Their spears are made of cane. And yes, I know Columbus was at least in part a product of his brutish times and any nation who landed on Hispaniola in 1492 might have done similar things. 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. And Erickson was certainly as European as Columbus (at least in todays geographical terminology.) Land was first spotted by Rodrigo de Triana, a lookout on the Pinta, and thereafter by its captain Martin Alonso Pinzo, who notified Columbus. And hes credited for marking the establishment of institutionalized slavery in the West Indies. Once upon a time, teachers celebrated Columbus Day by leading children in choruses of song about the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. 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. 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. The holiday is typically observed on the second Monday in October. Columbus Day: Why We Shouldn't Celebrate It - MSU Reporter original papers. I dont think its ever too young. Columbus killed a tremendous amount of people (genocide), and got away with it because of better equipment, men and control. According to documents 6 " Christopher Columbus was the greatest, because he accomplished the most against the highest odds before Columbus ' time all European voyages had followed coastlines, or cross open seas to land previously known or at . But its hard for children to understand that someone who they were taught to idolize is a bad guy. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. We need students to understand that Columbus is important, even if he isnt someone to be celebrated. It was still his idea to sail west, rather than east to hit the East Indies, right? And maybe only one reason to celebrate. The New York Society of Tammany also honored Columbus of his first voyage with the marking of his 300th anniversary. Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment. Aside from the despicable acts that Columbus and his people committed, there is plenty of evidence to show that Columbus was not the first foreigner to arrive on the continent anyway. 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. In an era where we are fighting for racial equality celebrating false heroes is detrimental to progress. The act moved Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and the new Columbus Day holiday to Mondays. The war against the Western heritage. by sailing west. By 1516, there were 12,000. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). (Only 23 states give their workers a paid day off to celebrate it, according to a 2013 Pew poll). 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. 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. Nefer Say Nefer - Was Nefertiti Buried in the Valley of the Queens? So partly, out of spite, here are a few reasons why Columbus Day shouldnt be celebrated. "Ignore the propaganda and instead remember Christopher Columbus with gratitude and a clear conscience. Why does learning about what Columbus did to Native Americans still matter today? And if you can, take some time to learn more about all the diversity that makes the Caribbean great. Why is he important? It was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt that designated the second Monday of October (Columbus Day) as a national holiday in 1971. 'Green Card Warrior' Nick Adams weighs in on 'Fox & Friends First.'. Certain states and localities have moved away from celebrating Christopher Columbus, and now celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. 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. Americans, for all our faults, love adventure. The main reason some Leftists dont want to celebrate Christopher Columbus is because his actions supposedly led to the genocide of Native American peoples. Columbus Day is a United States federal holiday that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. And the D.C. City Council recently approved a measure to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day. Columbuss men also killed off slaves whenever needed. Although many people have adopted Columbus day as "Indigenous People's Day," many people will not agree that we should also have a holiday . 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. In response to the rebellion, Columbus ordered a brutal crackdown in which many natives were killed, and their dismembered bodies paraded through the streets. These books have fueled the trends I mentioned around Columbus Day. Chat with professional writers to choose the paper writer that suits you best. 5 Reasons Why It's Still OK To Celebrate Columbus Day - The Hayride It consisted mostly of about 12,000 public school students grouped into 20 regiments, each commanded by a principal. Most Americans didn't even know much about Columbus until Washington Irving yes, that Washington Irving wrote. Though it was disputed for many years, there is conclusive evidence that Neanderthals bred with modern humans (Homo sapiens). Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. Why I proudly celebrate Columbus Day | Washington Examiner The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a master navigator and admiral. He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. All rights reserved. Why columbus day should not be celebrated. Why Columbus Day Should Not Columbuss men used native girls as young as nine or ten as their sex slaves. Diseases were spread and were not able to be resisted by the sick slaves. "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. I want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. 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. It is on public record, that Columbus rewarded his soldiers by giving them Native Americans to rape. Read More Here Are Some Reasons Why. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. Captivating History, Christopher Columbus: A Captivating Guide to the Life of an Italian Explorer and His Voyages to the Americas, Captivating History, 2020 Why We Shouldn't Celebrate Columbus Day - ATTN: What were his actual contributions? Those are important questions we want to ask as citizens. 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. 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 first reason for why Christopher Columbus should not be celebrated is because he committed mass genocide against the 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. To begin, some people think Columbus is a hero because he found America, which is not true. Why We Shouldn't Celebrate Columbus Day Essay - Bartleby When Columbus first landed on American soil he was met by the Arawak native Americans. This essay is available online and might have been used by another student. Of course, I learned that everyone expected him to sail off the edge of a flat earth into space or sea monsters or something. 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. Columbus arrival is seen as the beginning of civilization in the Americas. 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). Should Christopher Columbus Be Celebrated? - HISTORY CRUNCH I dont think that we should start childrens education by saying that the country is built on the genocide of a group and the enslavement of another. Columbus went to live in Portugal. Yes, this guy didnt commit genocide. Wrong, it was his younger brother Bartholomews. 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. Our writers can help you with any type of essay. . 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. An angry mob decided to drag them. 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.. 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. Market data provided by Factset. Legal Statement. The White House is pushing National Coming Out Day as a way of changing the subject. He would cut off the hands of people living in what now is Haiti for not bringing him enough gold every three months. 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. "It's difficult to think there exists a site anywhere with a higher concentration of cave art.". If we cannot honor anyone in human history that did not have flaws or imperfections, we cannot honor anyone at all. With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.. Not just Europeans, but everyone. Hoping to bring fresh perspectives to topics like race & politics, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0. Cambridge, MA 02138, Challenges? SHOULD CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS BE CELEBRATED? (Remember, they werent well versed in Spanish. Columbus Personified the American Spirit. Historical Figures Should Be Viewed in Light of Their Greatest Achievements, Not Their Worst Mistakes. That alone is worth celebrating.". On October 12,1792was when it was first celebrated. 1. Very trying! sums it up for Daniel, creator of Stories Guaranteed to Make You Sick, Dr. Crankenfuss books, Moose Jokes, & now Practically News. And, while we celebrate Columbus Day, we can learn from history and also take time to honor Native Americans. "Reason: he may have discovered America before Columbus; Columbus is now commonplace as . Many states celebrate both. 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. Hire a verified expert to write you a 100% Plagiarism-Free paper. Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. There, the brothers should have been exposed to the adventures of another explorer: Leif Erickson. Why should we celebrate a man who promoted and distributed so much violence when we can celebrate and honor the history of Indigenous people? 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. However, it was his brother, the cartographers idea to sail West. In fact, that might have been a good neighbor, whereas today That neighbor would find themselves in jail. She is a national writer at Her Campus and the former editor-in-chief of Her Campus Rowan. So, enjoy the day off and celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day. This began with the spirit of Christopher Columbus. It doesn't make sense for the United States to recognize this supposed Christian with ashow more content This criticism had quickly faded over time, and was replaced by a more pressing issue; the improper treatment towards indigenous people. If I sailed to Italy and said that I discovered this land in the name of Rowan University it wouldnt fly right? Along and through History, conquerors have had violent behaviour. In this 2014 piece, " Columbus Day, or 'Indigenous Peoples' Day'? Stupid but hopeful. Curious, politically homeless, always hopeful. One of the best parts of our humanity is that sense of discovery. Without Columbus, the age of exploration wouldnt have been inspired in the way that it was, and has a vital place in American history. Because thats public history. Why Do We Celebrate Columbus Day? Some Opt for National Indigenous Like most Americans, I learned in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Ingrained in my mind are the names of his ships: The Nina, The Pinta and the Santa Maria. Well, the Pinta was indeed, the Pinta. 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 . It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. Sure, Chris had been sailing since age 14. "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 Should We Celebrate Columbus Day Essay - 1065 Words | Cram 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. Why would an academic system praise someone who was so blatantly evil? Its Cristoforo Colombo. 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? Yet, many continue to believe that America owes its discovery to Christopher Columbus. They would make fine servants. Had he have given up, the world would be drastically different today. 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. What Columbus Day Really Means - The American Scholar Yet, despite all the gruesome sacrifice and slavery, some still wish to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. 20 University Rd., 6th Floor 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. Adults Especially Gen Z Identifying as LGBT. Why Should Columbus Day Be Celebrated | Hearinnh Until the mid-1700s, Christopher Columbus was not widely known among most Americans. Usable Knowledge Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/two-reasons-why-columbus-day-should-not-be-celebrated/. The New World was discovered within the same timeframe as when slave trade had begun to arise. Indeed, Columbus was mostly benign in his interaction with native populations. If you dont like it, well kill you.) Besides that, there is ample evidence of Leif Erickson and his fellow Vikings landing in Newfoundland/Labrador around five centuries earlier. Not many civilizations were safe when invaders arrived, from Assirians to Vikings; from Gengis Khan to the Roman Empire; from the Jewish general Joshua to the colonial British Empire. Columbus Did Not Discover North America. Or maybe even plan to discover your own new-to-you islands! Columbus Day, which is celebrated on the second Monday of October each year, has become a controversial subject for many people. Columbus Day vs Leif Erikson Day: Who 'Discovered' America? | Time When confronted with evidence to the contrary, he simply could not conceive of the the idea that he might be wrong. And most of all, I was taught of his discovering America. Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. Well, the tough thing about labeling someone as good or bad is the definitions change with the times. I'm Amy, It requires looking at dominant narratives and counternarratives. . In fact, the result of Columbuss voyages was mass, Columbus didnt do too well as a governor of these new lands. How could we look at this from a different perspective? 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. Now, I got nothing against thousands of virgins or a good story. Europe, Asia and Africa, of course, suffered through numerous plagues of their own.). (He had plenty of different ships on subsequent voyages.). Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. If we blame Columbus and the Spanish kings, we should also blame every other invader and conqueror in History. He sailed to Iceland and Ireland in 1477, and to Madeira in 1478.