5 reasons why columbus day should not be celebrated 5 reasons why columbus day should not be celebrated

Columbus went to live in Portugal. And those multiple viewpoints may help engage students who might feel otherwise unrepresented in a history class, such as females and students of color. Why are we celebrating him? 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, In response to the rebellion, Columbus ordered a brutal crackdown in which many natives were killed, and their dismembered bodies paraded through the streets. Columbus Personified the American Spirit Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. A recent Marist Poll shows why: Those campaigning against Columbus Day are in the minority. We should honor George Washington, the Indispensable man, for his military bravado and skilled leadership as our first president, even though he owned slaves. There are still people who believe Christopher Columbus found America and that what he did was harmless because he was being a man of his time. And thats even if you discount the fact that native peoples lived in these places all along. 2023 President and Fellows of Harvard College, Who do we celebrate, and why? 1. When he was only 23. he had the idea of going to India, China and Japan. He decided at an early age that this was not the life for him. 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. I want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. He finally ended up getting a sponsorship with the Spanish crown, and was off to explore the world. 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. His father was a wool weaver, and cheese stand owner. Read more TOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer by Staff Reports Even after spending his whole career exploring the Caribbean, Columbus never at any point thought he had landed anywhere other than his intended destination, Asia. 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. 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. With three boats, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, he set out in search of a better trade route to India. 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). She likes thrifting, romance novels, cooking shows, and can often be found binging documentaries. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! Christopher Columbus, as it turned out, was responsible for widespread genocide; he permitted his men to rape, murder, mutilate and enslave indigenous people. Europe, Asia and Africa, of course, suffered through numerous plagues of their own.). Along and through History, conquerors have had violent behaviour. And now Ill claim it for us! Itd be ludicrous to say that Columbuswasnt guilty by association. How many countries award holidays to non-natives? Hence, the inducement cited above.). 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. 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. 2023 PapersOwl.com - All rights reserved. The first reason for why Christopher Columbus should not be celebrated is because he committed mass genocide against the Native Americans. Why is Columbus Day being renamed? Although many people have adopted Columbus day as "Indigenous People's Day," many people will not agree that we should also have a holiday . Columbus inspired countless other explorers, both of his time and of modern time, to explore and make discoveries. Now theres a deed worth celebrating every year! Berkeley originally replaced Columbus Day with show more content. Columbus Day should be celebrated because Columbus had done a lot to get to the point of sailing. In his free time, Mettler enjoys reading, running, hiking, backpacking, and walking his dog. Columbus Day, the second Monday in October, is a nationally recognized holiday. 1. Not just Europeans, but everyone. The holiday is typically observed on the second Monday in October. If we blame Columbus and the Spanish kings, we should also blame every other invader and conqueror in History. October 11, 2021 5:00 am. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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The point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it. -- Celebrate the spirit of exploration. Below are five reasons why Columbus Day celebrants can hold their head high in 2019 rather than kowtow to guilt-based politics. Interests? Dominant narratives tend to speak about heroes in a simple sense; counternarratives can be much more critical. Although it has been a tradition in the United States to recognize this day as a federal holiday for many years, whether Christopher Columbus' actions merit celebration is now being questioned, and rightly so . Norimitsu Odachi: Who Could Have Possibly Wielded This Enormous 15th Century Japanese Sword? Turning points are powerful lenses through which students need to view our past. (You may want to add this into the equation.). The evil deeds of Columbus far outweigh the few accomplishments he achieved. But Columbus couldnt deliver on the gold claim. Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. 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. Cathedrals are some of the most awe-inspiring structures in the world, with their grandeur and intricate details captivating visitors for centuries. We need students to understand that Columbus is important, even if he isnt someone to be celebrated. The opposition towards Christopher Columbus did not commence in todays society, or even the 21st century. But heres the kicker. 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. If we cannot honor anyone in human history that did not have flaws or imperfections, we cannot honor anyone at all. They also show evidence that at least 12 other groups of people entered the Americas before Columbus. Columbus couldnt be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldnt return. Congress also believed the holiday would mark the contribution of immigrants to the United States. In a letter that has been preserved among his personal historical records, Columbus wrote that God inspired him to make a deal with his Spanish crew and stake his life on it. If this is what it means to be civilized and our children are taught to revere Columbus and his heroic adventure, what hope is there for our future? What are some Facts about Christopher Columbus? In his role, he writes about current political issues, U.S. history, political philosophy, and culture. Yes, this guy didnt commit genocide. The con for Columbus Day written by Elliot Lassitter. (2020, Aug 20). Students need to grapple with these multiple perspectives in history and the not-so-pleasant aspects of our past. So why Columbus Day? When confronted with evidence to the contrary, he simply could not conceive of the the idea that he might be wrong. The plan was to join up once theyd gotten the backing they needed. Don't know where to start? Columbus never stepped foot on North American soil. 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. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. 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 Did Not Discover North America. Every Columbus Day I am forcibly reminded of my hatred for Christopher Columbus. For the first time this year some calendars don't mention Columbus Day but says October 11 is Indigenous Peoples' Day. All rights reserved. Unfortunately, many irksome doings lay deep under the surface. Yet in the past few decades, something has changed. Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Columbus in the "New World" (on a small island off Florida) on October 12, 1492. It requires looking at dominant narratives and counternarratives. Columbus Day is a United States federal holiday that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. Hoping to bring fresh perspectives to topics like race & politics, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0. 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. They have no iron. Another reason why Columbus Day should not be celebrated is because it promotes a distorted view of history. And the D.C. City Council recently approved a measure to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. Wrong, it was his younger brother Bartholomews. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! In addition to The Daily Citizen, his written pieces have appeared in The Daily Signal, Life News, The Colorado Independent, and The Millennial Review. 20 University Rd., 6th Floor Of course, Christopher Columbus was Italian, and his day . Columbus may have recorded that he "found" America, but he was a. mass murderer. Consider how the first Columbus Day parade in New York was described in the newspapers. Thousands of the Taino, or Indians as Columbus had referred to them, were shipped out to be traded internationally. Listen I know almost everyone celebrated in history enslaved people. Chris went to Spain and Bart to France. This conflict between reality and fiction is what makes Columbus Day one of the most controversial holidays in America. (BTW, you can find a list of over 40 of his articles here.). Hi! As part of this plan, Spaniards aimed to convert native peoples to Christianity. As I said in the beginning of this piece, Columbus did not discover what would become North America. Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+! In an era where we are fighting for racial equality celebrating false heroes is detrimental to progress. Alaska was second, in 2017, enacting Indigenous Peoples Day. On October 12,1792was when it was first celebrated. 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. A growing number of cities are no longer celebrating Columbus Day, swapping it for "Indigenous Peoples' Day.". Spanish conquistadors couldn't believe their eyes while exploring the rugged terrain of the Andes during their invasion of Peru.