Here are five reasons we should still celebrate Columbus Day. This follows both Minneapolis and Seattle, which adopted the new. It is true that the conquest of the Americas by Europeans, which starts with Columbus, was very ugly, and involved a lot of violence. Who Destroyed the Great Library of Alexandria? When I got to high school and learned the truth about Columbus I felt betrayed. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Why We Shouldn't Celebrate Columbus Day Essay - Bartleby President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a. Exploring the story of Columbus postmortem voyages and the enduring mystery. 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. It doesn't make sense for the United States to recognize this supposed Christian with ashow more content "Reason: he may have discovered America before Columbus; Columbus is now commonplace as . Based on my experience, I think its vitally essential that teachers engage kids as young as sixth grade in questions that really interrogate Columbus. 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. It took tremendous bravery to sail off into the unknown. Spanish conquistadors couldn't believe their eyes while exploring the rugged terrain of the Andes during their invasion of Peru. Columbus Day's Meaning For Italian Americans : NPR Alaska was second, in 2017, enacting Indigenous Peoples Day. If Columbus is Off Limits to Celebrate, so are Indigenous Peoples. He initiated a turning point in our history. Mettler earned his Bachelors degree from William Jessup University and is an alumnus of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. If the world was round, this was possible, he thought. The opposition towards Christopher Columbus did not commence in todays society, or even the 21st century. In an era where we are fighting for racial equality celebrating false heroes is detrimental to progress. Despite not finding any of the places that his favorite books described (places in China, India and Japan), he convinced himself that they were just around the corner. Bring them to the light, if you would. Market data provided by Factset. In addition to The Daily Citizen, his written pieces have appeared in The Daily Signal, Life News, The Colorado Independent, and The Millennial Review. Of course, I learned that everyone expected him to sail off the edge of a flat earth into space or sea monsters or something. 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. He asked for 3 more days, and if land was not sighted, the crew could do with him as they wished. The holiday is typically observed on the second Monday in October. In 1892, a joint congressional resolution prompted President Benjamin Harrison to mark the "discovery of America by Columbus," in part because of "the devout faith of the discoverer and for the. Monday marks Columbus Day, in honor of Christopher Columbus but not all will be celebrating the Italian explorer. Hoping to bring fresh perspectives to topics like race & politics, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0. For instance, they lay out what specific textbooks omitted about Columbuss involvement with the slave trade and genocide. 97 students ordered this very topic and got I dont think its ever too young. It was still his idea to sail west, rather than east to hit the East Indies, right? Well, the tough thing about labeling someone as good or bad is the definitions change with the times. Specify your topic, deadline, number of pages and other requirements. Berkeley originally replaced Columbus Day with show more content. She is a national writer at Her Campus and the former editor-in-chief of Her Campus Rowan. Specifically, he is credited with being the first European explorer since the Vikings to explore the New World for Europeans. The tradition of observing Columbus Day dates back to the 18th century. 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? But heres the kicker. If we cannot honor anyone in human history that did not have flaws or imperfections, we cannot honor anyone at all. Why should we celebrate a man who promoted and distributed so much violence when we can celebrate and honor the history of Indigenous people? Why I proudly celebrate Columbus Day | Washington Examiner As known by many, Columbus Day commemorates the discovery of the New World by none other than Christopher Columbus himself. Its 2020 people. 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. 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. . The population of the Taino decreased by over two hundred thousand within sixty years. Turning points are powerful lenses through which students need to view our past. -- 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). We should celebrate Indigenous People's Day instead. 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. In our opinion, this is something to celebrate, not the arrival of Christopher Columbus who led the way for these indigenous populations to have their culture decimated and their population murdered, displaced or forced into slavery. See how Columbus Day actually become a holiday and find out who celebrates it. Colorado did so on April 1, 1907. "Ignore the propaganda and instead remember Christopher Columbus with gratitude and a clear conscience. One of the best parts of our humanity is that sense of discovery. 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. Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated. We need to own it. He would have peoples ears and noses cut off as punishments. 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.. Columbus should not be celebrated, let alone given a day. As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. Market data provided by Factset. Columbus Day is not a holiday the U.S. and Italian Americans should This essay is available online and might have been used by another student. Students need to grapple with these multiple perspectives in history and the not-so-pleasant aspects of our past. Or maybe even plan to discover your own new-to-you islands! Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. And Erickson was certainly as European as Columbus (at least in todays geographical terminology.) Its Cristoforo Colombo. Alaska is said not to celebrate the day because it falls too close to Alaska Day (Oct . Sorry, Mr. Congress also believed the holiday would mark the contribution of immigrants to the United States. or redistributed. It involves really unpacking the past, looking for complications, and making a deep exploration into the people that made history happen, rather than just looking for a glossy overview. If we have a holiday honoring somebody, the question on everyones mind should be, Why are we honoring them? 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. Yet in the past few decades, something has changed. 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. But its not recognized in Los Angeles, where I live. Those left were forced to work in mines and plantations. On October 11, 2021, America officially recognized the inhumane treatment that the Native Americans faced for centuries and honored the brave warriors who fought against the oppression and genocide of their people. I discovered America. Why Schools Should Rethink How They Teach About Columbus Consider how the first Columbus Day parade in New York was described in the newspapers. 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. So the discovery of the Western Hemisphere should go to Erickson, no? Every Columbus Day I am forcibly reminded of my hatred for Christopher Columbus. Yes, we have a federal holiday on Christmas, but Ill put that in a special category (which well call religious.). While Columbus Day is not a widely celebrated holiday, the question of whether or not to celebrate it are definitely up for discussion. Americans, for all our faults, love adventure. Why Should Columbus Day Be Celebrated | Hearinnh This kept them from planting crops, leading to widespread starvation. But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. On his second voyage, he landed at Hispaniola, Cuba, and Jamaica among others. 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 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. Once upon a time, teachers celebrated Columbus Day by leading children in choruses of song about the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. History comes with an agenda. Two Reasons Why Columbus Day Should Not be Celebrated - Free Essay 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. 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. 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. Indigenous Peoples Day: Why it's replacing Columbus Day in many places You need to be able to deeply understand the profoundly problematic past of this great nation. 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. Columbuss Native American slave trade morphed into the African slave trade by the mid-16th century. (He did follow his big brother to the Caribbean two years later.). So partly, out of spite, here are a few reasons why Columbus Day shouldnt be celebrated. The White House is pushing National Coming Out Day as a way of changing the subject. If instead of Columbus, a Chinese marine had arrived first and "colonized" America, would be blaming the Chinese for the destruction of American civilizations? His contract with the monarchs, called The Capitulations. They would make fine servants. 4 Reasons Why Columbus Day Is the Worst Holiday (Only 23 states give their workers a paid day off to celebrate it, according to a 2013 Pew poll). 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. The slaves were to do most of Columbuss dirty work, as he was highly demanding of gold, crops, and land, which caused many of the slaves to be malnourished and sick. It requires looking at dominant narratives and counternarratives. Growing up, I wasnt exposed to this truth. 5 Reasons to Celebrate Columbus Day as a Symbol of Diversity Though flawed, Columbus was a great man with an adventurous spirit, sailing the seas to prepare to establish a new world. In short, today is Christopher Columbus Day, and we should all celebrate that. All islands I would love to visit on a single trip. 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. This was due to the impression that Columbus was attempting to spread Catholic influence. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! 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. In an era where we are fighting for racial equality celebrating false heroes is detrimental to progress. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. If it wasnt for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldnt have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. 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). That's my nephew, Trinidad, reveling in the joys of Caribbean sailing somewhere between St. Croix and Buck Island aboard Teroro II. Thankfully, Columbus Day has morphed into Indigenous Peoples Day. To realize this dream, they split up. When Columbus first landed on American soil he was met by the Arawak native Americans. With all that, there are reasons to celebrate Columbus Day. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a "master navigator and admiral." He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. Why does learning about what Columbus did to Native Americans still matter today? Though it has its controversies, Columbus day should be celebrated. Make sure your essay is plagiarism-free or hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs. 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. Why columbus day should not be celebrated. Why Columbus Day Should Not Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October. 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. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. 20 University Rd., 6th Floor He and his crew were greeted with smiles, gifts and food. Contrary to popular belief, Columbus Day is a celebration of diversity, not oppression. Why Columbus Day isn't really a national holiday We shouldn't be wasting our time on holidays that won't even. But its hard for children to understand that someone who they were taught to idolize is a bad guy. More States Say Goodbye to Columbus Day | The Pew Charitable Trusts 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. Chris went to Spain and Bart to France. We still have to understand the time he was born but Christopher Columbus. Although many people have adopted Columbus day as "Indigenous People's Day," many people will not agree that we should also have a holiday . Because thats public history. matter in the end. However, because Columbus brought disasters to the Native Americans, many people opposed the Columbus celebrations. 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. Without Columbus, the age of exploration wouldnt have been inspired in the way that it was, and has a vital place in American history. Was Christopher Columbus a Hero or Villain? - Biography 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. Even the Iroquoian peoples, located in present Northeast United States, often took slaves of other tribes. There are many examples in his writings where he gave instructions to this effect. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! 4. The holiday celebrates . Destiny is currently enrolled in Columbia University's MFA Writing program. The Columbus Day Problem | Harvard Graduate School of Education Columbus Day, the second Monday in October, is a nationally recognized holiday. Along and through History, conquerors have had violent behaviour. 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. Columbus couldnt be killed without angering the Italian court, so Queen Isabella sent him on a mission, hoping he wouldnt return. Nevertheless, the same could be said of Julius Caesar, but I dont know of many European countries who celebrate Julius Caesar Day. History, in fact, is the story of conquest. 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(BTW, you can find a list of over 40 of his articles here.). Nevertheless, Italians claim him today and Columbus Day is a good chance to recognize what Italians have contributed to America, and the world. Now, I got nothing against thousands of virgins or a good story. He decided at an early age that this was not the life for him. If you want a unique paper, order it from our professional writers. Poll shows most Americans want to celebrate Columbus Day. The pro for Columbus Day written by John Wirt. Why would an academic system praise someone who was so blatantly evil? If it wasn't for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldn't have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. As a direct result of Columbus discovery, indigenous Americans were enslaved, killed and oppressed to such a degree that a population of around 60 million in 1492, fell by 8090% in less than 150 years. This is where many of the peaceful natives were met with brutal deaths onboard, whether it be from disease or mistreatment from the handlers. Ironically, the District of Columbia is named after, you guessed it, Christopher Columbus. Elliott Lassitter and John WirtOctober 26, 2017. Columbus Day vs Leif Erikson Day: Who 'Discovered' America? | Time He sailed to Iceland and Ireland in 1477, and to Madeira in 1478. 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. And eventually hundreds of years of African slave trade but uhm, OK, fine, he was a monster. Indeed, the promise of the West has delivered freedom and bounty such as humanity has never known. Its the responsibility of our school system to talk about Columbus as part of our work to prepare students to be citizens. Lets stop idolizing people in history who dont deserve it. So yeah, Christopher Columbus, upon closer inspection, is a terrible fellow to honor. 1. Pay the writer only for a finished, plagiarism-free essay that meets all your requirements. And Washington, D.C., this week renamed the holiday, pending congressional approval. When Columbus arrived in 1492, he enslaved the Natives, and took control over their way of life, and also made his way into the Caribbean Island. 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. Hire a verified expert to write you a 100% Plagiarism-Free paper. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. In another case, some people think Columbus was a hero because he represents a leader who went far and beyond to find America. Itd be ludicrous to say that Columbuswasnt guilty by association. 5 Reasons Why It's Still OK To Celebrate Columbus Day - The Hayride Columbus went to live in Portugal. For a long time, Columbus discovery of America was an universally celebrated event, both in Europe and America. Lets look at Columbus himself, to see if he meets the definition. 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. Europe, Asia and Africa, of course, suffered through numerous plagues of their own.). 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. 2023 President and Fellows of Harvard College, Who do we celebrate, and why? But as I got older and began learning more about the history of the Caribbean, the glossy veneer of ol Chris didnt hold up. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated - StudyMode We need students to understand that Columbus is important, even if he isnt someone to be celebrated. The New World was discovered within the same timeframe as when slave trade had begun to arise. Yet, what is rarely discussed is the barbaric genocide perpetrated by Native American tribes from Mexico to Peru against other Native Americans before the arrival of Europeans. What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? Columbus Day means that finally, America was economically assimilated to Europe, in those times peopled by Western dominant civilizations. Had he have given up, the world would be drastically different today. Why Should We Celebrate Columbus Day Essay - 1065 Words | Cram What are some Facts about Christopher Columbus? Rather than celebrate, we believe it should be a day to mourn the destruction of an indigenous population which had lived in peace for tens of thousands of years before Columbus a rapist and murderer set foot on American soil. The next obvious question is: well, if thats not his name, what were the names of his famous ships? This is also apparent when he was trying to get sponsorships for the trips. What is Indigenous Peoples' Day? Does it replace Columbus - USA TODAY 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. Ahh, well, brothers will be brothers. Why We Do Not Celebrate Columbus Day - Red Letter Christians CONTACT US: Columbus was wrong of course, and needless to say, he didnt actually discover anything the Americas had already been inhabited for thousands of years. Reference list: Herman Lindquist, Christopher Columbus var han riktigt klok, Fischer, 1992. "Endless testimonies.prove the mild and pacific temperament of the natives. Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/two-reasons-why-columbus-day-should-not-be-celebrated/. 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. To get a custom and plagiarism-free essay.