Why as a nation we should celebrate Columbus 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. 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which is celebrated today in the USA and honours the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the New World, is an example of outdated and misguided history. Why Schools Should Rethink How They Teach About Columbus Indeed, the promise of the West has delivered freedom and bounty such as humanity has never known. But, again, no mainland United States. We are a hopeful species. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). -- Celebrate the spread of Western civilization. Architecture of the Floating (Or Sinking) City: How Was Venice Built? Along and through History, conquerors have had violent behaviour. 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). What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? But by then he was hardly the first European. These Natives are so nice, wed be crazy not to enslave them is one contentious quote by Christopher Columbus. The next obvious question is: well, if thats not his name, what were the names of his famous ships? 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. Why Should Columbus Day Be Celebrated | Hearinnh 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. 20 University Rd., 6th Floor By 1555, there were zero full-blooded natives left on the island. We shouldn't be wasting our time on holidays that won't even. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. "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. Why Columbus Does Not Deserve A Holiday - The Odyssey Online But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. When Columbus first landed on American soil he was met by the Arawak native Americans. 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. Columbus Day was a solution to a problem that most people didn't know existed. Norimitsu Odachi: Who Could Have Possibly Wielded This Enormous 15th Century Japanese Sword? And now Ill claim it for us! . Destiny is currently enrolled in Columbia University's MFA Writing program. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. Indigenous Peoples' Day now replaces Columbus Day in 14 states, the District of Columbia and more than 130 communities. The act moved Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and the new Columbus Day holiday to Mondays. Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/two-reasons-why-columbus-day-should-not-be-celebrated/. 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. That alone is worth celebrating.". There were terrible diseases that got communicated to the natives, but he cant be blamed for that., 5. Nevertheless, the same could be said of Julius Caesar, but I dont know of many European countries who celebrate Julius Caesar Day. While Columbus Day is not a widely celebrated holiday, the question of whether or not to celebrate it are definitely up for discussion. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. Their spears are made of cane. Columbus was from a middle class family. Usable Knowledge Congress also believed the holiday would mark the contribution of immigrants to the United States. Always trying. Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) is generally considered to be a great explorer during the Age of Exploration . 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. Nevertheless, Italians claim him today and Columbus Day is a good chance to recognize what Italians have contributed to America, and the world. Columbus tortured and murdered many thousands of native peoples. If we have a holiday honoring somebody, the question on everyones mind should be, Why are we honoring them? Of course, I learned that everyone expected him to sail off the edge of a flat earth into space or sea monsters or something. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Poll shows most Americans want to celebrate Columbus Day. Market data provided by Factset. 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. Americans have the right to celebrate whatever they chose, but the history behind Columbus Day is not to be ignored. 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 would have peoples ears and noses cut off as punishments. We think of Columbus Day as a heroic and triumphant day ever since 1970, when the holiday was legally made a national holiday. In his role, he writes about current political issues, U.S. history, political philosophy, and culture. Personally, I dont think we should celebrate Columbus Day. Americans, for all our faults, love adventure. Teach Kids About Columbus Day vs Indigenous Peoples Day 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. There, the brothers should have been exposed to the adventures of another explorer: Leif Erickson. The pros and cons of Columbus Day - THE MAIN FOUR (Not that the West solely had these ideas, but it put them in a package that wasnt generally available elsewhere.). Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated - StudyMode "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. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. . Is Columbus' tomb in the Dominican Republic or Seville? If we cannot honor anyone in human history that did not have flaws or imperfections, we cannot honor anyone at all. Christopher Columbus wasnt American! Very trying! sums it up for Daniel, creator of Stories Guaranteed to Make You Sick, Dr. Crankenfuss books, Moose Jokes, & now Practically News. Not if we cant celebrate Christopher Columbus. What Does Columbus Day Mean for Hispanics? 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. Because thats public history. And most believe the idea came from their familys time in Iceland. -- 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). 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. Here Are Some Reasons Why. The New York Society of Tammany also honored Columbus of his first voyage with the marking of his 300th anniversary. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Hoping to bring fresh perspectives to topics like race & politics, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0. He thereby claimed the lifetime pension for himself, cheating the rightful claimant out of both glory and a significant amount of money. Howard Zinns A Peoples History of the United States includes horrific, detailed eyewitness accounts of how the Spanish explorers treated the Native Americans. But as far as I know, no U.S. landfall. 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. Europe, Asia and Africa, of course, suffered through numerous plagues of their own.). 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. Market data provided by Factset. With as simple of a description as that, one would wonder why so much controversy arises from a legal American holiday. 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. An angry mob decided to drag them. Examine Columbuss "discovery" of America. Why We Shouldn't Celebrate Columbus Day - Her Campus 'Green Card Warrior' Nick Adams weighs in on 'Fox & Friends First.'. Among the reasons cited for the Columbus Day federal holiday was that it was being observed in 40 states at the time. (You may want to add this into the equation.). Last updated by Patrick Bennett on 10/02/2021. Columbus day represents an exploration that lead to many discoveries and examples of leadership and control. What are some Facts about Christopher Columbus? But its not recognized in Los Angeles, where I live. One of the best parts of our humanity is that sense of discovery. The United States and several Latin American countries celebrate Columbus Day to recognize Christopher Columbus striking land in the Americas and the mixing of European and Native American Cultures. Should the United States continue to celebrate Columbus Day? Medieval Sea Monster Was Likely a Whale, New Research Reveals, What is Shambhala? Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. However, his other two ships on his first voyage were the Santa Clara and the Gallega. When it comes to celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day, I want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. On his second voyage, he landed at Hispaniola, Cuba, and Jamaica among others. 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. He shows the effect of willpower and perseverance. Why does learning about what Columbus did to Native Americans still matter today? Indeed, Columbus was mostly benign in his interaction with native populations. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Another reason why Columbus Day should not be celebrated is because it promotes a distorted view of history. Many believe that they sailed even further south, maybe as far as New Brunswick. First of all, Christopher Columbus isnt even his name. Why I Refuse To Celebrate Columbus Day - The Odyssey Online This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. And, sure he was directly responsible for the enslavement, torture, mutilation, and murder of tens of thousands of Native American people in the Caribbean islands during his quest for riches. Why more people are celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day 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. It involves grappling with multiple perspectives, a fundamental skill for historians. 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. Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. In any case, we know for a fact that Europeans traveled to America almost 500 years before Columbus. Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. 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. 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. The con for Columbus Day written by Elliot Lassitter. 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. Our writers can help you with any type of essay. Not just Europeans, but everyone. Until the mid-1700s, Christopher Columbus was not widely known among most Americans. (He did follow his big brother to the Caribbean two years later.). Yet, despite all the gruesome sacrifice and slavery, some still wish to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. First, lets just put aside the paradox of discovering a land that already had a population of indigenous people. The Knights of Columbus lobbied state legislatures to legalize the holiday. Some committed suicide to avoid subjugation, others fled, but many rebelled. 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. On his third, he named Trinidad and landed in present-day Venezuela. 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. Lastly, I would contend that historical figures should be honored by their great achievements, and not their mistakes or weaknesses. (BTW, you can find a list of over 40 of his articles here.). 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. They have no iron. Now, I got nothing against thousands of virgins or a good story. We should stop celebrating Columbus - The Bona Venture Some schools, cities, and institutions, such as the. 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. That is, South and Central America to be exact. The Vikings sailed to, and colonized parts of Newfoundland, Canada, around AD 1000. 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. Chris went to Spain and Bart to France. Turning points are powerful lenses through which students need to view our past. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a "master navigator and admiral." He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. Top 5 Reasons NOT to Celebrate Columbus Day And 1 Reason To History comes with an agenda. We still have to understand the time he was born but Christopher Columbus. Though it was disputed for many years, there is conclusive evidence that Neanderthals bred with modern humans (Homo sapiens). In this 2014 piece, " Columbus Day, or 'Indigenous Peoples' Day'? It is true that the conquest of the Americas by Europeans, which starts with Columbus, was very ugly, and involved a lot of violence. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. As a result, in 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Columbus Day into law as a way to celebrate the hero who changed the world (Bragdon 12). By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. (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! Had he have given up, the world would be drastically different today. As known by many, Columbus Day commemorates the discovery of the New World by none other than Christopher Columbus himself. 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. Stupid but hopeful. Curious, politically homeless, always hopeful. Nefer Say Nefer - Was Nefertiti Buried in the Valley of the Queens? 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 never even came to this country! 1. 10 Reasons Why We Celebrate Columbus Day - TipTopTens.com All rights reserved. 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. Top 5 Reasons NOT to Celebrate Columbus Day And 1 Reason To 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. Should the United States Celebrate Columbus Day? To begin, some people think Columbus is a hero because he found America, which is not true. Certain states and localities have moved away from celebrating Christopher Columbus, and now celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. Captivating History, Christopher Columbus: A Captivating Guide to the Life of an Italian Explorer and His Voyages to the Americas, Captivating History, 2020 America is celebrating. Legal Statement. See how Columbus Day actually become a holiday and find out who celebrates it. 2023 PapersOwl.com - All rights reserved. Her Campus may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Why Columbus Day isn't really a national holiday In addition to The Daily Citizen, his written pieces have appeared in The Daily Signal, Life News, The Colorado Independent, and The Millennial Review. 2023 President and Fellows of Harvard College, Who do we celebrate, and why? Its the responsibility of our school system to talk about Columbus as part of our work to prepare students to be citizens. Here are five reasons we should still celebrate Columbus Day. She is a national writer at Her Campus and the former editor-in-chief of Her Campus Rowan. 5 Reasons Why It's Still OK To Celebrate Columbus Day - The Hayride 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. One of the few facts Americans remember from history is "Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 Most people know of the great construction achievements of the dynastic Egyptians such as the pyramids and temples of the Giza Plateau area as well as the Sphinx. The City Council recently voted to get rid of Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day, commemorating indigenous, aboriginal and native people.. This criticism had quickly faded over time, and was replaced by a more pressing issue; the improper treatment towards indigenous people. And thanks for reading this. However, a circumspect understanding of history offers numerous reasons why Columbus should not only be celebrated, but .