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

Now, I got nothing against thousands of virgins or a good story. How Columbus Sailed Into U.S. History, Thanks To Italians Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. 5 Reasons Not to Celebrate Columbus Day | by Dave | An Injustice! - Medium Specify your topic, deadline, number of pages and other requirements. Henry IV of Spain known as "The Impotent" for his weakness, both on the throne and (allegedly) in the marriage chamber died in 1474. And hes credited for marking the establishment of institutionalized slavery in the West Indies. Columbuss Native American slave trade morphed into the African slave trade by the mid-16th century. 1. 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. Throughout the history of civilization, the concept of the apocalypse has been ever present, in one way or another. Or better yet, follow him. He decided at an early age that this was not the life for him. If we need a national holiday for the second Monday in October, lets at least honor an AMERICAN who hasnt been shown to be the prime mover in the torture/death/destruction of so many people. In 1927, Chicago's outer drive, connecting the city's North and South Sides, was renamed for Leif. 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. Historical knowledge can help students create an argument to answer those questions. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. This essay is available online and might have been used by another student. CONTACT US: The holiday is typically observed on the second Monday in October. Columbus is often portrayed as a heroic figure who bravely discovered America, but this narrative ignores the fact that the Americas were already inhabited by millions of people before Columbus arrived. Why Columbus Day is worth defending and celebrating Why should we celebrate a man who promoted and distributed so much violence when we can celebrate and honor the history of Indigenous people? Columbus Did Not Discover North America. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. @uknowhgse. But since the 1990s, a growing number of states have begun to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day - a holiday meant to honor the culture and history of the people living in the Americas both before and after Columbus' arrival. With all that, there are reasons to celebrate Columbus Day. So before waving the US flag in celebration of a criminal who did not discover America, spare a thought for the millions of Native Americans who were murdered as a result of Christopher Columbus arrival on American soil. Here Are Some Reasons Why. The artefacts include cave paintings and ceramic art depicting animals, hunting expeditions and the daily lives of people who lived around the Serra da Capivara in Brazil for tens of thousands of years. And most believe the idea came from their familys time in Iceland. In any case, we know for a fact that Europeans traveled to America almost 500 years before Columbus. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). And to see that it is not the essence of Columbus, but rather part of the times. Nevertheless, the same could be said of Julius Caesar, but I dont know of many European countries who celebrate Julius Caesar Day. Thats a lesson for later. Don't know where to start? As part of this plan, Spaniards aimed to convert native peoples to Christianity. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a. The population of the Taino decreased by over two hundred thousand within sixty years. Columbus Personified the American Spirit Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. Ahh, well, semantics. However, a circumspect understanding of history offers numerous reasons why Columbus should not only be celebrated, but . Over a dozen states and more than 130 local governments have chosen to not celebrate Columbus Day altogether or replace it with Indigenous Peoples' Day. Lets stop idolizing people in history who dont deserve it. ), Christopher Columbus initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Columbus inspired countless other explorers, both of his time and of modern time, to explore and make discoveries. by sailing west. First of all, Christopher Columbus isnt even his name. Fine, fine But he did discover America right? Captivating History, Christopher Columbus: A Captivating Guide to the Life of an Italian Explorer and His Voyages to the Americas, Captivating History, 2020 We all own it. 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. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. We may not like it, but its our shared heritage. Washington, D.C., has joined hundreds of U.S. cities in seven states in replacing Columbus Day with a day to celebrate Native Americans. Columbus Day vs Leif Erikson Day: Who 'Discovered' America? | Time Cambridge, MA 02138, Challenges? After his voyage to America, he became one of the most well known explorers of his time. Market data provided by Factset. Usable Knowledge According to a recent poll, 79% of college students support such a change. And eventually hundreds of years of African slave trade but uhm, OK, fine, he was a monster. 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 . Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Columbus in the "New World" (on a small island off Florida) on October 12, 1492. Of course, I learned that everyone expected him to sail off the edge of a flat earth into space or sea monsters or something. Why We Should Celebrate Columbus Day? Free Essay Example 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. The main reason Columbus Day draws opposition is because of how the explorer's arrival to the New World affected Indigenous people. Christopher Columbus wasnt American! If you want a unique paper, order it from our professional writers. Columbus Day is not a holiday the U.S. and Italian Americans should Just bear in mind that the verb "colonize" and the terms "colony", and "colonial" derive from Columbus ("Colon", in Spanish spelling). In fact, that might have been a good neighbor, whereas today That neighbor would find themselves in jail. (Not that the West solely had these ideas, but it put them in a package that wasnt generally available elsewhere.). Three other states New Mexico, Maine, Vermont followed suit this year. Bring them to the light, if you would. 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. 1. or redistributed. Some committed suicide to avoid subjugation, others fled, but many rebelled. 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. 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He finally ended up getting a sponsorship with the Spanish crown, and was off to explore the world. Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. We may not like it, but its our shared heritage. After you read both, let us know what you think by posting a comment. Without him, the modern world would not be the way it is today. Congress also believed the holiday would mark the contribution of immigrants to the United States. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. 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). Her Campus may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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. ," Jake Flanagin explains why many are arguing it . His father was a wool weaver, and cheese stand owner. If Columbus had been an Englishman, or a Frenchman, would have they behaved in a different way? Without Columbus, the age of exploration wouldnt have been inspired in the way that it was, and has a vital place in American history. There are many examples in his writings where he gave instructions to this effect. It is perhaps worth revisiting the two distinct reasons why we celebrate Columbus Day in the first place, and . Had he have given up, the world would be drastically different today. Both in an effort to secure funding for their expedition. Columbus Day is one of the oldest holidays in the USA Observing Columbus Day started back in the 18th century. Columbus killed a tremendous amount of people (genocide), and got away with it because of better equipment, men and control. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! By 1516, there were 12,000. We should honor George Washington, the Indispensable man, for his military bravado and skilled leadership as our first president, even though he owned slaves. But heres the kicker. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. 2023 PapersOwl.com - All rights reserved. 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. -- Celebrate the spread of Western civilization. He asked for 3 more days, and if land was not sighted, the crew could do with him as they wished. hen, on his fourth, final voyage, he landed at present-day Panama. 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. Diseases were spread and were not able to be resisted by the sick slaves. This kept them from planting crops, leading to widespread starvation. Even perpetually leftward NPR admitted today . Since then, its spread across the nation with increasing speed, as more than 60 cities from Maine to Washington have supported the idea. Spanish conquistadors couldn't believe their eyes while exploring the rugged terrain of the Andes during their invasion of Peru. The Knights of Columbus lobbied state legislatures to legalize the holiday. Should columbus day be celebrated. Should Christopher Columbus Be 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. By REAGAN ESCUD SCOTT / Monday, October 10, 2022. Hire a verified expert to write you a 100% Plagiarism-Free paper. -- 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). (2020, Aug 20). Why is Columbus Day being renamed? Not just Europeans, but everyone. The Controversy Over Columbus Day Celebrations - ThoughtCo Should the United States continue to celebrate Columbus Day? 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. Last updated by Patrick Bennett on 10/02/2021. The plan was to join up once theyd gotten the backing they needed. And yet he is given an American holiday for discovering AmericaYeah Ill wait for that to make sense. It also became clear that there are many reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day. Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. It is known by many as to what had happened after Americas discovery. This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. I discovered America. Christopher Columbus, as it turned out, was responsible for widespread genocide; he permitted his men to rape, murder, mutilate and enslave indigenous people. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. The Columbus controversy can also help students see that history is still applicable today. I'm not the only Italian American on board with ditching the holiday. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. If it wasnt for Columbus, the motivation for exploration and expansion wouldnt have become a priority because nobody knew about the Americas. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. Be careful, this sample is accessible to everyone. Read More Dominant narratives tend to speak about heroes in a simple sense; counternarratives can be much more critical. 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. 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. There are several reasons why Columbus Day has become controversial. Why Christopher Columbus shouldn't be celebrated - The Snapper Though he didnt discover America, he was the person to show the rest of the developed world that there was more far away lands. There were terrible diseases that got communicated to the natives, but he cant be blamed for that., 5. And, while we celebrate Columbus Day, we can learn from history and also take time to honor Native Americans. Pondering putting an end to Columbus Day, and a look at what could Architecture of the Floating (Or Sinking) City: How Was Venice Built? 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. Market data provided by Factset. If I sailed to Italy and said that I discovered this land in the name of Rowan University it wouldnt fly right? So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). Sorry, Mr. Why We Shouldn't Celebrate Columbus Day - 1191 Words - StudyMode The evil deeds of Columbus far outweigh the few accomplishments he achieved. Should the United States Celebrate Columbus Day? 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. Hi! The pro for Columbus Day written by John Wirt. But as I got older and began learning more about the history of the Caribbean, the glossy veneer of ol Chris didnt hold up. Some schools, cities, and institutions, such as the. The next obvious question is: well, if thats not his name, what were the names of his famous ships? -- Celebrate the spirit of exploration. Some of my students entered high school aware of the problematic nature of Columbus but their thinking is, Well, Columbus is not important to study, because he didnt do anything. We have to push back on that. Columbus should not be celebrated, let alone given a day. He brought with him a letter from King Ferdinand to the Taino-Arawak Indians. (And yes, I also know many other discoverers have been posited through the ages. Hence, the inducement cited above.). He thereby claimed the lifetime pension for himself, cheating the rightful claimant out of both glory and a significant amount of money. What Does Columbus Day Mean for Hispanics? The Vikings sailed to, and colonized parts of Newfoundland, Canada, around AD 1000. Why is he important? 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. A growing number of cities are no longer celebrating Columbus Day, swapping it for "Indigenous Peoples' Day.". And most of all, I was taught of his discovering America. European settlers not only introduced new diseases to the Americas that wiped out scores of Indigenous people, but also warfare, colonization, enslavement, and torture. He was turned down from the Portuguese crown, Genoa crown, Venice crown, and English crown. Christopher Columbus is just one of those English adaptations someone felt was preferable to pronouncing a foreign sounding name. You need to be able to deeply understand the profoundly problematic past of this great nation. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! Columbus tortured and murdered many thousands of native peoples. Columbus was from a middle class family. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide. Why We Shouldn't Celebrate Columbus Day Essay - Bartleby 8 Reasons to Hate Columbus Day - The Daily Dot More States Say Goodbye to Columbus Day | The Pew Charitable Trusts Despite the time that has passed, Columbus Day still remains a subject that most people would rather not think about. To realize this dream, they split up. Even if we ignore that, this one still depends on your definition of America. 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. It's also why it's crucial we learn facts about Native Americans and. Teach Kids About Columbus Day vs Indigenous Peoples Day 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. Many states celebrate both. It was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt that designated the second Monday of October (Columbus Day) as a national holiday in 1971. Columbus and St. Croix Because thats public history. 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. Yet, despite all the gruesome sacrifice and slavery, some still wish to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated. Religion was heavily forced upon the Native American tribes, and the Europeans means of dealing with their obstacles run much more inhumane. They have no iron. matter in the end. Columbus was wrong of course, and needless to say, he didnt actually discover anything the Americas had already been inhabited for thousands of years. One of the best parts of our humanity is that sense of discovery. Dating back around 200 years, the nonreligious had been adverse to this celebration. But Columbus couldnt deliver on the gold claim. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! PDF what is now Haiti. During this first trip to what Columbus thought was