In fact, there is proof that the Chinese, Greeks and Italians, all explored America before Columbus. Bring them to the light, if you would. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. But that, for better or worse, is how history worked pretty much everywhere for thousands of years. Columbus should not be celebrated, let alone given a day. 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. You can order an original essay written according to your instructions. This began with the spirit of Christopher Columbus. Yes, we have a federal holiday on Christmas, but Ill put that in a special category (which well call religious.). His father was a wool weaver, and cheese stand owner. Areas within Texas and California began celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day as a means of pointing the spotlight on the natives, rather than Columbus himself. 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.. Religion was heavily forced upon the Native American tribes, and the Europeans means of dealing with their obstacles run much more inhumane. Sure, Chris had been sailing since age 14. In response to the rebellion, Columbus ordered a brutal crackdown in which many natives were killed, and their dismembered bodies paraded through the streets. 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? We still have to understand the time he was born but Christopher Columbus. Nevertheless, the first official Columbus Day happened in 1892, when President Harrison issued a proclamation for Americans to commemorate the day. Columbus was a brutal and cruel man who . Howard Zinns A Peoples History of the United States includes horrific, detailed eyewitness accounts of how the Spanish explorers treated the Native Americans. Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. Nevertheless, the same could be said of Julius Caesar, but I dont know of many European countries who celebrate Julius Caesar Day. Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. 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. 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. 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. Even perpetually leftward NPR admitted today . 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. 1. First of all, Christopher Columbus isnt even his name. To realize this dream, they split up. Among the reasons cited for the Columbus Day federal holiday was that it was being observed in 40 states at the time. While Columbus Day is not a widely celebrated holiday, the question of whether or not to celebrate it are definitely up for discussion. This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. This kept them from planting crops, leading to widespread starvation. When confronted with evidence to the contrary, he simply could not conceive of the the idea that he might be wrong. The act moved Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and the new Columbus Day holiday to Mondays. 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. So partly, out of spite, here are a few reasons why Columbus Day shouldnt be celebrated. Columbuss actions arent taken into consideration as much as they should be. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. Without Columbus, the age of exploration wouldnt have been inspired in the way that it was, and has a vital place in American history. These Natives are so nice, wed be crazy not to enslave them is one contentious quote by Christopher Columbus. And Bart was left behind on the cutting room floor of history. ). 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. 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. Interests? What were his actual contributions? Those are important questions we want to ask as citizens. Columbus Day, the second Monday in October, is a nationally recognized holiday. Unfortunately, many irksome doings lay deep under the surface. And if you can, take some time to learn more about all the diversity that makes the Caribbean great. In fact, that might have been a good neighbor, whereas today That neighbor would find themselves in jail. 'Green Card Warrior' Nick Adams weighs in on 'Fox & Friends First.'. Once upon a time, teachers celebrated Columbus Day by leading children in choruses of song about the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. It was still his idea to sail west, rather than east to hit the East Indies, right? As of September 2019, nine states (Alaska, Minnesota, Vermont, South Dakota, New Mexico, Oregon, Maine and Louisiana) have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day. your personal assistant! Columbus Day is a United States federal holiday that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. Most of the time when injustices occurred, Columbus wasnt even there. Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) is generally considered to be a great explorer during the Age of Exploration . Since August, eight cities have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day, including several in just the last week. Get in touch! Everything that he did sounded like it was so whimsical and as a young child yearning for an adventure I idolized him. (Not that the West solely had these ideas, but it put them in a package that wasnt generally available elsewhere.). by sailing west. Because thats public history. Many of those enslaved would die, and were then easily replaced by some brought from the Bahamas. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. It doesn't make sense for the United States to recognize this supposed Christian with ashow more content 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. But as I got older and began learning more about the history of the Caribbean, the glossy veneer of ol Chris didnt hold up. If you want a unique paper, order it from our professional writers. While there is only limited knowledge of what pre-Columbus America was like, it did feature war, slavery, torture and plenty of brutality. or redistributed. With three boats, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, he set out in search of a better trade route to India. As part of this plan, Spaniards aimed to convert native peoples to Christianity. If Columbus had been an Englishman, or a Frenchman, would have they behaved in a different way? Indigenous Peoples Day: Why it's replacing Columbus Day in many places. 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. In fact, a new exhibition in Brazil features more than 100 artefacts dating back as far as 30,000 years ago, 18,000 years earlier than previously believed. And in general, we want to students to engage with controversy. History comes with an agenda. 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. Until his dying day Columbus maintained that the land he had discovered was Asia and not a new continent. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. Columbus stood to gain significant wealth and power from his voyage, terms he negotiated with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. Make sure your essay is plagiarism-free or hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs. Medieval Sea Monster Was Likely a Whale, New Research Reveals, What is Shambhala? The attack on Columbus Day is a major facet of the cultural . Both in an effort to secure funding for their expedition. When he was only 23. he had the idea of going to India, China and Japan. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. It is known by many as to what had happened after Americas discovery. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). 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. Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Columbus in the "New World" (on a small island off Florida) on October 12, 1492. Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/two-reasons-why-columbus-day-should-not-be-celebrated/. This criticism had quickly faded over time, and was replaced by a more pressing issue; the improper treatment towards indigenous people. Not just Europeans, but everyone. Many people believe that Columbus Day should not be a federal holiday because Christopher Columbus was a terrible person. This has started to cause a change, and many cities within America have taken on a remuneration for the controversial holiday. Yet in the past few decades, something has changed. Of course, I learned that everyone expected him to sail off the edge of a flat earth into space or sea monsters or something. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a master navigator and admiral. He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. We all own it. 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 Personified the American Spirit Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. Adults Especially Gen Z Identifying as LGBT. His contract with the monarchs, called The Capitulations. 2023 PapersOwl.com - All rights reserved. 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. 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. 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.. 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. He asked for 3 more days, and if land was not sighted, the crew could do with him as they wished. . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Personally, I dont think we should celebrate Columbus Day. Here are five reasons we should still celebrate Columbus Day. 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). Just as the country grapples with the meaning and problems of Confederate monuments, so too are schools, towns, and even whole states grappling with Columbus Day. Many are deciding to rename and refocus the holiday, choosing to call it Indigenous Peoples' Day to honor the people whose lives and cultures were irreparably damaged by the colonial conquest that the age of exploration ushered into being. Based on my experience, I think its vitally essential that teachers engage kids as young as sixth grade in questions that really interrogate Columbus. 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. Nefer Say Nefer - Was Nefertiti Buried in the Valley of the Queens? October 11, 2021 5:00 am. James Loewens Lies My Teacher Told Me, and his shorter Lies My Teacher Told Me about Christopher Columbus, critique how textbooks have covered Columbus. Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. Indeed, Columbus was mostly benign in his interaction with native populations. An angry mob decided to drag them. Ahh, well, brothers will be brothers. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Thankfully, Columbus Day has morphed into Indigenous Peoples Day. Back in 1492, Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, where he. In 1891, one of the largest mass lynchings in American history took place in New Orleans after nine Italians were acquitted of murdering the city's police chief. Growing up, I wasnt exposed to this truth. There has been much debate over whether or not Columbus Day should be celebrated. While deprivations did occur, Columbus was quick to punish those under his command who committed unjust acts against local populations Columbus did not engage in the savage acts that have been pinned on him., In addition, Columbus strictly told the crew not to do things like maraud, or rape, and instead to treat the native people with respect. They were the original immigrants to the New World, and deserve their remembrance. Captivating History, Christopher Columbus: A Captivating Guide to the Life of an Italian Explorer and His Voyages to the Americas, Captivating History, 2020 I doubt it. However, a circumspect understanding of history offers numerous reasons why Columbus should not only be celebrated, but . Its 2020 people. In addition to The Daily Citizen, his written pieces have appeared in The Daily Signal, Life News, The Colorado Independent, and The Millennial Review. 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. Most Americans didn't even know much about Columbus until Washington Irving yes, that Washington Irving wrote. What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? Here are five reasons we should still celebrate Columbus Day. Truth of Discovery Normally, the notion of discovery means encountering a place or an idea for the very first time.. In the early morning hours of the third day on October 12, the lookout . Columbus Day celebrations date back to 1792, when New York City celebrated the 300th anniversary of Columbus' landfall. Don't know where to start? When I got to high school and learned the truth about Columbus I felt betrayed. There are many good reasons as to why Columbus Day is such a controversial holiday. Columbus Is Innocent of Most of the Charges Against Him, Christopher Columbus was not perfect, but he is innocent of most of his alleged crimes. Within a few decades, only a few hundred of an original native population of 300,000 remained. . Americans, for all our faults, love adventure. Alaska was second, in 2017, enacting Indigenous Peoples Day. As these texts have become popular, and more history teachers have read them, more students have learned a more accurate account of Columbus from a younger age. Why would an academic system praise someone who was so blatantly evil? Columbus and his men raped and mistreated the slaves, especially young girls through ages nine and ten. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. There were already people living wherever he landed. Columbus Day's only silver lining may be found at historically significant sites throughout the Caribbean that connect us to history. Columbus went to live in Portugal. Below are five reasons why Columbus Day celebrants can hold their head high in 2019 rather than kowtow to guilt-based politics. It is on public record, that Columbus rewarded his soldiers by giving them Native Americans to rape. And thanks for reading this. Students need to grapple with these multiple perspectives in history and the not-so-pleasant aspects of our past. While there is plenty to criticize about Columbus, and what followed his arrival, I think this movement is missing the point. 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. The White House is pushing National Coming Out Day as a way of changing the subject. He finally ended up getting a sponsorship with the Spanish crown, and was off to explore the world. Columbus was taking advantage of opportunities to find goods by getting the help of slaves. Monday marks Columbus Day, in honor of Christopher Columbus but not all will be celebrating the Italian explorer. By REAGAN ESCUD SCOTT / Monday, October 10, 2022. The king wrote, We in his name will receive you with love and charity, respecting your freedom and that of your wives and sons and your rights of possession and we shall not compel you to baptism unless you, informed of the truth, wish to convert to our holy Catholic faith., Columbuss drive for exploration was religious. According to, Columbus believed that he was playing a part in a divine plan to Christianize the world. 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. Poll shows most Americans want to celebrate Columbus Day. Thats a lesson for later. The Vikings sailed to, and colonized parts of Newfoundland, Canada, around AD 1000. Although many people have adopted Columbus day as "Indigenous People's Day," many people will not agree that we should also have a holiday . They have no iron. Examine Columbuss "discovery" of America. We dont know exactly where this is, but its most likely one of the islands that make up modern-day Bahamas. @uknowhgse. I remember learning about Columbus as a young child and I was in awe learning about the explorer. I discovered America. Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert. Reference list: Herman Lindquist, Christopher Columbus var han riktigt klok, Fischer, 1992. Columbus wanted to test this idea. Columbus Day should be celebrated because Columbus had done a lot to get to the point of sailing. Today's woke perspective condemns Columbus Day as an unworthy holiday. Last updated by Patrick Bennett on 10/02/2021. What Columbus did next was nothing less than shameful. He would have peoples ears and noses cut off as punishments. We need to own 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? Of course, Christopher Columbus was Italian, and his day . Berkeley originally replaced Columbus Day with show more content. 2. Two Reasons why Columbus Day should not be Celebrated, This example was written and submitted by a fellow student. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A recent Marist Poll shows why: Those campaigning against Columbus Day are in the minority. If we have a holiday honoring somebody, the question on everyones mind should be, Why are we honoring them? Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. He led the way for future colonists to settle the United States. Mettler earned his Bachelors degree from William Jessup University and is an alumnus of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. SHOULD CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS BE CELEBRATED? They would make fine servants. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. 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. America is celebrating. 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. But you didnt discover a place that was already inhabited by a peaceful group of people. 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. I dont think its ever too young. She is a national writer at Her Campus and the former editor-in-chief of Her Campus Rowan. If we cannot honor anyone in human history that did not have flaws or imperfections, we cannot honor anyone at all. 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. 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. Then they would sail away together to claim their riches. Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. Consider how the first Columbus Day parade in New York was described in the newspapers. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. But many would be killed if they did not accept Christ, even if they didnt understand what the Spanish were explaining to them. Surprisingly, this holiday was first celebrated by Italians of New York in 1866 honoring Columbus's Italian Heritage, but the official celebration in Spain did not . One of the few facts Americans remember from history is "Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 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. Read More Here are my main reasons why I refuse to celebrate Columbus Day: 1. I'm not the only Italian American on board with ditching the holiday. 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. Americans have the right to celebrate whatever they chose, but the history behind Columbus Day is not to be ignored. 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. Marist shows that even with all of the attacks on Columbus, 57 percent of Americans believe it's. When Columbus landed on the island of Guanahani in 1492, North and South America were . This is also apparent when he was trying to get sponsorships for the trips. Until the mid-1700s, Christopher Columbus was not widely known among most Americans. 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. 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. Harvard Graduate School of Education First, lets just put aside the paradox of discovering a land that already had a population of indigenous people. CONTACT US: To begin, some people think Columbus is a hero because he found America, which is not true. 20 University Rd., 6th Floor 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. As known by many, Columbus Day commemorates the discovery of the New World by none other than Christopher Columbus himself. 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. A genocide happened in "the Americas," and it began with Columbus. See how Columbus Day actually become a holiday and find out who celebrates it. When it comes to celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day, I want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. But in reality, Christopher Columbus is an American hero, and he should remain as such. Yet, despite all the gruesome sacrifice and slavery, some still wish to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. Columbus Day is a national holiday in the United States that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. Chat with professional writers to choose the paper writer that suits you best. If instead of Columbus, a Chinese marine had arrived first and "colonized" America, would be blaming the Chinese for the destruction of American civilizations? Or Napoleon Bonaparte Day, for that matter. And yet he is given an American holiday for discovering AmericaYeah Ill wait for that to make sense. He read books, studied the ocean, and made a name for himself. Washington, D.C., has joined hundreds of U.S. cities in seven states in replacing Columbus Day with a day to celebrate Native Americans. Despite the time that has passed, Columbus Day still remains a subject that most people would rather not think about. Colorado did so on April 1, 1907. Christopher Columbus, as it turned out, was responsible for widespread genocide; he permitted his men to rape, murder, mutilate and enslave indigenous people.