Thought for the Week
Columbus Day or some version of it, is celebrated in most of the western hemisphere, as well as in Italy and Spain. Nevertheless, as a holiday it’s toast. And it should be. Columbus didn’t discover “America” anyway (or prove the world was round). And besides, there were already people in the Western Hemisphere when Europeans “discovered” it. Hence, in the U.S., Columbus Day is gradually being supplanted by Indigenous Peoples Day.
That’s problematic too, but our sound-bite-happy mediaverse doesn’t like complexity, so the previous narrative has been replaced by a new one:
Previous version: Â Noble explorers from Europe found a nearly empty world teeming with natural riches and settled here. Oh, yeah, and they encountered a few hopelessly primitive people along the way and taught them how to be civilized.
New version: Evil murdering racists from Europe found a world occupied by noble people living together in harmony, and then tortured them and committed mass genocide against them.
Both narratives are oversimplified. The settlement of the Americas by Europeans was a sometimes good, often heinous adventure. Humans throughout the world at the time wrongly accepted subjugation and enslavement of other cultures as natural, and that informed their actions. Europeans–against their own religious and cultural teachings–murdered and enslaved, but also, in response to those same teachings, sometimes befriended and strove to protect the natives. The indigenous peoples themselves were usually peaceful but sometimes violent cultures composed of individuals, not types, who frequently made treaties with their neighbors, but also sometimes enslaved them.
Swapping one for the other diminishes everyone. Turning Columbus Day into Indigenous Peoples Day reduces all Europeans to murderers and all Indigenous Peoples to victims. It’s probably too late to stop the trend (in the U.S., at least), but allow me to suggest a next step:
- Turn this holiday into Americas Day, a title already employed by several Latin American countries (DÃa de las Américas). And then use it to celebrate and discuss the history of all the Americas, the cowardice and the courage, the evil and the nobility.
- Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on a different date. Let us honor and explore their millennia-deep history and varied cultures, rather than merely mourn their subjugation by Europeans (and horrendous decimation by European diseases). Let it be their day, after all…
Not a used and infected one.
I’m the direct product of Spaniards, North Africans, and Natives (from the Caribbean) and their complicated history. IMO you’ve approached this topic thoughtfully and respectfully!
I’m very pleased to hear that, Maribelle. It’s certainly my intention.
Yeah that’s very nice lol
I’m with you too, Mitch – as a Brit. It’s a fair perspective from my view point too! I always smile at the history lesson that says that Columbus ‘discovered ‘ America – and as for bringing civilisation…! You’re right, over-simplified history can tend to produce or justify prejudice.
Those darn shades of gray make simple, distinctive clarity so illussive. Maybe that’s why diversity and inclusion work creates such fear in people.
So true, Anonymous.
I’m certainly not anonymous. Something went wrong as I tried to comment using my iPhone. This comment is from oldandbessed.
;>) Duly noted, O&B.
In the US the holiday was meant to celebrate the contributions of Italian-American’s – this is a bit of a simplification, but the gist is there. The two options mentioned above don’t reflect this. Italian-American Heritage Day might be better received.
Thanks for the reminder, J. However, I suspect that, despite the longstanding Italian-American tradition of Columbus Day parades, they too might best be honored with a new date that isn’t mired in controversy.
I love this thoughtful analysis, Mitch. Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, I always liked Columbus Day because it was a day off school! But I agree that the holiday has become fraught with the associations you so eloquently describe in your post. So much tragedy and violence in the world has been committed under the warped belief that one people is inherently superior to others.
Indeed, my friend.
Whether you like Columbus or despise him, there is no arguing that he forever changed the world.
In Europe we are very proud of our heritage and of the discovery of America by Columbus. And in America they should be grateful for Europeans brought culture, language and all the elements of civilisation. Those days you have mentioned are ok but there should be a day of appreciation. And we are not guilty of whatever the original discoverers did. Thank you.
i think that one may be proud of one’s heritage while also open to and interested in learning about the traditions and cultures of different peoples. I had the tremendous pleasure of taking a graduate course in “Religious Difference in Early Modern France,” in which we read original texts from the 1500’s when the French were following the Spanish into the “New World.” Indeed, I remember reading about one French explorer who befriended the native Americans with whom he could trade for animal pelts to be made into fur coats back in Europe. He and his wife made friends with the wife of a native American chief, and she (the wife of the Chief) was fascinated by the mirror that the young Frenchman’s wife wore around her neck, which amused them no end. But, there was an exchange. The French got furs and learned what to plant and how to survive in a different geography. The native American tribes, which for the most part had remained a “Stone Age” civilization without some of the advances from other parts of the world, got muskets and mirrors and smallpox, too. Really, there was a great amount of wealth to be exchanged on both sides, when Native Americans and French set aside their inherent belief in their own cultural superiority.
Very good points. But this does not invalidate the discovery of America or the fact that this historical feat should be honoured and respected.
That is true!!! Anyone who has ever sailed off site of land can appreciate the bravery, determination, and skill that the first European explorers to make it to the Americas possessed!
Thank you!
PS – I love this poem, ‘Thoughts on a Windmill.” Who is the author?
Thank you. All poems I publish in VALENCIARTIST are of my authorship sir. I appreciate your visit.
They had culture and their own language. I often hear the opinion, ‘indigenous people should be grateful’. So I’m a little curious… if you didn’t ask for something, didn’t want it, then why should you be grateful for it? If people. By the same token…who should they be grateful to, particularly if by what you’re saying, no one should no longer be held responsible?
Why should people 500 years later be held responsible? History is made every day and moving forward not backwards. And although indigenous people may have had their culture, their time passed and ended. History waits for no one and no one can change the course of history.
Thank you for your reply.
I do understand what you’re saying—people 500 years later should not be held responsible.
My question is: why then should there be an expectation for gratitude? And if so to whom?
As you rightly said, history cannot be changed. Only the present can.
However future generations would have been affected by these historical events.
Imagine how the world might have been if the opposite had happened and Europe was “discovered” for instance?
So I do think, acknowledging what happened (no matter how difficult) doesn’t automatically equate to blame— or at least it shouldn’t 😊
No blame for past generations… The past is not a states attorney claiming fault for something that some others did 500 + years ago…
You’ve made some interesting suggestions worth consideration. Thanks for tackling this sensitive topic with tact, Mitch. 🙂
Thanks, Nancy.
Just before Columbus Day in grade school the teacher had us all stand up and say In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue and after another year of this I wanted to wack her one because then I could not get this out of my mind SIGH
;>)
I think a nuanced conversation is what is needed, otherwise it becomes such a divisive topic.
To be clear, I think it’s important that the detrimental effects of colonialism needs to be acknowledged as is the fact that this land in fact once belonged to the Indigenous peoples.
I think education and being open to learn is the only way society can change and move forward and I do like you suggested approach.
In Canada, we recognize National Indigenous History Month in June and Truth and Reconciliation Day in October – separate from Thanksgiving, observed today. But the lessons and themes are observed on all days.
* September 30 not October ^.
Sounds good, Mitch.
My point exactly! If you want to tell and celebrate the whole story do it, but the problem with our country now days is they think if they rewrite history regardless of what aspect then that will change the bad things that happened and it doesn’t because nobody can change history it is in the past! It would be nice if people would realize the only thing that can be changed is the present meaning the moment you are in right now!
Good points, and a good idea!!!
Painful past, for sure. Your suggestions are great, and maybe our government will implement them on day.
Columbus Day was introduced specifically to help Americans support immigration – specifically Italian immigrants.
Hatred towards Italian immigrants was high, stoked by the media, particularly the NYT, coming to a horrific climax in 1891, when a mob lynched 11 Italian immigrants. The mob was outraged because 9 Italians were found not guilty for the murder of a sheriff. The mob broke into the prison to grab, not only the 9 men, but others not involved with the case at all. By the time it was over, there were 11 bodies riddled with bullets and torn apart. Some of the mob even took “souvenirs” from the bodies and cheered as the mutilated bodies were put on display, some of the corpses hung. The next day, the NYT wrote articles celebrating what the mob did.
Creating Columbus Day was one of the things done to try and combat this racism and anti-immigrant attitude.
Your suggestions reeks of common sense, which means it has no chance of being implemented, sadly. I’m so tired of all the scapegoating and counter-scapegoating going on today. We can’t look at the past through the lens of present sensibilities. Rather than feeding into the division, let’s find a way to honor all points of view and all people, which is what you are trying to do. If only those in power would listen!
Thanks, Ann!
Hey, Mitch, for your interactions with WordPress, here’s an email to me from another host asking WTF is up with my comments. I checked ~ they’re turned on.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BwyJgd5zgRuhLdjaA
Arrggh! How frustrating, Ana. Hey, would you mind re-positing this comment under my https://mitchteemley.com/2024/11/18/help-im-being-wordpress-supressed/ post? A WordPress happiness engineer has promised to read people’s comments there. Btw, I’m having comments issues myself lately. A lot of people aren’t receiving notifications when I like or reply to their comments — so I hope you see this one!
Done 👌