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. If we cannot honor anyone in human history that did not have flaws or imperfections, we cannot honor anyone at all. And if you can, take some time to learn more about all the diversity that makes the Caribbean great. Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated - StudyMode And #5 gets worse. Columbus Day: Should it be considered a federal holiday? ). One of the best parts of our humanity is that sense of discovery. "Ignore the propaganda and instead remember Christopher Columbus with gratitude and a clear conscience. Usable Knowledge When it comes to celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day, I want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. . Columbus tried to build and has transformed the America we have today. Since then, it's spread across the. Not if we cant celebrate Christopher Columbus. Despite the time that has passed, Columbus Day still remains a subject that most people would rather not think about. "Reason: he may have discovered America before Columbus; Columbus is now commonplace as . At times, they would make an example of a Native by cutting his hands off and tying them around his neck, then telling him to go and 'share the message' with the rest of his tribe. Who Destroyed the Great Library of Alexandria? And thanks for reading this. 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. 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. Howell Public Schools Stance on Mask Mandate, In person school, more beneficial to kids. If you still think Columbus Day is something worth celebrating, here are five other reasons why it isnt: After studying a handful of his favorite books, including the journals of Marco Polo, Columbus became convinced that it was possible to sail directly west to reach the Indies, as China, Japan and India were then known as in Europe. Or maybe even plan to discover your own new-to-you islands! In fact, that might have been a good neighbor, whereas today That neighbor would find themselves in jail. In fact, the result of Columbuss voyages was mass, Columbus didnt do too well as a governor of these new lands. Why We Shouldn't Celebrate Columbus Day - ATTN: And those multiple viewpoints may help engage students who might feel otherwise unrepresented in a history class, such as females and students of color. He would have peoples ears and noses cut off as punishments. The Chilling Mystery of the Octavius Ghost Ship, Film Footage Provides Intimate View of HMS Gloucester Shipwreck, Top 8 Legendary Parties - Iconic Celebrations in Ancient History, The Spanish Inquisition: The Truth Behind the Black Legend (Part II), The Spanish Inquisition: The Truth behind the Dark Legend (Part I), Bloodthirsty Buddhists: The Sohei Warrior Monks of Feudal Japan, Dizzying Inca Rope Bridges Were Grass-Made Marvels of Engineering, Two Centuries Of Naval Espionage In Europe, Research Confirms That 20% of the Neanderthal Genome Can Be Found In Modern Humans, The Curious Apparitions of Pagan Goddesses to the German Knights Templar, The origins of human beings according to ancient Sumerian texts, Evidence that Noahs Ark Landed on a Mountain 17 Miles South of Ararat, Library in Stone: The Ica Stones of Professor Cabrera Part I, Two Sides to Every Story: The North American Martyrs Shrines and Indigenous/ Roman Catholic Relations, The Origins of the Faeries: Encoded in our Cultures Part I, Curse of the Buried Pearl: The Hunt for Ancient Treasures Part I, The Enigma of the Shugborough Inscription, Christopher Columbus: Master Double Agent and Portugals 007, Roman Sword discovered off Oak Island radically suggests Ancient Mariners visited New World 1,000 years before Columbus. All islands I would love to visit on a single trip. 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. Why Christopher Columbus shouldn't be celebrated - The Snapper 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? 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. I'm not the only Italian American on board with ditching the holiday. 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. What are some Facts about Christopher Columbus? Why We Do Not Celebrate Columbus Day. With all that, there are reasons to celebrate Columbus Day. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. 97 students ordered this very topic and got The evil deeds of Columbus far outweigh the few accomplishments he achieved. Columbus Day was a solution to a problem that most people didn't know existed. Columbus was wrong of course, and needless to say, he didnt actually discover anything the Americas had already been inhabited for thousands of years. 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. Why I proudly celebrate Columbus Day | Washington Examiner We need students to understand that Columbus is important, even if he isnt someone to be celebrated. This was due to the impression that Columbus was attempting to spread Catholic influence. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. Pay the writer only for a finished, plagiarism-free essay that meets all your requirements. Make sure your essay is plagiarism-free or hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs. Consider how the first Columbus Day parade in New York was described in the newspapers. 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. Why We Shouldn't Celebrate Columbus Day - Her Campus or redistributed. Columbus wanted to expand knowledge about the world and what more it consisted of by going across the ocean. In any case, we know for a fact that Europeans traveled to America almost 500 years before Columbus. Some committed suicide to avoid subjugation, others fled, but many rebelled. But by then he was hardly the first European. According to a census taken by Columbus' men, in 1496 there were more than 1 million natives on the island of Haiti. original papers. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. Always trying. And its fundamentally important that they do so. Diseases were spread and were not able to be resisted by the sick slaves. Until the mid-1700s, Christopher Columbus was not widely known among most Americans. Columbus Personified the American Spirit. (Not that the West solely had these ideas, but it put them in a package that wasnt generally available elsewhere.). Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. It's also why it's crucial we learn facts about Native Americans and. He asked for 3 more days, and if land was not sighted, the crew could do with him as they wished. Indeed, the promise of the West has delivered freedom and bounty such as humanity has never known. Columbus Day: Here's Why We Celebrate It | Time Specifically, he is credited with being the first European explorer since the Vikings to explore the New World for Europeans. I believe thats the tact to take when looking at Chris. Contrary to popular belief, Columbus Day is a celebration of diversity, not oppression. They were the original immigrants to the New World, and deserve their remembrance. 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. 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. An angry mob decided to drag them. . Without him, the modern world would not be the way it is today. As I said in the beginning of this piece, Columbus did not discover what would become North America. Had he have given up, the world would be drastically different today. Zachary Mettler works as a staff writer and communications liaison for The Daily Citizen at Focus on the Family. Yet, despite all the gruesome sacrifice and slavery, some still wish to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. His contract with the monarchs, called The Capitulations. Unfortunately, many irksome doings lay deep under the surface. Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. Then they would sail away together to claim their riches. What were his actual contributions? Those are important questions we want to ask as citizens. As an anti-paean to a holiday most Americans hardly acknowledge (unless they get a day off), here are a list of reasons that we should remove Columbus Day from our list of federal holidays. For privacy reasons, she has previously written on Ancient Origins under the pen name April Holloway, but is now choosing to use her real name, Joanna Gillan. Why We Shouldn't Celebrate Columbus Day Essay - Bartleby Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. More States Say Goodbye to Columbus Day | The Pew Charitable Trusts 1. Here are my main reasons why I refuse to celebrate Columbus Day: 1. But heres the kicker. by sailing west. Medieval Sea Monster Was Likely a Whale, New Research Reveals, What is Shambhala? According to, Columbus believed that he was playing a part in a divine plan to Christianize the world. Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert. Why We Celebrate Columbus Day | National Review We need students to understand that Columbus is important, even if he isnt someone to be celebrated. How Columbus Sailed Into U.S. History, Thanks To Italians Nefer Say Nefer - Was Nefertiti Buried in the Valley of the Queens? Some schools, cities, and institutions, such as the. And, while we celebrate Columbus Day, we can learn from history and also take time to honor Native Americans. 20 University Rd., 6th Floor He brought with him a letter from King Ferdinand to the Taino-Arawak Indians. Students need to grapple with these multiple perspectives in history and the not-so-pleasant aspects of our past. Just as the country grapples with the meaning and problems of Confederate monuments, so too are schools, towns, and even whole states grappling with Columbus Day. Many are deciding to rename and refocus the holiday, choosing to call it Indigenous Peoples' Day to honor the people whose lives and cultures were irreparably damaged by the colonial conquest that the age of exploration ushered into being. Even perpetually leftward NPR admitted today . The opposition towards Christopher Columbus did not commence in todays society, or even the 21st century. Since August, eight cities have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day, including several in just the last week. Columbus Day is one of the oldest holidays in the USA Observing Columbus Day started back in the 18th century. What Does Columbus Day Mean for Hispanics? Columbus Day: Why We Shouldn't Celebrate It - MSU Reporter For the first time this year some calendars don't mention Columbus Day but says October 11 is Indigenous Peoples' Day. Columbus Day is not a holiday the U.S. and Italian Americans should Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Twelve Reasons NOT to Celebrate Columbus Day - Medium By REAGAN ESCUD SCOTT / Monday, October 10, 2022. 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). Their spears are made of cane. Cambridge, MA 02138, Challenges? Cathedrals are some of the most awe-inspiring structures in the world, with their grandeur and intricate details captivating visitors for centuries. However, a circumspect understanding of history offers numerous reasons why Columbus should not only be celebrated, but . It is true that the conquest of the Americas by Europeans, which starts with Columbus, was very ugly, and involved a lot of violence. Columbus was definitely a brave and courageous (and lucky) captain, but his navigational skills left a lot to be desired. 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 Erickson was certainly as European as Columbus (at least in todays geographical terminology.) 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. If it wasnt for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldnt have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. 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. Why Schools Should Rethink How They Teach About Columbus 2023 PapersOwl.com - All rights reserved. To begin, some people think Columbus is a hero because he found America, which is not true. See how Columbus Day actually become a holiday and find out who celebrates it. Top 5 Reasons NOT to Celebrate Columbus Day And 1 Reason To History comes with an agenda. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a. Columbus went on forth with a lot of violence, such as cutting off a slaves nose/hands to signify power against them. America is celebrating. If we blame Columbus and the Spanish kings, we should also blame every other invader and conqueror in History. Get in touch! 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. Within the Italian community, Columbus Day symbolizes the legacy of their ancestors who immigrated to America, overcame poverty, language barriers, and above all, discrimination. 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. 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 pros and cons of Columbus Day - THE MAIN FOUR The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a "master navigator and admiral." He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. (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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. The plan was to join up once theyd gotten the backing they needed. Nevertheless, Italians claim him today and Columbus Day is a good chance to recognize what Italians have contributed to America, and the world. The truth about Columbus Day, explained | Salon.com Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Columbus in the "New World" (on a small island off Florida) on October 12, 1492. When confronted with evidence to the contrary, he simply could not conceive of the the idea that he might be wrong. 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 . 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. Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October. matter in the end. Below are five reasons why Columbus Day celebrants can hold their head high in 2019 rather than kowtow to guilt-based politics. . How many countries award holidays to non-natives? Columbus arrival is seen as the beginning of civilization in the Americas. 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. Everything that he did sounded like it was so whimsical and as a young child yearning for an adventure I idolized him. 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. 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. Most of us can remember the day when Americans still seemed to like Christopher Columbus. His first impression of the Arawaks, one of the first peoples he encountered, was . Areas within Texas and California began celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day as a means of pointing the spotlight on the natives, rather than Columbus himself. (2020, Aug 20). What Columbus did next was nothing less than shameful. 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. Mother and Child Reunion Of Thetis And Achilles, Seductive Sirens of Greek Mythology and How Heroes Resisted Them, Celestial Goddess Selene: The Ancient Greek Goddess of the Moon, Pegasus of Greek Mythology: Majestic Winged Horse of Mount Olympus, Dreams of Human-Powered Flight: Daedalus and the Story of Icarus, The Warriors Who Shaped African History: The Horsemen of Oyo, Royal Mistress Jane Shore Walked Streets of London in her Underwear, Leonardo Da Vincis Notes Show He Understood Gravity Long Before Newton, Talks Begin on Repatriating Remains of Patrick Sarsfield, Irish War Hero, The Ramessid Dynasty: A Golden Era in Ancient Egypt, Unraveling the Mystery of the Carnac Stones: An Ancient Puzzle of Epic Proportions, Unraveling the Enigma of Aramu Muru, The Mysterious Gate of the Gods. There has been much debate over whether or not Columbus Day should be celebrated. I want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. Although many people have adopted Columbus day as "Indigenous People's Day," many people will not agree that we should also have a holiday . One of the few facts Americans remember from history is "Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 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. -- Celebrate the spread of Western civilization. Columbuss actions arent taken into consideration as much as they should be. Chat with professional writers to choose the paper writer that suits you best. 1. Should Christopher Columbus Be Celebrated? - HISTORY CRUNCH Hire a verified expert to write you a 100% Plagiarism-Free paper. While Columbus Day is not a widely celebrated holiday, the question of whether or not to celebrate it are definitely up for discussion. Why We Should Not Celebrate Columbus Day | ipl.org On his third, he named Trinidad and landed in present-day Venezuela. Many states celebrate both. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. There are many examples in his writings where he gave instructions to this effect. Yes, we have a federal holiday on Christmas, but Ill put that in a special category (which well call religious.). Another reason why Columbus Day should not be celebrated is because it promotes a distorted view of history. History comes with an agenda. Based on my experience, I think its vitally essential that teachers engage kids as young as sixth grade in questions that really interrogate Columbus. 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. Columbus tortured and murdered many thousands of native peoples. Columbus Day is a United States federal holiday that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). 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. Why celebrate Columbus Day? Here are a few reasons Two Reasons why Columbus Day should not be Celebrated, This example was written and submitted by a fellow student. Why Columbus Does Not Deserve A Holiday - The Odyssey Online