The Pros And Cons Of Columbus Day
In 1492 Christopher Columbus set out on a voyage of discovery (Discovery for his civilization group, for what he found was already inhabited), a voyage that would inadvertently shape the world. Today, over 500 years after his initial voyage, we still discuss the consequence of this voyage. Columbus Day in the United States is a holiday that was celebrated as early as 1905, and became an official federal holiday in 1937. Presently the debate has risen on whether this date should be recognized or celebrated, with places such as Los Angeles along with other cities moving to replace the second Monday in October to Indigenous Peoples Day. In this paper I will argue why we at Cal Poly Pomona should not “Celebrate” Columbus day, but why we should
…show more content…
It must first be pointed out that, however ineffective, Spain did try to stop the unjust treatment of the indigenous people, as Axtell writes “…we abolished the enslavement of peaceful Indians, prohibited their cruel and unfair treatment in a series of laws…” (Axtell, 1992:1). Despite the intentions of Spain, the actions on the ground of the Conquistadors proved detrimental to the lives of the original inhabitants of the Americas. The Spaniards would go on to place these people into slavery to toil in the mines. Axtell describes some of these horrors that they faced in slavery when he writes “man or woman, was worn out from the burden he was carrying, the Spaniards cut off his head so as not to have to stop to unchain him…” (Axtell, 1992:2). Some of those who witnessed the criminalities spoke out and condemned the actions, but these condemnations would prove to be more proof for future generations that these horrible actions occurred rather than an action in halting them. Christopher Columbus accomplished the creation of a connected world via oceanic passage. That connection as evolved so thru time that now, the whole world is now connected. His voyage also unintentionally set off a reaction that resulted in millions of indigenous people loosing their culture, and lives. These facts on the consequences of Christopher Columbus voyage in 1492 are why Columbus Day should
It must first be pointed out that, however ineffective, Spain did try to stop the unjust treatment of the indigenous people, as Axtell writes “…we abolished the enslavement of peaceful Indians, prohibited their cruel and unfair treatment in a series of laws…” (Axtell, 1992:1). Despite the intentions of Spain, the actions on the ground of the Conquistadors proved detrimental to the lives of the original inhabitants of the Americas. The Spaniards would go on to place these people into slavery to toil in the mines. Axtell describes some of these horrors that they faced in slavery when he writes “man or woman, was worn out from the burden he was carrying, the Spaniards cut off his head so as not to have to stop to unchain him…” (Axtell, 1992:2). Some of those who witnessed the criminalities spoke out and condemned the actions, but these condemnations would prove to be more proof for future generations that these horrible actions occurred rather than an action in halting them. Christopher Columbus accomplished the creation of a connected world via oceanic passage. That connection as evolved so thru time that now, the whole world is now connected. His voyage also unintentionally set off a reaction that resulted in millions of indigenous people loosing their culture, and lives. These facts on the consequences of Christopher Columbus voyage in 1492 are why Columbus Day should