5 reasons why columbus day should not be celebrated

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. 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. Its 2020 people. Columbus inspired countless other explorers, both of his time and of modern time, to explore and make discoveries. -- Celebrate the spirit of exploration. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. Within a few decades, only a few hundred of an original native population of 300,000 remained. If Columbus is Off Limits to Celebrate, so are Indigenous Peoples. Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a master navigator and admiral. He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. 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. And Bart was left behind on the cutting room floor of history. Many of those enslaved would die, and were then easily replaced by some brought from the Bahamas. Our writers can help you with any type of essay. Columbus never stepped foot on North American soil. You need to be able to deeply understand the profoundly problematic past of this great nation. 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. 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. Please follow him or give him some claps please be sure thats in the plural if you enjoyed this. After you read both, let us know what you think by posting a comment. When he was only 23. he had the idea of going to India, China and Japan. . But as I got older and began learning more about the history of the Caribbean, the glossy veneer of ol Chris didnt hold up. Yes, this guy didnt commit genocide. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. Hoping to bring fresh perspectives to topics like race & politics, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0. Why should we celebrate a man who promoted and distributed so much violence when we can celebrate and honor the history of Indigenous people? 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. The act moved Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and the new Columbus Day holiday to Mondays. Columbus never even came to this country! Nevertheless, Italians claim him today and Columbus Day is a good chance to recognize what Italians have contributed to America, and the world. 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. And Im not one to turn down a national holiday for a day off work! 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It doesn't make sense for the United States to recognize this supposed Christian with ashow more content According to, Columbus believed that he was playing a part in a divine plan to Christianize the world. Yet, many continue to believe that America owes its discovery to Christopher Columbus. 20 University Rd., 6th Floor or redistributed. In fact, the result of Columbuss voyages was mass, Columbus didnt do too well as a governor of these new lands. Many states celebrate both. We need to set the record straight early on. Interests? Columbus should not be celebrated, let alone given a day. Growing up, I wasn't exposed to this truth. 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? 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. Should the United States continue to celebrate Columbus Day? Howell Public Schools Stance on Mask Mandate, In person school, more beneficial to kids. The next obvious question is: well, if thats not his name, what were the names of his famous ships? CONTACT US: Except, once Chris had succeeded in Spain, he didnt wait for his brother. In addition to The Daily Citizen, his written pieces have appeared in The Daily Signal, Life News, The Colorado Independent, and The Millennial Review. 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. Religion was heavily forced upon the Native American tribes, and the Europeans means of dealing with their obstacles run much more inhumane. He led the way for future colonists to settle the United States. As I said in the beginning of this piece, Columbus did not discover what would become North America. 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For a long time, Columbus discovery of America was an universally celebrated event, both in Europe and America. History, in fact, is the story of conquest. 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. As awareness has grown about the catastrophic effect his discovery had on Americas indigenous populations, it has increasingly been viewed as a disaster rather than triumph, and rightly so. But in reality, Christopher Columbus is an American hero, and he should remain as such. 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. Unfortunately, many irksome doings lay deep under the surface. Destiny is currently enrolled in Columbia University's MFA Writing program. While Columbus Day is not a widely celebrated holiday, the question of whether or not to celebrate it are definitely up for discussion. The population of the Taino decreased by over two hundred thousand within sixty years. This has started to cause a change, and many cities within America have taken on a remuneration for the controversial holiday. For the first time this year some calendars don't mention Columbus Day but says October 11 is 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. Columbus Day is one of the oldest holidays in the USA Observing Columbus Day started back in the 18th century. 4. Reference list: Herman Lindquist, Christopher Columbus var han riktigt klok, Fischer, 1992. Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October. Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. The point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it. It neednt be a battleground, but a chance to celebrate the best within us. This began with the spirit of Christopher Columbus. This is the Monster Celebrated on Columbus Day, The American Holocaust: Columbus and the Conquest of the New World, Multicultural View of Christopher Columbus Story, The Rise of Sexual Assault in the Military. So why Columbus Day? Then they would sail away together to claim their riches. Americans have the right to celebrate whatever they chose, but the history behind Columbus Day is not to be ignored. But many would be killed if they did not accept Christ, even if they didnt understand what the Spanish were explaining to them. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. matter in the end. 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. Columbus Did Not Discover North America. Specify your topic, deadline, number of pages and other requirements. Equipping students to grapple with the complexities of the past and the controversies of today, By grappling with the question of who we celebrate, and why, history teachers can help students navigate the complexities of the past, Resurfacing the lessons of Ferguson, which continue to resonate today, From Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day, Theres definitely a trend toward questioning Columbus Day. by sailing west. If it wasn't for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldn't have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. SHOULD CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS BE CELEBRATED? It took tremendous bravery to sail off into the unknown. He thereby claimed the lifetime pension for himself, cheating the rightful claimant out of both glory and a significant amount of money. ," Jake Flanagin explains why many are arguing it . This is also apparent when he was trying to get sponsorships for the trips. Another reason why Columbus Day should not be celebrated is because it promotes a distorted view of history. 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. original papers. Columbus stood to gain significant wealth and power from his voyage, terms he negotiated with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Here are five reasons we should still celebrate Columbus Day. And thats even if you discount the fact that native peoples lived in these places all along. And Washington, D.C., this week renamed the holiday, pending congressional approval. . And yet he is given an American holiday for discovering AmericaYeah Ill wait for that to make sense. Why are we celebrating him? 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. Now that the truth is becoming more widely known, people are pressuring their communities to stop celebrating Columbus Day. However, a circumspect understanding of history offers numerous reasons why Columbus should not only be celebrated, but . That is, South and Central America to be exact. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Europe, Asia and Africa, of course, suffered through numerous plagues of their own.). When confronted with evidence to the contrary, he simply could not conceive of the the idea that he might be wrong. 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. There, the brothers should have been exposed to the adventures of another explorer: Leif Erickson. Columbus Undertook Adventure for God and Country, After Columbus returned to Spain from his first voyage to the Americas in 1493, he wrote this in his letter to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella: They manifest the greatest affection towards all of us, exchanging valuable things for trifles, content with the very least thing or nothing at all. Always trying. I doubt it. 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. Its the responsibility of our school system to talk about Columbus as part of our work to prepare students to be citizens. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. In any case, we know for a fact that Europeans traveled to America almost 500 years before Columbus. Diseases were spread and were not able to be resisted by the sick slaves. The opposition towards Christopher Columbus did not commence in todays society, or even the 21st century. First of all, Christopher Columbus isnt even his name. 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.. Contrary to popular belief, Columbus Day is a celebration of diversity, not oppression. 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. Cambridge, MA 02138, Challenges? Christopher Columbus wasnt American! There were already people living wherever he landed. These books have fueled the trends I mentioned around Columbus Day. The evil deeds of Columbus far outweigh the few accomplishments he achieved. ), Christopher Columbus initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade. (Remember, they werent well versed in Spanish. Land was first spotted by Rodrigo de Triana, a lookout on the Pinta, and thereafter by its captain Martin Alonso Pinzo, who notified Columbus. Now, I got nothing against thousands of virgins or a good story. Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Columbus in the "New World" (on a small island off Florida) on October 12, 1492. Why is Columbus Day being renamed? Until the mid-1700s, Christopher Columbus was not widely known among most Americans. uknow@gse.harvard.edu Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+! You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! But Columbus couldnt deliver on the gold claim. 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. (And yes, I also know many other discoverers have been posited through the ages. History, in fact, is the story of conquest. Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide. The New York Society of Tammany also honored Columbus of his first voyage with the marking of his 300th anniversary. In another case, some people think Columbus was a hero because he represents a leader who went far and beyond to find America. On his 1492 voyage, Chris landed on a number of islands including some in the Bahamas very close to mainland Florida. After Columbus established the first Spanish colony at La Isabela, on the north coast of Hispaniola (modern-day Dominican Republic), relations between the Spanish and the indigenous population quickly deteriorated. Two Reasons why Columbus Day should not be Celebrated, This example was written and submitted by a fellow student. 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. Columbus went on forth with a lot of violence, such as cutting off a slaves nose/hands to signify power against them. If instead of Columbus, a Chinese marine had arrived first and "colonized" America, would be blaming the Chinese for the destruction of American civilizations? But you didnt discover a place that was already inhabited by a peaceful group of 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. A main argument for the idealization of the 15th century explorer is the idea that he was the first European to discover the Americas. He asked for 3 more days, and if land was not sighted, the crew could do with him as they wished. 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.. Make sure your essay is plagiarism-free or hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs. The main reason Columbus Day draws opposition is because of how the explorer's arrival to the New World affected Indigenous people. He would cut off the hands of people living in what now is Haiti for not bringing him enough gold every three months. Yet in the past few decades, something has changed. While there is plenty to criticize about Columbus, and what followed his arrival, I think this movement is missing the point. Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/two-reasons-why-columbus-day-should-not-be-celebrated/. 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. We may not like it, but its our shared heritage. However, his other two ships on his first voyage were the Santa Clara and the Gallega. She likes thrifting, romance novels, cooking shows, and can often be found binging documentaries. We think of Columbus Day as a heroic and triumphant day ever since 1970, when the holiday was legally made a national holiday. There are also theories that the Irish arrived far before the Vikings, and that the Chinese and Polynesians may also have also visited the Americas before Columbus. The plan was to join up once theyd gotten the backing they needed. Columbus Day's only silver lining may be found at historically significant sites throughout the Caribbean that connect us to history. Although many people have adopted Columbus day as "Indigenous People's Day," many people will not agree that we should also have a holiday . . Historical knowledge can help students create an argument to answer those questions. Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. Their spears are made of cane. 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 his role, he writes about current political issues, U.S. history, political philosophy, and culture. (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. Columbuss men used native girls as young as nine or ten as their sex slaves. Specifically, he is credited with being the first European explorer since the Vikings to explore the New World for Europeans. Not just Europeans, but everyone. Most Americans didn't even know much about Columbus until Washington Irving yes, that Washington Irving wrote. We need students to understand that Columbus is important, even if he isnt someone to be celebrated. 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. I'm Amy, Though it was disputed for many years, there is conclusive evidence that Neanderthals bred with modern humans (Homo sapiens). St. Ursula and her eleven thousand virgins, native peoples lived in these places all along. Growing up, I wasnt exposed to this truth. America is celebrating. 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. 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. Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. Columbus may have recorded that he "found" America, but he was a. mass murderer. Read More He first went to sea when he was only 14 years old. Nevertheless, the first official Columbus Day happened in 1892, when President Harrison issued a proclamation for Americans to commemorate the day. Large Increase in U.S. 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. Chris went to Spain and Bart to France. Columbus tried to build and has transformed the America we have today. He decimated the native population. Zachary Mettler works as a staff writer and communications liaison for The Daily Citizen at Focus on the Family. Columbus day represents an exploration that lead to many discoveries and examples of leadership and control.

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