Columbus Day? I Beg To Differ
Well, today our nation...celebrates...the...achievements...of Christopher Columbus.
Or, as one of my co-workers says, we're celebrating "kill-a-Native-American-with-syphilis-day." Ew. But, fact nonetheless. No less of a figure than Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez urged Native American Latin Americans to not celebrate the Columbus Day holiday. In 2003, Chavez blamed Columbus for leading the way to the mass genocide of the Native Americans by the Spanish.
There is a certain truth to both sides of this coin: that is, yes, the arrival of certain Europeans brought death to thousands, and soon millions, of Native Americans certainly. And yes, I suppose that Columbus' arrival on the island of Hispaniola (present day Dominican Republic and Haiti) in 1492 -- while in search of a new route to Asia -- counts as an accomplishment.
But, forgive me if I am less than enthusiastic regarding the celebration of this day. Yeah, it's great to have a day off from work, but the premise is a bit iffy. I mean, Columbus, as I remember it, never made it to the mainland of what would be the United States.
So why his significance to this nation?
If it were about "finding" America, why are we not celebrating various Norse explorers such as Leif Ericson, Asians/Polynesians -- who may have explored the west coast of North America in the 13th Century and earlier, and even (!!) Africans who seem to have made contact with Mesoamerica in 1200 BC, and again in the form of a fleet of ships from Mali in 1300 AD.
By my count, those instances predate Chrisy Boy by at least 290 years, and perhaps as much as a millennia.
And, perhaps more importantly, the fact that the Western Hemisphere was well-populated with vibrant cultures gives lie to the fact that this continent was "discovered." Let's note that proof of such inhabitance in the south alone is noted by the fact that we still use names for places given them by the earliest inhabitants of the land. For example, Miami (as in the city of) is a name that means "sweet water" and was given by the original inhabitants, the Tequesta Native Americans.
Perhaps I am too literal, but to discover a place implies that there was no knowledge of that place prior to your arrival. And by definition, that would imply that the area was unpopulated.
Yeah.
Oh well, sometimes fact is overruled by emotion, I suppose.
So, while you enjoy what's left of Columbus Day, try to keep in mind that you ought to be celebrating the native cultures that flourished prior to CC's arrival. And pray for the souls of the departed, who didn't know what evils would come in the form of the Pinta, Nina, and Santa Maria.
Or, as one of my co-workers says, we're celebrating "kill-a-Native-American-with-syphilis-day." Ew. But, fact nonetheless. No less of a figure than Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez urged Native American Latin Americans to not celebrate the Columbus Day holiday. In 2003, Chavez blamed Columbus for leading the way to the mass genocide of the Native Americans by the Spanish.
There is a certain truth to both sides of this coin: that is, yes, the arrival of certain Europeans brought death to thousands, and soon millions, of Native Americans certainly. And yes, I suppose that Columbus' arrival on the island of Hispaniola (present day Dominican Republic and Haiti) in 1492 -- while in search of a new route to Asia -- counts as an accomplishment.
But, forgive me if I am less than enthusiastic regarding the celebration of this day. Yeah, it's great to have a day off from work, but the premise is a bit iffy. I mean, Columbus, as I remember it, never made it to the mainland of what would be the United States.
So why his significance to this nation?
If it were about "finding" America, why are we not celebrating various Norse explorers such as Leif Ericson, Asians/Polynesians -- who may have explored the west coast of North America in the 13th Century and earlier, and even (!!) Africans who seem to have made contact with Mesoamerica in 1200 BC, and again in the form of a fleet of ships from Mali in 1300 AD.
By my count, those instances predate Chrisy Boy by at least 290 years, and perhaps as much as a millennia.
And, perhaps more importantly, the fact that the Western Hemisphere was well-populated with vibrant cultures gives lie to the fact that this continent was "discovered." Let's note that proof of such inhabitance in the south alone is noted by the fact that we still use names for places given them by the earliest inhabitants of the land. For example, Miami (as in the city of) is a name that means "sweet water" and was given by the original inhabitants, the Tequesta Native Americans.
Perhaps I am too literal, but to discover a place implies that there was no knowledge of that place prior to your arrival. And by definition, that would imply that the area was unpopulated.
Yeah.
Oh well, sometimes fact is overruled by emotion, I suppose.
So, while you enjoy what's left of Columbus Day, try to keep in mind that you ought to be celebrating the native cultures that flourished prior to CC's arrival. And pray for the souls of the departed, who didn't know what evils would come in the form of the Pinta, Nina, and Santa Maria.
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All I have to say is I agree. Thanks for this! I learned so much by reading this than I did in my history book. "Chrisy Boy" LOLOLOL!!!
And another thing..I was talking with my frien Kevin and we were discussing a similar topic. On the American holidays that we celebrate..without even having no knowledge of it..or an excuse to spend money. People will go all out on certain holiday's and go for broke...not even paying their rent to satisfy and meet the need of someone else when that person will not be even grateful. Anyway, that's another blog within itself!