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. Dating back around 200 years, the nonreligious had been adverse to this celebration. And the D.C. City Council recently approved a measure to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day. Ahh, well, brothers will be brothers. This began with the spirit of Christopher Columbus. Chris wasnt a bad guy right? Columbus Day is not a holiday the U.S. and Italian Americans should Christopher Columbus is just one of those English adaptations someone felt was preferable to pronouncing a foreign sounding name. Mettler earned his Bachelors degree from William Jessup University and is an alumnus of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. 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. Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) is generally considered to be a great explorer during the Age of Exploration . Legal Statement. Top 5 Reasons NOT to Celebrate Columbus Day And 1 Reason To And #5 gets worse. Surprisingly, this holiday was first celebrated by Italians of New York in 1866 honoring Columbus's Italian Heritage, but the official celebration in Spain did not . Why is he important? 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. We may not like it, but its our shared heritage. Even if we ignore that, this one still depends on your definition of America. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Its 2020 people. 8 Reasons to Hate Columbus Day - The Daily Dot We need to set the record straight early on. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. Columbus Personified the American Spirit Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. In response to the rebellion, Columbus ordered a brutal crackdown in which many natives were killed, and their dismembered bodies paraded through the streets. Columbus Day is one of the oldest holidays in the USA Observing Columbus Day started back in the 18th century. And yet he is given an American holiday for discovering AmericaYeah Ill wait for that to make sense. America is celebrating. Americans have the right to celebrate whatever they chose, but the history behind Columbus Day is not to be ignored. With as simple of a description as that, one would wonder why so much controversy arises from a legal American holiday. She is a national writer at Her Campus and the former editor-in-chief of Her Campus Rowan. Along and through History, conquerors have had violent behaviour. The New York Society of Tammany also honored Columbus of his first voyage with the marking of his 300th anniversary. While we are thankful for this land we call America, it . -- 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). Sure, he was addicted to opium, but a lot of people were at the time. By 1516, there were 12,000. There, the brothers should have been exposed to the adventures of another explorer: Leif Erickson. So, yes, in 1498 and 1502, he did reach the continental Americas. In fact, the result of Columbuss voyages was mass, Columbus didnt do too well as a governor of these new lands. April Holloway is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. In this 2014 piece, " Columbus Day, or 'Indigenous Peoples' Day'? Twelve Reasons NOT to Celebrate Columbus Day - Medium your personal assistant! He led the way for future colonists to settle the United States. The holiday is typically observed on the second Monday in October. 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. 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. Yet, despite all the gruesome sacrifice and slavery, some still wish to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. The war against the Western heritage. Why Columbus Day is worth defending and celebrating He first went to sea when he was only 14 years old. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. 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. Now that the truth is becoming more widely known, people are pressuring their communities to stop celebrating Columbus Day. Some committed suicide to avoid subjugation, others fled, but many rebelled. Why We Celebrate Columbus Day | National Review In an era where we are fighting for racial equality celebrating false heroes is detrimental to progress. How Columbus Sailed Into U.S. History, Thanks To Italians Columbus stood to gain significant wealth and power from his voyage, terms he negotiated with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Now theres a deed worth celebrating every year! What is Indigenous Peoples Day? Is it offensive to celebrate Columbus And, while we celebrate Columbus Day, we can learn from history and also take time to honor Native Americans. Columbus Day: Should it be considered a federal holiday? 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. Two reasons why Columbus Day should not be celebrated is that we shouldnt have a day where we glorify someone who hurt and enslaved innocent people (Native Americans) and because he destroyed the tranquility in the slaves homes and land with genocide and abuse. I am sure you are familiar with his legend which states that he was born in a manger surrounded by shepherds, about Christopher Columbus: Master Double Agent and Portugals 007, about Roman Sword discovered off Oak Island radically suggests Ancient Mariners visited New World 1,000 years before Columbus, For Sale In Britain: A Small Ancient Man With A Colossal Penis, Sacred Marvels: 17 Cathedrals That Will Take Your Breath Away, In Pictures, Egyptologists Reveal a Lost Chamber in the Great Pyramid With Cosmic Rays, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Unleashing the End of the World. In addition to The Daily Citizen, his written pieces have appeared in The Daily Signal, Life News, The Colorado Independent, and The Millennial Review. By 1555, there were zero full-blooded natives left on the island. The Left Hates Christopher Columbus. Here are Five Reasons Why We He asked for 3 more days, and if land was not sighted, the crew could do with him as they wished. And most believe the idea came from their familys time in Iceland. Always trying. Though it has its controversies, Columbus day should be celebrated. 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. 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. Columbus Day: Here's Why We Celebrate It | Time Market data provided by Factset. When confronted with evidence to the contrary, he simply could not conceive of the the idea that he might be wrong. Yeah. And in general, we want to students to engage with controversy. Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide. Yes, this guy didnt commit genocide. Most people know of the great construction achievements of the dynastic Egyptians such as the pyramids and temples of the Giza Plateau area as well as the Sphinx. Or Napoleon Bonaparte Day, for that matter. 5 Things to Know About Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day Even though Eratosthenes (Greek mathematician living in Alexandria, Egypt, Columbus never discovered anything. Many people believe that Columbus Day should not be a federal holiday because Christopher Columbus was a terrible person. Personally, I dont think we should celebrate Columbus Day. Not just Europeans, but everyone. . 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. Here are five reasons we should still celebrate Columbus Day. Nevertheless, the first official Columbus Day happened in 1892, when President Harrison issued a proclamation for Americans to commemorate the day. Columbus Day should be celebrated because Columbus had done a lot to get to the point of sailing. Nevertheless, the same could be said of Julius Caesar, but I dont know of many European countries who celebrate Julius Caesar Day. This is where many of the peaceful natives were met with brutal deaths onboard, whether it be from disease or mistreatment from the handlers. Consider how the first Columbus Day parade in New York was described in the newspapers. Yes, we have a federal holiday on Christmas, but Ill put that in a special category (which well call religious.). Last updated by Patrick Bennett on 10/02/2021. Why We Should Celebrate Columbus Day? Free Essay Example Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated. uknow@gse.harvard.edu 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. Alaska was second, in 2017, enacting Indigenous Peoples Day. Lets look at Columbus himself, to see if he meets the definition. Nevertheless, Italians claim him today and Columbus Day is a good chance to recognize what Italians have contributed to America, and the world. Columbus tried to build and has transformed the America we have today. But Columbus couldnt deliver on the gold claim. Washington, D.C., has joined hundreds of U.S. cities in seven states in replacing Columbus Day with a day to celebrate Native Americans. "It's difficult to think there exists a site anywhere with a higher concentration of cave art.". Why Columbus Day isn't really a national holiday Columbus Is Innocent of Most of the Charges Against Him, Christopher Columbus was not perfect, but he is innocent of most of his alleged crimes. Columbus Day is a patriotic holiday. If we have a holiday honoring somebody, the question on everyones mind should be, Why are we honoring them? How could we look at this from a different perspective? For all the reasons listed above, and for how he acted during his stay in the Americas, Christopher Columbus should not be remembered as a voyaging adventurer who discovered America. Herman Lindquist, Christopher Columbus var han riktigt klok, Fischer, 1992, Captivating History, Christopher Columbus: A Captivating Guide to the Life of an Italian Explorer and His Voyages to the Americas, Captivating History, 2020, Encyclopdia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Christopher-Columbus. She likes thrifting, romance novels, cooking shows, and can often be found binging documentaries. Dominant narratives tend to speak about heroes in a simple sense; counternarratives can be much more critical. However, because Columbus brought disasters to the Native Americans, many people opposed the Columbus celebrations. It doesn't make sense for the United States to recognize this supposed Christian with ashow more content 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 would an academic system praise someone who was so blatantly evil? AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. The next obvious question is: well, if thats not his name, what were the names of his famous ships? What Columbus Day Really Means - The American Scholar Two reasons why Columbus Day should not be celebrated is that we shouldn't have a day where we glorify someone who hurt and enslaved innocent people (Native Americans) and because he destroyed the tranquility in the slaves homes and land with genocide and abuse. (Sarcasm intended.) President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a. In 1927, Chicago's outer drive, connecting the city's North and South Sides, was renamed for Leif. A lot of depopulation was caused by suicides, including some parents killing their own children to prevent them from living and growing up as a slave. He was the catalyst that brought more explorers across the Atlantic, who would eventually begin to explore North America, but it is . Chris went to Spain and Bart to France. He read books, studied the ocean, and made a name for himself. The natives were removed from their villages to work in gold mines and colonial plantations. Give us your paper requirements, choose a writer and well deliver the highest-quality essay! Well, the Pinta was indeed, the Pinta. The idea that Christopher Columbus discovered "The New World" is one of the great fallacies of history. Howell Public Schools Stance on Mask Mandate, In person school, more beneficial to kids. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. His first impression of the Arawaks, one of the first peoples he encountered, was . The act moved Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and the new Columbus Day holiday to Mondays. By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. Analysis Of Columbus Day Controversy By Nannette Croce He decided at an early age that this was not the life for him. Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October. I believe thats the tact to take when looking at Chris. A main argument for the idealization of the 15th century explorer is the idea that he was the first European to discover the Americas. In an era where we are fighting for racial equality celebrating false heroes is detrimental to progress. Why I Refuse To Celebrate Columbus Day - The Odyssey Online The Iliad can provide new insights on the role of motherhood among the ancient Greek gods, and by extension, amongst ancient mortal Greek women themselves. Except, once Chris had succeeded in Spain, he didnt wait for his brother. 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 . 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.. All islands I would love to visit on a single trip. Based on my experience, I think its vitally essential that teachers engage kids as young as sixth grade in questions that really interrogate Columbus. Examine Columbuss "discovery" of America. Upon arriving in the New World, one of the first observations Columbus made with regards to the indigenous people was the following: 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. It involves grappling with multiple perspectives, a fundamental skill for historians. Columbus was a brutal and cruel man who . Legal Statement. 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. Itd be ludicrous to say that Columbuswasnt guilty by association. Why as a nation we should celebrate Columbus Day hen, on his fourth, final voyage, he landed at present-day Panama. But as far as I know, no U.S. landfall. Its the responsibility of our school system to talk about Columbus as part of our work to prepare students to be citizens. Their spears are made of cane. Columbus never even came to this country! It is known by many as to what had happened after Americas discovery. The Controversy Over Columbus Day Celebrations - ThoughtCo 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. Why we should celebrate "Indigenous Peoples' Day" instead of "Columbus The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him as a master navigator and admiral. He sailed to numerous places beginning his career as a merchant marine. Since then, its spread across the nation with increasing speed, as more than 60 cities from Maine to Washington have supported the idea. 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). But as I got older and began learning more about the history of the Caribbean, the glossy veneer of ol Chris didnt hold up. So why Columbus Day? Interests? Though it was disputed for many years, there is conclusive evidence that Neanderthals bred with modern humans (Homo sapiens). Columbus Day was supposed to recognize the greatness of all of America's people, but especially Italians and Native Americans. He brought with him a letter from King Ferdinand to the Taino-Arawak Indians. Congress also believed the holiday would mark the contribution of immigrants to the United States. The West has its good and bad points, but its best ideasequal rights, freedom of religion, free speech, due process, open scientific inquiry, property rights and so onhave helped all people who adopt them. As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. I discovered America. History comes with an agenda. Just bear in mind that the verb "colonize" and the terms "colony", and "colonial" derive from Columbus ("Colon", in Spanish spelling). 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. But its not recognized in Los Angeles, where I live. The City Council recently voted to get rid of Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day, commemorating indigenous, aboriginal and native people.. But as I grew older, it became clear that history is murky. For instance, they lay out what specific textbooks omitted about Columbuss involvement with the slave trade and genocide. Cal Poly State University - San Luis Obispo, California State University - Los Angeles, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, California State University, Channel Islands, Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Federal University Of Agriculture Abeokuta, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico San German campus, Keiser University - Latin American Campus, London School of Economics and Political Science, California State University of Sacramento, Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, University of North Carolina - Wilmington, University of South Florida - St. Petersburg, William Paterson University of New Jersey. With all that, there are reasons to celebrate Columbus Day. Below are five reasons why Columbus Day celebrants can hold their head high in 2019 rather than kowtow to guilt-based politics. Howard Zinns A Peoples History of the United States includes horrific, detailed eyewitness accounts of how the Spanish explorers treated the Native Americans. Ahh, well, semantics. Why more people are celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day After his voyage to America, he became one of the most well known explorers of his time. 1. Growing up, I wasnt exposed to this truth. -- Celebrate the spread of Western civilization. Why Should Columbus Day Be Renamed? - PartyShopMaine This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. Why columbus day should not be celebrated. Why Columbus Day Should Not However, a circumspect understanding of history offers numerous reasons why Columbus should not only be celebrated, but . In recent years, the conversation has become more nuanced, as educators and people across the country have begun to explore the many reasons why celebrating Christopher Columbus is problematic: the violent abuse of indigenous peoples, the launch of the transatlantic slave trade, and the introduction of a swath of lethal diseases to an unprepared continent. The point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it. Today's woke perspective condemns Columbus Day as an unworthy holiday. 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. Columbus Day, which is celebrated on the second Monday of October each year, has become a controversial subject for many people. It took tremendous bravery to sail off into the unknown. How many countries award holidays to non-natives? Columbus tortured and murdered many thousands of native peoples. This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. If we cannot honor anyone in human history that did not have flaws or imperfections, we cannot honor anyone at all. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The statue of Christopher Columbus remains encased in a wooden box on Marconi Plaza Aug. 12, 2020, as the sun sets on the day the Philadelphia Art Commission voted to remove it and store it while the city deliberates on a new permanent home for the controversial monument. And most of all, I was taught of his discovering America. Columbus may have recorded that he "found" America, but he was a. mass murderer. Why does learning about what Columbus did to Native Americans still matter today? Or maybe even plan to discover your own new-to-you islands!