"Reconsider Columbus Day" by Nu Heightz Cinema
At 11 a.m. today, October 12, 2009, the United States government honors and celebrates the achievements of Christopher Columbus along with the Embassies Italy and Spain by laying a national wreath laying at the base of the Columbus Memorial Statue located at Union Station at Massachusetts Avenue & 1st Street in Washington, D.C. Widely regarded as the founder of America, Christopher Columbus received national recognition for contribution to the U.S. when October 12 (which later was changed to the second Monday in October) was officially declared a federal holiday in 1934.
A hero to some and a villain to others, how often do we take the time to examine who was Christopher Columbus? What his true legacy in the Americas and to whose expense we celebrate his "discovery?"
For many in the United States, Columbus Day is just another holiday. It is a time to spend with family and friends, an opportunity to take a short vacation, an extra day of rest from a long work week, or it is the last chance for a barbecue before winter. But for others, it is a sharp and painful reminder that history has betrayed and forgotten the contributions of their people, the lives lost, and a rich culture that pre-dated colonization.
From the moment a sailor aboard the Pinta sighted land from the sea, on October 12, 1492, the course of indigenous history was forever changed. Upon landing on what is now the Bahamas, once known as Guanahani, Columbus encountered indigenous peoples of the Lucayan, Taíno or Arawak, nations. Peaceful and friendly, Columbus and his Spanish explorers manipulated their hospitality and mercilessly slaughtered, enslaved, and stole lands in the name of the Spanish crown. He wrote of them in his journal, "They ought to make good and skilled servants, for they repeat very quickly whatever we say to them."
In his four voyages to the Americas, traveling extensively throughout the Caribbean and Central America, each voyage became more deadly than the first. Within two years of his initial landing historians estimate that half of what is believed to have been 250,000 Taino people were massacred. Remaining survivors were either sold into European slavery, forced to mine gold for the Spaniards in the Americas, and many later died of disease.
Even after Columbus' death, the brutality he implemented on the island of Hispañola (now the Dominican Republic and Haiti) endured. By 1550, only a few hundred Taino remained in Hispañola and in Mexico and estimated indigenous population of 25 million was decimated to 1 million by 1605.
This drastic decrease in the indigenous populations of the Americas, later brought about the trans-Atlantic African slave trade, and was followed by indentured Chinese labor after slavery's abolition. The thirst of cheap labor and the blood of the indigenous, Africans, and Chinese, still stain the soil that is the foundation of development in the New World.
However, this is not the history that is taught in schools throughout the United States. Our children do not learn of the brutality of the explorers, of Native American history and its traditions, nor do we pay homage the cultures that ruled for centuries before Columbus' arrival. Instead every second Monday of every October of every year, we give our youth a day off to remember and reflect on the "accomplishments" of Christopher Columbus, a nautical pioneer, explorer and a man who ordered the murder and enslavement of thousands.
Despite the 1990 Congressional resolution designating November as National American Indian Heritage Month, we have yet honor the indigenous peoples of the Americas with a national holiday. How many of us even recognize and/or celebrate American Indian Heritage Month annually?
What we have failed to realize in the United States is that Native American history is our history. If we are to call ourselves "Americans" we must honor and respect the first peoples of the Americas. So on this day, let us reconsider why we celebrate Columbus Day and not Indigenous People's Day.
Comments
I'm sure you meant 1492, not 1942, right?
Thank you for posting! It is so very true... Native American history is OUR history indeed
"Widely regarded as the founder of the United States of America,"
Uhhmm... by who?
Did you miss history class in elementary school?
Only an idiot (not necessarily you) thinks that Christopher Columbus is "widely regarded as the founder of the United States of America." In fact, he has more to do with the oppression of Spanish and French slave islands of the Carribiean and South America than the cold, damp United States, i.e. British Colonies.
And, despite all his evils, the man still discovered - for the sake of the West - a new land where people facing persecution from religious beliefs, or economic belifs could go. Yes, the bad that resulted cannot be overlooked (and I don't know that it is) but let us also consider that great gains were made as well. This is not a defense of genocide or murder (or, say, killing hundreds of people a year in a ritual of for the sun god of the Aztecks) but it should give us pause to realize, like you said, there are two arguments to every coin, but let us not over shadow one with another.
The sad thing is you are not getting your message across by being and idiot! how about some one come into your home and murder your whole family or even you just so they can clam ownership of your home! the place you worked so hard for and have such respect for! You are obviously are a person with no morals no god and sadly no education! take a step back and out of your degenerate world you grew up in. Look at the bigger picture and have some respect for the people who took care of the land before the European's got here. Oh and here is a little bit of history for you! The Europeans were amazed that the Native Americans were able to drink the water they were around, why you ask because they had polluted there own water sources and were unable to just go and drink form a clean natural source. No one is winning its called awareness!
Your soul will never be forgiven for what you believe. Either your just a hateful person or your unable to accept the facts as is witten in all history books and account of C.C.
vikings discovered america not columbus
The original inhabitants were already here.
the vikings were lost as well
In fact, America had been discovered centuries before the Vikings. Irish legend had long told of a famous sixth-century A.D Irish monk, Brendan, who was renowned as a sailor and who had sailed north to Iceland, then Greenland and south to what is now Newfoundland, Canada. Tim Severin, the English explorer and sailor, decided to test the story and successfully replicated the voyage. You can read about it in his book: "The Brendan Voyage." The "legend" may well have been fact. We tend to underestimate the ability of our ancestors to exploit sea-routes in their migrations. Land-hopping voyages to the American continent from Europe may not have been commonplace, but they probably occurred more frequently than we think. Furthermore, islands now long since inundated by the rising waters of the Atlantic may well have existed then to assist these intrepid early voyagers; Brendan mentions some that can no longer be identified. I wholeheartedly agree that Columbus Day should be set aside as a day of mourning for America's indigenous populations (North and South): "doom-burdened caravels," indeed.
Black flags should be flown at half-mast on all government buildings and commemorations held at indigenous sacred sites. And, while I'm on my soap-box, "Thanksgiving" -- for what? For the perpetrators of genocide and the bearers of fatal diseases? Let's call it "Soulsearching Day" instead.
That this person actually has a published column. Her historic and gammar skills leave much to be desired. Columbus was no saint, but atleast get the facts straight before passing judgement on honoring him.
For the record, Aisha, Columbus never set foot on what is now the Continental United States. I can't wait for MLK day so you can tell us how he freed the slaves.
What a crock, and please hire an editor!
Idiot
Columbus is a stain on humanity, he accomplished nothing but evil and is an even worse person than Hitler was.
Calling yourself "Redman" and then making such an idiotic remark is a stain upon Native Americans. What kind of moronic bigot are you? As for the writer f this article -- do a little fact-checking before posting this kind of vitriolic nonsense. Now that THAT is out of my system, I am all for a holiday to honor Native Americans. In my house, we did this on Thanksgiving Day. We would study a tribe and their customs and try to prepare a dish for the Thanksgiving feast that was in the custom of that tribe. We gave thanks for the people of our Nation who made it possible for our forefathers to survive in the new land.
"Son of dumbo" How about you look in the mirror you crooked tooth inbred- the savages are from the east.
"savages from the east"? again do some research. There is no real proof only an "educated guess" from scientists. Check the facts... try doing some reading on the subject.
As to this to this day... I have to say that in the Americas especially in Mexico, central and south America they were conquering and desimating each other for a long time. So... Here comes a bigger foe ( Europeans)in which other tribes joined to overthrow their bigger rivals! Europeans and Aztecs/Mayans... Larger states doing what every civilization has done in human history. We should look at this holiday objectively!!
Columbus' crew was less than 100 men. And they slaughtered 125,000???
GET REAL!
...the diseases they brought, which the native poulation had no resistance to, actually did most of the slaughtering over many years. That and the additional boatloads of Spanish soldiers.
I wonder if Google has a way to block a particular publication from appearing on your news links ever again... if they do I have one to add.
hey thorn the west got its ass handed to them --by a few guys in puffy shirts--enjoy! and peace to you and yours!
lumbo, your still lost
It's a bit of a stretch to depict the Spanish slaughter of Native Americans in central America as something to do with the founding of the U.S.A, but it's tempting to a certain ideology.
Contrary to Disney cartoons, Native North Americans didn't just sit around making daisy chains. They fought each other constantly, tribes wiped each other out and occupied each other's lands. Europeans in fact brought civilization, prosperity and peace where only primativeness, poverty and war had existed before.
1) Spanish not only colonized and slaughtered the indigenous groups in central america... but also in south america!
2) Yes, all indigenous groups waged war against other groups and lived more complex lives than what Disney depicts... BUT in no way shape or form did Europeans bring civilization to the Americas... you say that we lived here in primitiveness, poverty and war... don't alot of people still live in war and poverty in the US today? and in Europe for that matter... and for being primitive... the indigenous groups of the Americas have complex cultures and in no way lived primitive lives. Your entire argument is flawed in more than one way.. before posting anything,anywhere I suggest you actually understand what you are commenting on.. otherwise just dont..
Your comment is a piece of typical ethnocentric thinking. Pleas explain to us what made Native American poor and primitive compared to the Europeans? And also explain to us what do you mean by civilisation.
We should do what they do in Minnesota and celebrate Leif Erikson day. White people are awsome and discovered this place. Christopher Columbus was a ginny...almost black.
Two Reasons Why It's So Hard To Solve A Redneck Murder:
1. The DNA all matches.
2. There are no dental records.
And in your case - prejudice.
I'm a caucasian redneck and I like this joke.
you really is a RACIST IDIOT
Absolutely, native American history should be taught and talked about, but instead we have "black history" forced onto us. Secondly, what Columbus achieved, using only what today is considered very basic navigation tools, sailing thousands of miles of unknown open ocean and returning safely, and he voyaged three more times exploring more lands, was very extraordinary to say the least. This fact is what makes Columbus a hero. The nay sayers,the white male bashers, I'm not allowed to single them out, not PC that is, cannot overlook these facts of the greatest voyage of discovery, yes discovery. If a group of Indians from the New World had set out and landed in Europe, upon returning these explorers would have talked about a far away land they "discovered". One must always look at Columbus with the perspective of the time in history he came from. It makes little sense today to try understand him using our modern frame of mind.
Dear Merlin,
Except for your black history remark, I agree w/ your thoughts on this subject, especially the part about looking back with our 'modern frame of mind'. That's always a slippery slope. Playing the role of Monday morning quarterback to History is futile. We should be taught that subject from all perspectives. In that way we may become more sensitive as to how decisions impact not only ourselves but those around us.
I feel that a month of Black History is not enough, and how about all the years when there was no Black History month. Are you saying the only history in this land of ours is that of the white man? And yes the voyages made by C.C. were great ones but for just one moment put yourself into the bottom of one of the many slave ships and honest think about if that was you.
This article is wildly inaccurate. Columbus is not now, and never has been, "widely regarded as the founder of The United States of America". Columbus' voyage took place in 1492. The US was founded in 1776. Those events are separated by almost 300 years.
Secondly, most Americans do not celebrate - or even notice - Columbus Day. Government and bank employees might have today off, but the rest of us (~95% of employed Americans) are at work. Like President's Day or Arbor Day, Columbus Day is a holiday in name only. For the vast majority of us here in the US, it has almost zero significance.
Finally, Columbus didn't do much more than point the way to the New World. It was the explorers (mostly Spanish) who came later, like Cortez and Pizarro, who decimated the Mesoamerican civilizations. Columbus' connection to those events is so tenuous that blaming him for them borders on the absurd.
I suggest that Ms. Brown learn some history before trying to write about it.
The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones
It seems to me that George Washington is most wildly credited as the founder of the country, which is still an example of giving one man credit he doesn't deserve, but different. Columbus is credited with "discovering" America, but I do think most schools say "he didn't really" in the same breath.
While Columbus was anything but an enlightened servant of humanity, I'm also not sure he deserves much of the blame. Compared to the likes of Andrew Jackson, he was a puppy with a flower in his mouth.
I'm part Native American and goodness known I wish my people still had their land and their lives, and I think in the abstract we do have the right to take it all back if we had the power. (Not that we should exercise that right, but I do think we have it.) So, I'm with you that celebrating Columbus is pretty shameful. Still, I'd be cautious in how we vilify him just as much as I'd be cautious towards idolizing him.
A hackneyed piece of twaddle written by a "DC Progressive Examiner"...do we expect anything less?
I love the term "twaddle" -- thank you Marco.
Americus Vespucius
To think that the "Native Americans" were innocent, peaceful babes in the woods (literally) is beyond foolish. Remember, they were humans too, so in all certainty, they raped, pillaged and plundered one another in the same manner that their counterparts in other continents once did...and still do. Please dispense with the Disney-ication of history...and grow up.
poor marco, you need me read you a bed time story? you poor baby.... no better yet, lets get some ice cream, would that make you feel better?
Bleedinghearts, please lead by example. Go sign your house and land over to an Indian. Then you can lecture us. No takers?
(p.s.) no one thinks of Columbus as the 'founder' of the U.S., you moron.
Could not agree more. Good message.
Columbus Day has been a federal holiday since 1934; therefore all government institutions and national public schools are required to close in observance.
Also, though Columbus did not set foot on the continental U.S. (which was mentioned) this country credited his discovery of the already inhabited New World as a contribution in its making. To say he was the founder of the U.S. may be a stretch yes. But that is the way our history revers Columbus and how his legacy is taught in schools.
In reference to the indigenous peoples, Columbus himself noted in his journal they were amiable and kind towards himself and the explorers and at first presented no threat. And although his first voyage included nearly 100, his crews grew with each voyage and the precedent was set for other explorers to follow.
For those of you who may not believe the numbers of those massacred I would encourage you to read Cultural Movements and Collective Memory: Christopher Columbus, by Timothy Kubal.
great article. thank you for remembering the true legacy of columbus.
We do not need a day set aside to honor our people, we honor them everyday, that's why our history and beliefs survived. If you don't like what is taught in the school system then I suggest you do what I did with my daughter, expand the teaching. Got her in trouble a couple of times when she took it back to school but she had a well rounded understanding of those that came before her. As someone already pointed out Columbus was long before this country formed under the US banner and I don't believe he ever stepped foot on America soil. It was a long time ago, you cannot judge them by our standards today you just have to make sure genocide of any people for money never happens again.
Associating Columbus with the founding of the US is more than a stretch. It is a gross historical inaccuracy that calls into question the writer's basic understanding of her subject. It's as ridiculous as John Belushi's line in Animal House about the Germans bombing Pearl Harbor ... except that Ms. Brown is apparently serious.
As for the Native Americans, I don't think anyone here is saying that they don't have legitimate complaints (I myself believe that significantly more land and wealth should have been set aside for them). However, blaming Columbus for their suffering is silly. He was an explorer. He explored. If it hadn't been him, some other European would have "discovered" the New Wolrd within a few years, and the eventual result would have been exactly the same.
When a renaissance-age culture encounters a neolithic-age culture, the inevitable result is the utter domination of the latter by the former. The possibilty of any other outcome is vanishingly remote.
Thank you for a well written, well reasoned post. If America is to be great we must be honest about our past. If America is to heal from our past racial injustice we must confront and acknowledge that injustice.
Great article.
Emma wrote: "Europeans in fact brought civilization, prosperity and peace where only primativeness, poverty and war had existed before."
I wonder of what kind of peace and prosperity you're talking about. Natives were masacred for godsake!! I recommend you read "La Araucana", by Alonso de Ercilla written by a man who lived during that time. Then talk about peace and prosperity.
Maria, I believe Emma's point is that the "noble savage" sterotype of Native Americans often portrayed by authors and screenwriters is not entirely accurate. The Aztecs, Iroquois, Sioux and other aboriginal cultures were seldom the wise, spiritual pacifists that Hollywood likes to portray them as.
Native American cultures warred upon each other almost constantly. Most conquered their neighbors if they were able. Some even practiced slavery and human sacrifice. More importantly, the majority of them were prone to periods of deprevation and disease because they never advanced beyond the stage of neolithic hunter-gatherers. Such cultures lead a precarious existence even at the best of times; there can be little doubt that modern civilization offers them a better life if they choose to take advantage of it.
If you're going to insist we be brutally honest about Columbus, then you should also be brutally honest about the people you believe he is responsible for conquering.
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