"It's difficult to think there exists a site anywhere with a higher concentration of cave art.". Which, of course, led to a demand for more slaves. What Does Columbus Day Mean for Hispanics? 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. More States Say Goodbye to Columbus Day | The Pew Charitable Trusts AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. (He did follow his big brother to the Caribbean two years later.). Columbus Day vs Leif Erikson Day: Who 'Discovered' America? | Time This is also apparent when he was trying to get sponsorships for the trips. ). Thankfully, Columbus Day has morphed into Indigenous Peoples Day. First of all, Christopher Columbus isnt even his name. Twelve Reasons NOT to Celebrate Columbus Day - Medium Market data provided by Factset. 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. Well, the tough thing about labeling someone as good or bad is the definitions change with the times. So the discovery of the Western Hemisphere should go to Erickson, no? 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. Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. Why is Columbus Day being renamed? Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Many people believe that Columbus Day should not be a federal holiday because Christopher Columbus was a terrible person. Be careful, this sample is accessible to everyone. Columbus went on forth with a lot of violence, such as cutting off a slaves nose/hands to signify power against them. Columbus Day (full text) Flashcards | Quizlet Columbuss Native American slave trade morphed into the African slave trade by the mid-16th century. 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. Why We Should Not Celebrate Columbus Day | ipl.org 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. The things Columbus did such as capturing the Natives as slaves just made him the man of his time, saying everyone did this, and that he needed the help anyway. All rights reserved. And its fundamentally important that they do so. 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. The main reason some Leftists dont want to celebrate Christopher Columbus is because his actions supposedly led to the genocide of Native American peoples. They also show evidence that at least 12 other groups of people entered the Americas before Columbus. Columbus tried to build and has transformed the America we have today. That alone is worth celebrating.". 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. 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 we are thankful for this land we call America, it . 8 Reasons to Hate Columbus Day - The Daily Dot 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. 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. ), Christopher Columbus initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Its the responsibility of our school system to talk about Columbus as part of our work to prepare students to be citizens. Religion was heavily forced upon the Native American tribes, and the Europeans means of dealing with their obstacles run much more inhumane. He first went to sea when he was only 14 years old. We are a hopeful species. In this 2014 piece, " Columbus Day, or 'Indigenous Peoples' Day'? 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. Some schools, cities, and institutions, such as the. The evil deeds of Columbus far outweigh the few accomplishments he achieved. Was Christopher Columbus a Hero or Villain? - Biography Within a few decades, only a few hundred of an original native population of 300,000 remained. Columbus Day is one of the oldest holidays in the USA Observing Columbus Day started back in the 18th century. The truth about Columbus Day, explained | Salon.com We all own it. 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. Columbus stood to gain significant wealth and power from his voyage, terms he negotiated with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Indigenous Peoples Day: Why it's replacing Columbus Day in many places. 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. 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. When I got to high school and learned the truth about Columbus I felt betrayed. She likes thrifting, romance novels, cooking shows, and can often be found binging documentaries. Areas within Texas and California began celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day as a means of pointing the spotlight on the natives, rather than Columbus himself. Not just Europeans, but everyone. 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.. Columbuss men also killed off slaves whenever needed. -- Celebrate Italians (though there is some question as to whether Columbus would have considered himself an Italian -- he was long thought to have been born in Genoa, then an independent city-state in what is now Italy, though everyone from Greece to Portugal to Poland have claimed him as their own). This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. 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. Columbus day is a national holiday that many countries (not all) in the USA celebrate to mark the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. If we have a holiday honoring somebody, the question on everyones mind should be, Why are we honoring them? 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. I believe thats the tact to take when looking at Chris. Reference list: Herman Lindquist, Christopher Columbus var han riktigt klok, Fischer, 1992. She is a national writer at Her Campus and the former editor-in-chief of Her Campus Rowan. We need to set the record straight early on. Columbus was definitely a brave and courageous (and lucky) captain, but his navigational skills left a lot to be desired. Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. This was a sign of things to come. Why NOT to celebrate Columbus Day | Ancient Origins (He had plenty of different ships on subsequent voyages.). Since then, it's spread across the. Since then, its spread across the nation with increasing speed, as more than 60 cities from Maine to Washington have supported the idea. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. Many books and videos show depictions of vast work forces hewing blocks of stone in the hot desert sun and carefully setting them into place. 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? Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, University Overrules Student Senate Activists; Recognizes Conservative Club, A Mansion, Yemen, and Stories of Gods Goodness, Tennessee and Mississippi Pass Bills to Protect Children from Harmful Sex Change Procedures. Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). Alaska is said not to celebrate the day because it falls too close to Alaska Day (Oct . Everything that he did sounded like it was so whimsical and as a young child yearning for an adventure I idolized him. Two Reasons why Columbus Day should not be Celebrated, This example was written and submitted by a fellow student. Usable Knowledge How many countries award holidays to non-natives? Legal Statement. your personal assistant! There are still people who believe Christopher Columbus found America and that what he did was harmless because he was being a man of his time. After a few weeks sailing, he landed in the present day Bahamas. There are several reasons why Columbus Day has become controversial. Why You Can (And Should) Still Celebrate Columbus Day 20 University Rd., 6th Floor Most Americans didn't even know much about Columbus until Washington Irving yes, that Washington Irving wrote. 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. Just bear in mind that the verb "colonize" and the terms "colony", and "colonial" derive from Columbus ("Colon", in Spanish spelling). 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Yeah. 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. (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 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. It neednt be a battleground, but a chance to celebrate the best within us. Why Do We (Still) Celebrate Columbus Day? - Learning for Justice And maybe only one reason to celebrate. And eventually hundreds of years of African slave trade but uhm, OK, fine, he was a monster.