Jimmy Kimmel’s out on Hollywood Blvd making people look stupid again – and to be honest, it’s not very hard. Sure, there’s a lot of argument when it comes to Christopher Columbus, what he actually did in 1842 1492, and why the hell we’re still celebrating Columbus Day. But the basics? I mean, come on guys.
Via Jimmy Kimmel Live
Image via Wikimedia Commons
This Monday, the United States will observe Columbus Day. Most of us learned about Christopher Columbus during history class and think of him as the person who discovered America. Over the years, the identity of Christopher Columbus and the story of the discovery of American has been debated. Most people agree that Christopher Columbus should not be credited with discovering America because there were already people living here when he arrived.
It turns out there are many other things about the story of Christopher Columbus that are also untrue and somewhat dark. When you find out the truth about Christopher Columbus, it may make you think twice about observing a holiday in his honor.
Most people think of Christopher Columbus as a fearless adventurer who was looking for a new world. In reality, he was just greedy. Christopher Columbus was searching for a new trade route to Asia in order to make money. When he came across America by accident, he decided not to pursue a trade route and instead focus on a way to get the huge amount of gold available in America.
If you think Columbus treated the natives well, think again. When we are taught about Christopher Columbus, we are told of his fear of Native Americans, In reality, Columbus wanted to control them and when he went to war with them, he easily dominate them and sold over 500 Native Americans into slavery. The ones he didn’t sell he tortured and treated as his own slaves. If the natives refused to give him and his men what they wanted, he would cut off their ears and noses.
The observation of Columbus Day comes from the notion that Christopher Columbus discovered America and helped make it civilized. The truth is, when Columbus and his men arrived in American, they brought disease and sickness with them. Nearly 5 million people died of illness and starvation as a result of Columbus’s arrival.
So as you observe Columbus Day this year, think about what the country is really celebrating. Should the sugar-coated version of Christopher Columbus still be taught to children in school? Should our country continue to observe a holiday that is based on a lie?
Image from Wikimedia Commons.
Today is the second Monday in October, which means that it is Columbus Day in the United States. The day became a federal holiday in 1937 and to many it honors explorer Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the Americas in 1492.
To many others, however, Columbus day is a reminder of a darkness in the history of the country. Opponents of the celebration of Columbus Day point to the treatment of the indigenous populations of the Native Americans and peoples of the Caribbean after Christopher Columbus set foot onto what would later be dubbed “the new world.”
The problem to many is that the new world had already been discovered. And to these opponents, celebrating Columbus Day is akin to celebrating the eradication of an entire culture and deifying a man that laid the groundwork for the brutal period of European colonization.
Native American activists argue that celebrating the day is a perpetual detriment to those still affected by it today –
Very high on the list of those expressions of non-indigenous sensibility [that] contribute to the perpetuation of genocidal policies against Indians are the annual Columbus Day celebration, events in which it is baldly asserted that the process, events, and circumstances described above are, at best, either acceptable or unimportant. More often, the sentiments expressed by the participants are, quite frankly, that the fate of Native America embodied in Columbus and the Columbian legacy is a matter to be openly and enthusiastically applauded as an unrivaled “boon to all mankind”. Undeniably, the situation of American Indians will not — in fact cannot — change for the better so long as such attitudes are deemed socially acceptable by the mainstream populace. Hence, such celebrations as Columbus Day must be stopped
This sentiment is expressed by a particular group whose message is “Reconsider Columbus Day.” They have been producing videos like the one seen below for years –
Many on Twitter aren’t exactly loving the celebration of Columbus Day and are representing that through the humorous platform that social media provides –
@StalkingNikki
I’m the papi.Happy Columbus Day everyone. Go discover something that has already been discovered, then destroy it’s inhabitants.
58 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® · powered by @socialditto
@JohnFugelsang
John Fugelsang“These people are very unskilled in arms… with 50 men they could all be subjected and made to do all that one wished.” -Happy Columbus Day 1 hour ago via web · powered by @socialditto
@Lord_Voldemort7
The Dark LordHappy Columbus Day? So when he went & destroyed an entire group of people he got a holiday? This is because I don’t have a nose, isn’t it? 6 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto
@pandagon
Jesse TaylorDear Christopher Columbus: thank you for discovering a place where people already lived. Today, I’m discovering Toledo. 2 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto
@albiedrzycki
Alec BiedrzyckiHappy Columbus Day! To celebrate, walk into a stranger’s house and claim it as your own. 3 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
@DepressedDarth
Darth VaderHappy Columbus Day. If using sophisticated weapons to wipe out a civilization gets you a holiday, we should have Darth Day. 3 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto
@AGuyWithNoLife
Elijah DanielSorry, Native Americans… Finders keepers, losers weepers! Happy Columbus Day 2 hours ago via txt · powered by @socialditto
@LouBrutus
Lou BrutusWent in my neighbor’s saying, “Happy Columbus Day!” Then stole his home, diseased his family & enslaved everyone but did give em the day off 2 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto
@rolandsmartin
rolandsmartinI guarantee you one thing: You won’t see any Columbus Day specials at Native American-owned casinos! #willneverhappen 28 minutes ago via Facebook · powered by @socialditto
@rationalists
CJ WerlemanNative Americans know today as the anniversary of the day they discovered Christopher Columbus. 1 hour ago via web · powered by @socialditto
What are your feelings on Columbus Day? Let us know in the comments.
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