Christopher Columbus is glorified in American culture, but his journey across the sea marked the beginning of suffering and abuse for thousands of Native Americans. His goal: An Atlantic route to Asia that would take the place of the lengthy and dangerous journey ships then had to take around Africa in order to trade.
According to History. He died in stripped of his noble title and lacking any riches he so desperately desired. Over the years, the perception of Columbus changed.
In , a celebration was held to commemorate the th anniversary of Columbus landing in the Bahamas. In , President Benjamin Harrison strongly encouraged Americans to celebrate the th anniversary. In , President FDR announced it would be a national holiday, which has been celebrated on the second Monday in every October, according to history.
Some still acknowledge the purpose of the day, but most students treat it no differently than a professional development day. Ten people out of twenty seven people at Nashoba Regional High School asked did not know why we have school off this Monday. Many of those who got the answer correct were clearly guessing and surprised to know they were right.
Sophomores felt particularly strong since they have recently begun learning early American History, and what really happened. When asked, History teacher Mr. Sakellarion explained why he does not support Columbus Day. If someone is going to have a holiday, they should at least be nice.
Sakellarion raises a lot of important points. How much does the general public really know about Columbus? And does American society really think that Columbus, who infected, enslaved, and abused millions of Natives, is as important as MLK, who protested peacefully for the freedom and equality of everyone, no matter their race. Columbus day should no longer be celebrated.
The day is a marker for the beginning of the abuse, enslavement, and death for millions of Native Americans. By celebrating Columbus day, America is supporting the genocide of millions of people who had been thriving for centuries without the interference of Europeans. They were already in use by millions of Native Americans who lived with a respect for the land. Everything changed for the worse on the day Columbus first stumbled onto the Americas. If not for him, Native Americans may not have suffered and died at the hands of a cruel dictator-like man.
So should America really be celebrating Columbus Day? The answer: Absolutely not. Why Should America Raise the Wage? This was just the tip of the iceberg in the ways that Columbus would abuse his power. He would torture indigenous people for his own sick amusement, and even other Europeans who came with him documented how vile and horrific his punishments were.
He worked tens of thousands of Native Americans in the south to death — both men and women, and oftentimes children too. It is of no exaggeration to say that Columbus was a harbinger of genocide. And yet we still celebrate him. Worse yet, we celebrate him as a federal holiday. Presidents to this day continue to break their treaties with natives and continue to steal and use their land to fuel corporate greed — much like the greed that fueled Columbus.
No matter how much a president can say that they support the Native Americans, it means nothing if the government continues to act against the indigenous communities and bring them harm. Since the government does nothing to find the thousands of missing indigenous women, nothing to return stolen land or at the very least to not pollute what they have left , the only thing left to do is to MAKE them do something and make them hold accountability for the centuries of the debilitating damage they have caused; because while Christopher Columbus committed his crimes, the U.
Some of the best ways you can help indigenous communities beyond just signing petitions, is taking the time to educate yourself on their history, and on their culture. Take responsibility and accountability for your actions. Never forget that you live in a system that benefits from putting natives and other minorities down so that some people can stand a little higher.
Offer support and solidarity wherever you can, and never, never drown out the voices of the people who need to be heard. Below I have linked a couple petitions that you can sign to help amplify native voices.
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