The next obvious question is: well, if thats not his name, what were the names of his famous ships? If I sailed to Italy and said that I discovered this land in the name of Rowan University it wouldnt fly right? 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. Columbus Personified the American Spirit Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. 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. Destiny is currently enrolled in Columbia University's MFA Writing program. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). There are many good reasons as to why Columbus Day is such a controversial holiday. -- 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). According to, Columbus believed that he was playing a part in a divine plan to Christianize the world. He thereby claimed the lifetime pension for himself, cheating the rightful claimant out of both glory and a significant amount of money. Though it was disputed for many years, there is conclusive evidence that Neanderthals bred with modern humans (Homo sapiens). Those left were forced to work in mines and plantations. Please follow him or give him some claps please be sure thats in the plural if you enjoyed this. Understanding the Mysterious Kingdom of Shambhala, Alleged Sighting of the Mythical Manananggal in the Philippines Causes Public Anxiety, The Truth Behind the Christ Myth: Ancient Origins of the Often Used Legend Part I, The Evidence is Cut in Stone: A Compelling Argument for Lost High Technology in Ancient Egypt, Caesars Savage Human Skewers Unearthed In German Fort. What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? 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. 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. 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. For instance, they lay out what specific textbooks omitted about Columbuss involvement with the slave trade and genocide. The evil deeds of Columbus far outweigh the few accomplishments he achieved. Spanish conquistadors couldn't believe their eyes while exploring the rugged terrain of the Andes during their invasion of Peru. With as simple of a description as that, one would wonder why so much controversy arises from a legal American holiday. Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. 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. Legal Statement. Columbus was a brutal and cruel man who . Like Andrew Jackson, Christopher Columbus is a historical figure who is celebrated as a mythical hero. Read more TOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer by Staff Reports However, his other two ships on his first voyage were the Santa Clara and the Gallega. We need to own it. Indigenous Peoples Day: Why it's replacing Columbus Day in many places. We shouldn't be wasting our time on holidays that won't even. So, no, Columbus did not discover the New World.. Even though Eratosthenes (Greek mathematician living in Alexandria, Egypt, Columbus never discovered anything. But as I got older and began learning more about the history of the Caribbean, the glossy veneer of ol Chris didnt hold up. After you read both, let us know what you think by posting a comment. 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. In 1927, Chicago's outer drive, connecting the city's North and South Sides, was renamed for Leif. Who Destroyed the Great Library of Alexandria? 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. Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide. So, enjoy the day off and celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day. When it comes to celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day, I want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. History, in fact, is the story of conquest. Columbus was definitely a brave and courageous (and lucky) captain, but his navigational skills left a lot to be desired. In another case, some people think Columbus was a hero because he represents a leader who went far and beyond to find America. Columbus Day. 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. Its Cristoforo Colombo. The point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it. He was turned down from the Portuguese crown, Genoa crown, Venice crown, and English crown. Large Increase in U.S. Give us your paper requirements, choose a writer and well deliver the highest-quality essay! He led the way for future colonists to settle the United States. Christopher Columbus, as it turned out, was responsible for widespread genocide; he permitted his men to rape, murder, mutilate and enslave indigenous people. Or better yet, follow him. As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. Dominant narratives tend to speak about heroes in a simple sense; counternarratives can be much more critical. 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. It was still his idea to sail west, rather than east to hit the East Indies, right? 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. The holiday is typically observed on the second Monday in October. . Columbus should not be celebrated, let alone given a day. 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 killed a tremendous amount of people (genocide), and got away with it because of better equipment, men and control. So yeah, Christopher Columbus, upon closer inspection, is a terrible fellow to honor. The main reason Columbus Day draws opposition is because of how the explorer's arrival to the New World affected Indigenous people. 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. Henry IV of Spain known as "The Impotent" for his weakness, both on the throne and (allegedly) in the marriage chamber died in 1474. Specify your topic, deadline, number of pages and other requirements. That alone is worth celebrating.". It was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt that designated the second Monday of October (Columbus Day) as a national holiday in 1971. And yet he is given an American holiday for discovering AmericaYeah Ill wait for that to make sense. Lets stop idolizing people in history who dont deserve it. It is on public record, that Columbus rewarded his soldiers by giving them Native Americans to rape. What are some Facts about Christopher Columbus? The con for Columbus Day written by Elliot Lassitter. Now that the truth is becoming more widely known, people are pressuring their communities to stop celebrating Columbus Day. This was due to the impression that Columbus was attempting to spread Catholic influence. It consisted mostly of about 12,000 public school students grouped into 20 regiments, each commanded by a principal. Dating back around 200 years, the nonreligious had been adverse to this celebration. For example, a neighbor taking a stick and beating your child as some kind of punishment might have been perfectly fine at one time. -- Celebrate the spread of Western civilization. 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. Chat with professional writers to choose the paper writer that suits you best. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! ), Christopher Columbus initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade. European settlers not only introduced new diseases to the Americas that wiped out scores of Indigenous people, but also warfare, colonization, enslavement, and torture. Turning points are powerful lenses through which students need to view our past. The natives were removed from their villages to work in gold mines and colonial plantations. The tradition of observing Columbus Day dates back to the 18th century. Lets look at Columbus himself, to see if he meets the definition. 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. 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. The opposition towards Christopher Columbus did not commence in todays society, or even the 21st century. Washington, D.C., has joined hundreds of U.S. cities in seven states in replacing Columbus Day with a day to celebrate Native Americans. 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. There are several reasons why Columbus Day has become controversial. However, it was his brother, the cartographers idea to sail West. Columbuss men also killed off slaves whenever needed. Last updated by Patrick Bennett on 10/02/2021. 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. Columbus never stepped foot on North American soil. In this 2014 piece, " Columbus Day, or 'Indigenous Peoples' Day'? The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a master navigator and admiral. He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. uknow@gse.harvard.edu We may not like it, but its our shared heritage. Most Americans didn't even know much about Columbus until Washington Irving yes, that Washington Irving wrote. (BTW, you can find a list of over 40 of his articles here.). But by then he was hardly the first European. Columbus went on forth with a lot of violence, such as cutting off a slaves nose/hands to signify power against them. (He had plenty of different ships on subsequent voyages.). Alaska was second, in 2017, enacting Indigenous Peoples Day. Columbuss actions arent taken into consideration as much as they should be. 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/. So why Columbus Day? It took tremendous bravery to sail off into the unknown. . Growing up, I wasnt exposed to this truth. All rights reserved. And he was a talented astronomer and navigator. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? ," Jake Flanagin explains why many are arguing it . 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. "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. "Reason: he may have discovered America before Columbus; Columbus is now commonplace as . So partly, out of spite, here are a few reasons why Columbus Day shouldnt be celebrated. Other times they would go and massacre an entire village. (Not that the West solely had these ideas, but it put them in a package that wasnt generally available elsewhere.). - IPL.org; 7.Why We Should Not Celebrate Columbus Day - IPL.org; 8.Why Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated Essay . Fine, fine But he did discover America right? 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. Consider how the first Columbus Day parade in New York was described in the newspapers. While we are thankful for this land we call America, it . Here are three reasons we shouldn't celebrate Columbus Day, as a country. By 1516, there were 12,000. This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. Sorry, Mr. The attack on Columbus Day is a major facet of the cultural . Columbus Day means that finally, America was economically assimilated to Europe, in those times peopled by Western dominant civilizations. He decided at an early age that this was not the life for him. 2. Today's woke perspective condemns Columbus Day as an unworthy holiday. Columbus couldn't be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldn't return. As I said in the beginning of this piece, Columbus did not discover what would become North America. Not just Europeans, but everyone. A growing number of cities are no longer celebrating Columbus Day, swapping it for "Indigenous Peoples' Day.". About the author: Daniel Berenson contributes to Medium now and then in this case now with original and unique views on such things as squirrels, politics, fairy tales, history, and Spanish telenovelas. Interests? 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. After his voyage to America, he became one of the most well known explorers of his time. The war against the Western heritage. Columbus Day is a patriotic holiday. A Blazing Weapon: Unraveling the Mystery of Greek Fire. A lot of depopulation was caused by suicides, including some parents killing their own children to prevent them from living and growing up as a slave. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. Get in touch! 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. We think of Columbus Day as a heroic and triumphant day ever since 1970, when the holiday was legally made a national holiday. Legal Statement. As Columbus might have quipped, One good turn deserves another. Okay, he never said that, but his writings prove that he would not have been opposed to it in the least. 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. "It's difficult to think there exists a site anywhere with a higher concentration of cave art.". But heres the kicker. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. 97 students ordered this very topic and got We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. Thankfully, Columbus Day has morphed into Indigenous Peoples Day. Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. They would make fine servants. . Norimitsu Odachi: Who Could Have Possibly Wielded This Enormous 15th Century Japanese Sword? Christopher Columbus wasnt American! Columbus Did Not Discover North America. Columbus wanted to test this idea. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Some schools, cities, and institutions, such as the. Or Napoleon Bonaparte Day, for that matter. Thats a lesson for later. Then they would sail away together to claim their riches. Published: October 7, 2021 8.23am EDT Updated: October 7, 2021 9.53am EDT. 1. He asked for 3 more days, and if land was not sighted, the crew could do with him as they wished. The City Council recently voted to get rid of Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day, commemorating indigenous, aboriginal and native people.. 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 sailed to Iceland and Ireland in 1477, and to Madeira in 1478. However, because Columbus brought disasters to the Native Americans, many people opposed the Columbus celebrations. An angry mob decided to drag them. There were terrible diseases that got communicated to the natives, but he cant be blamed for that., 5. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. Columbus Day should be celebrated because Columbus had done a lot to get to the point of sailing. If Columbus is Off Limits to Celebrate, so are Indigenous Peoples. Berkeley originally replaced Columbus Day with show more content. There were already people living wherever he landed. It is perhaps worth revisiting the two distinct reasons why we celebrate Columbus Day in the first place, and . In an era where we are fighting for racial equality celebrating false heroes is detrimental to progress. And those multiple viewpoints may help engage students who might feel otherwise unrepresented in a history class, such as females and students of color. It is known by many as to what had happened after Americas discovery. Since then, it's spread across the. Christopher Columbus is just one of those English adaptations someone felt was preferable to pronouncing a foreign sounding name. Because of his voyages to America, other great explorers ventured across the Atlantic and in under one hundred years, settled the new world. 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. Pre-Columbian civilizations from Mexico to Peru were nearly all responsible for brutal violence on a large scale long before Columbus arrived on the shores of the New World including human sacrifices, even of children, sometimes by tearing out the victims still-beating heart.. Columbus wanted to expand knowledge about the world and what more it consisted of by going across the ocean. Stupid but hopeful. Curious, politically homeless, always hopeful. Market data provided by Factset. How could we look at this from a different perspective? To begin, some people think Columbus is a hero because he found America, which is not true. 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. Religion was heavily forced upon the Native American tribes, and the Europeans means of dealing with their obstacles run much more inhumane. Both in an effort to secure funding for their expedition. Columbus was wrong of course, and needless to say, he didnt actually discover anything the Americas had already been inhabited for thousands of years. And now Ill claim it for us! Her Campus may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! Sure, Chris had been sailing since age 14. Furthermore, Columbus continued to enslave Natives and abuse their nation, damage their environment, and their rights as humans. Columbus stood to gain significant wealth and power from his voyage, terms he negotiated with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. 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. 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. So the discovery of the Western Hemisphere should go to Erickson, no? St. Ursula and her eleven thousand virgins, native peoples lived in these places all along. The act moved Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and the new Columbus Day holiday to Mondays. 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. Americans, for all our faults, love adventure. Columbus Day, which is celebrated on the second Monday of October each year, has become a controversial subject for many people. We may not like it, but its our shared heritage. Why would an academic system praise someone who was so blatantly evil? He would cut off the hands of people living in what now is Haiti for not bringing him enough gold every three months. Personally, I dont think we should celebrate Columbus Day. 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? For a long time, Columbus discovery of America was an universally celebrated event, both in Europe and America. Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert. But as far as I know, no U.S. landfall. But Columbus couldnt deliver on the gold claim. 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. Columbus day represents an exploration that lead to many discoveries and examples of leadership and control. Exploring the story of Columbus postmortem voyages and the enduring mystery. 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. Most of the time when injustices occurred, Columbus wasnt even there. Historical knowledge can help students create an argument to answer those questions. 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. Yes, we have a federal holiday on Christmas, but Ill put that in a special category (which well call religious.). Bring them to the light, if you would. It neednt be a battleground, but a chance to celebrate the best within us. Columbus tried to build and has transformed the America we have today. When confronted with evidence to the contrary, he simply could not conceive of the the idea that he might be wrong. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. You need to be able to deeply understand the profoundly problematic past of this great nation. (Only 23 states give their workers a paid day off to celebrate it, according to a 2013 Pew poll). He and his crew were greeted with smiles, gifts and food. This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. In our opinion, this is something to celebrate, not the arrival of Christopher Columbus who led the way for these indigenous populations to have their culture decimated and their population murdered, displaced or forced into slavery. A main argument for the idealization of the 15th century explorer is the idea that he was the first European to discover the Americas. Alaska is said not to celebrate the day because it falls too close to Alaska Day (Oct . South Dakota was the first state to rename Columbus Day, in 1990, electing to go with Native Americans' Day. 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 writers can help you with any type of essay. Until his dying day Columbus maintained that the land he had discovered was Asia and not a new continent. With all that, there are reasons to celebrate Columbus Day. matter in the end. Within a few decades, only a few hundred of an original native population of 300,000 remained. Why does learning about what Columbus did to Native Americans still matter today? -- Celebrate the spirit of exploration. Over a dozen states and more than 130 local governments have chosen to not celebrate Columbus Day altogether or replace it with Indigenous Peoples' Day. 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. It requires looking at dominant narratives and counternarratives. Land was first spotted by Rodrigo de Triana, a lookout on the Pinta, and thereafter by its captain Martin Alonso Pinzo, who notified Columbus. Every Columbus Day I am forcibly reminded of my hatred for Christopher Columbus. By REAGAN ESCUD SCOTT / Monday, October 10, 2022. Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. The main reason some Leftists dont want to celebrate Christopher Columbus is because his actions supposedly led to the genocide of Native American peoples. Why is Columbus Day being renamed? But, again, no mainland United States. But you didnt discover a place that was already inhabited by a peaceful group of people. Jarrett Stepman writes at The Daily Signal, While Columbus, and certainly his Spanish benefactors, had an interest in the goods and gold he could return from what they thought would be Asia, the explorers primary motivation was religious., 3.
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