 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. Furthermore, Columbus continued to enslave Natives and abuse their nation, damage their environment, and their rights as humans. 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. He brought with him a letter from King Ferdinand to the Taino-Arawak Indians. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Columbus tried to build and has transformed the America we have today. Right now, across the country, cities and schools are faced with the question, Should we celebrate Columbus? Were facing similar questions about how we commemorate the confederacy and the Civil War. 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 he didnt discover America, he was the person to show the rest of the developed world that there was more far away lands. Columbus was wrong of course, and needless to say, he didnt actually discover anything the Americas had already been inhabited for thousands of years. 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. The holiday is typically observed on the second Monday in October. Pay the writer only for a finished, plagiarism-free essay that meets all your requirements. Christopher Columbus is just one of those English adaptations someone felt was preferable to pronouncing a foreign sounding name. Here are my main reasons why I refuse to celebrate Columbus Day: 1. 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 to see that it is not the essence of Columbus, but rather part of the times. Columbus Day is a patriotic holiday. If we cannot honor anyone in human history that did not have flaws or imperfections, we cannot honor anyone at all. Ahh, well, brothers will be brothers. Columbus Day, which is celebrated on the second Monday of October each year, has become a controversial subject for many people. If it wasn't for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldn't have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. 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. Dating back around 200 years, the nonreligious had been adverse to this celebration. Indeed, the promise of the West has delivered freedom and bounty such as humanity has never known. In response to the rebellion, Columbus ordered a brutal crackdown in which many natives were killed, and their dismembered bodies paraded through the streets. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Columbus Day is a national holiday in the United States that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. This criticism had quickly faded over time, and was replaced by a more pressing issue; the improper treatment towards indigenous people. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). Back in 1492, Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, where he. Lets stop idolizing people in history who dont deserve it. 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? So, enjoy the day off and celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day. 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. If we have a holiday honoring somebody, the question on everyones mind should be, Why are we honoring them? These Natives are so nice, wed be crazy not to enslave them is one contentious quote by Christopher Columbus. Columbus Day. A Blazing Weapon: Unraveling the Mystery of Greek Fire. 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. In fact, the result of Columbuss voyages was mass, Columbus didnt do too well as a governor of these new lands. This follows both Minneapolis and Seattle, which adopted the new. Their spears are made of cane. But that, for better or worse, is how history worked pretty much everywhere for thousands of years. Until his dying day Columbus maintained that the land he had discovered was Asia and not a new continent. South Dakota was the first state to rename Columbus Day, in 1990, electing to go with Native Americans' Day. But what exactly does it mean to be civilized? Thats when learning happens. Published: October 7, 2021 8.23am EDT Updated: October 7, 2021 9.53am EDT. Thousands of the Taino, or Indians as Columbus had referred to them, were shipped out to be traded internationally. Berkeley originally replaced Columbus Day with show more content. 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. Columbus Personified the American Spirit. We should honor George Washington, the Indispensable man, for his military bravado and skilled leadership as our first president, even though he owned slaves. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! This is also apparent when he was trying to get sponsorships for the trips. Both in an effort to secure funding for their expedition. Sure, he was addicted to opium, but a lot of people were at the time. But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. Turning points are powerful lenses through which students need to view our past. Hire a verified expert to write you a 100% Plagiarism-Free paper. You can order an original essay written according to your instructions. This began with the spirit of Christopher Columbus. While we are thankful for this land we call America, it . 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. Read more TOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer by Staff Reports The Zinn Education Project also includes a bunch of primary sources related to Columbus, such as writings by Bartolom de La Casas. He decimated the native population. In 1927, Chicago's outer drive, connecting the city's North and South Sides, was renamed for Leif. -- Celebrate the spread of Western civilization. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. First, lets just put aside the paradox of discovering a land that already had a population of indigenous people. It is true that the conquest of the Americas by Europeans, which starts with Columbus, was very ugly, and involved a lot of violence. Large Increase in U.S. And its fundamentally important that they do so. Why does learning about what Columbus did to Native Americans still matter today? . In addition to The Daily Citizen, his written pieces have appeared in The Daily Signal, Life News, The Colorado Independent, and The Millennial Review. It not only invalidates the legitimacy of the natives people claim to their land but also projects the notion that the natives arent people at all. European settlers not only introduced new diseases to the Americas that wiped out scores of Indigenous people, but also warfare, colonization, enslavement, and torture. If you dont like it, well kill you.) Besides that, there is ample evidence of Leif Erickson and his fellow Vikings landing in Newfoundland/Labrador around five centuries earlier. 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. 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. Personally, I dont think we should celebrate Columbus Day. There are several reasons why Columbus Day has become controversial. So yeah, Christopher Columbus, upon closer inspection, is a terrible fellow to honor. Columbus Day means that finally, America was economically assimilated to Europe, in those times peopled by Western dominant civilizations. Columbus inspired countless other explorers, both of his time and of modern time, to explore and make discoveries. Here are five reasons we should still celebrate Columbus Day. Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. Adults Especially Gen Z Identifying as LGBT. Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October. If we blame Columbus and the Spanish kings, we should also blame every other invader and conqueror in History. We think of Columbus Day as a heroic and triumphant day ever since 1970, when the holiday was legally made a national holiday. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. After you read both, let us know what you think by posting a comment. 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. To begin, some people think Columbus is a hero because he found America, which is not true. Indeed, Columbus was mostly benign in his interaction with native populations. The point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it. Or Napoleon Bonaparte Day, for that matter. ," Jake Flanagin explains why many are arguing it . If you want a unique paper, order it from our professional writers. 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. Spanish conquistadors couldn't believe their eyes while exploring the rugged terrain of the Andes during their invasion of Peru. (Not that the West solely had these ideas, but it put them in a package that wasnt generally available elsewhere.). We dont know exactly where this is, but its most likely one of the islands that make up modern-day Bahamas. But by then he was hardly the first European. Two reasons why Columbus Day should not be celebrated is that we shouldnt 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. Top 5 Reasons NOT to Celebrate Columbus Day And 1 Reason To History comes with an agenda. 1. 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. In his role, he writes about current political issues, U.S. history, political philosophy, and culture. I discovered America. 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. Well, the tough thing about labeling someone as good or bad is the definitions change with the times. The population of the Taino decreased by over two hundred thousand within sixty years. It requires looking at dominant narratives and counternarratives. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! 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. Christopher Columbus wasnt American! Alaska is said not to celebrate the day because it falls too close to Alaska Day (Oct . Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. Diseases were spread and were not able to be resisted by the sick slaves. According to a recent poll, 79% of college students support such a change. 2023 President and Fellows of Harvard College, Who do we celebrate, and why? 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. . Columbus Day is one of the oldest holidays in the USA Observing Columbus Day started back in the 18th century. 'Green Card Warrior' Nick Adams weighs in on 'Fox & Friends First.'. 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. It was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt that designated the second Monday of October (Columbus Day) as a national holiday in 1971. In fact, that might have been a good neighbor, whereas today That neighbor would find themselves in jail. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a. Growing up, I wasn't exposed to this truth. He would cut off the hands of people living in what now is Haiti for not bringing him enough gold every three months. In a racially equal world, Columbus shouldn't be celebrated. And yet he is given an American holiday for discovering AmericaYeah Ill wait for that to make sense. The next obvious question is: well, if thats not his name, what were the names of his famous ships? For if we celebrate Columbus, we are celebrating a racist genocide, massive land robbery, barbaric slavery, serial rape and systemic torture. Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. He was turned down from the Portuguese crown, Genoa crown, Venice crown, and English crown. For privacy reasons, she has previously written on Ancient Origins under the pen name April Holloway, but is now choosing to use her real name, Joanna Gillan. Not if we cant celebrate Christopher Columbus. Since August, eight cities have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day, including several in just the last week. In an era where we are fighting for racial equality celebrating false heroes is detrimental to progress. 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. "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. Christopher Columbus, as it turned out, was responsible for widespread genocide; he permitted his men to rape, murder, mutilate and enslave indigenous people. 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. Make sure your essay is plagiarism-free or hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Why We Do Not Celebrate Columbus Day. History comes with an agenda. Americans, for all our faults, love adventure. All rights reserved. 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. 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. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! 2. In 1892, a joint congressional resolution prompted President Benjamin Harrison to mark the "discovery of America by Columbus," in part because of "the devout faith of the discoverer and for the. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a "master navigator and admiral." He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. (Sarcasm intended.) According to a census taken by Columbus' men, in 1496 there were more than 1 million natives on the island of Haiti. 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. Hence, the inducement cited above.). I remember learning about Columbus as a young child and I was in awe learning about the explorer. 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. And the D.C. City Council recently approved a measure to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day. The main reason Columbus Day draws opposition is because of how the explorer's arrival to the New World affected Indigenous people. Everything that he did sounded like it was so whimsical and as a young child yearning for an adventure I idolized him. 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. Nevertheless, the same could be said of Julius Caesar, but I dont know of many European countries who celebrate Julius Caesar Day. Colorado did so on April 1, 1907. (Remember, they werent well versed in Spanish. Bring them to the light, if you would. Chris went to Spain and Bart to France. To realize this dream, they split up. One of the best parts of our humanity is that sense of discovery. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. 1. Alaska was second, in 2017, enacting Indigenous Peoples Day. (You may want to add this into the equation.). Those left were forced to work in mines and plantations. Legal Statement. If it wasnt for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldnt have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. Land was first spotted by Rodrigo de Triana, a lookout on the Pinta, and thereafter by its captain Martin Alonso Pinzo, who notified Columbus. Like Andrew Jackson, Christopher Columbus is a historical figure who is celebrated as a mythical hero. 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. Give us your paper requirements, choose a writer and well deliver the highest-quality essay! There were already people living wherever he landed. St. Ursula and her eleven thousand virgins, native peoples lived in these places all along. Since then, its spread across the nation with increasing speed, as more than 60 cities from Maine to Washington have supported the idea. They have no iron. 20 University Rd., 6th Floor Cambridge, MA 02138, Challenges? 97 students ordered this very topic and got Which, of course, led to a demand for more slaves. Turning points are powerful lenses through which students need to view our past. So, yes, in 1498 and 1502, he did reach the continental Americas. Please follow him or give him some claps please be sure thats in the plural if you enjoyed this. 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. Many people believe that Columbus Day should not be a federal holiday because Christopher Columbus was a terrible person. 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. 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. Columbuss men also killed off slaves whenever needed. Columbus killed a tremendous amount of people (genocide), and got away with it because of better equipment, men and control. 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). And now Ill claim it for us! Then they would sail away together to claim their riches. 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. Today's woke perspective condemns Columbus Day as an unworthy holiday. 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. He read books, studied the ocean, and made a name for himself. 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.

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