Celebrate Columbus Day

Should America Continue To Celebrate Columbus Day?

Among the various national American holidays, Columbus Day has always been one of pride and respect. This day supposedly marks when Europeans first landed eyes on the seemingly empty territory of the Americas during the Age of Exploration, ready to conquer and colonize. However, should Columbus be praised for this? America should no longer continue to celebrate Columbus Day because Christopher Columbus’s contact with the Americas is not praiseworthy, he abused the Natives, and was detrimental to the health of the people. Columbus should not be commended for first contact with the Americas because people had already been inhabiting the land, there is evidence of past relations with the Americas,
Whether directly or indirectly, Columbus caused a mass genocide to the people of Haiti when he voyaged to the west (Source 4). Without any concern for the Native American lifestyle, Columbus plowed through the seas and reduced population of tribe after tribe. Why should America attribute a day of gratitude to this man, who caused genocide in days? However, Columbus is also held accountable for direct and purposeful cruelty and abuse to the Natives of the lands. Columbus wanted the Natives to work for him, and when he was met with resistance, he used force. Columbus released hounds, greyhounds, and more ferocious beasts on the Native Americans in order to force them to do his bidding (Source 4). Natives were torn apart and crippled because of Columbus’s greed and abuse. In addition to forcing people to his will, Columbus had a certain standard for the Native Americans which had to be met. Columbus encouraged his men to rape young Native women, just to instill power and dominance (Source 4). If the Natives were not able to bring in their daily quota of gold dust, “they had their hands cut off… When their cries kept Spaniards awake, they were silenced with wooden slats put over their tongues” (Source 1). Columbus’s abuse eventually led to Natives killing themselves with poison rather than endure Columbus’s torture (Source 1). Christopher Columbus should not be celebrated for his abuse and cruelty directed at the
Columbus forced labor on them, which led to unsanitary conditions, killing many (Source 4). Those who could not handle the harsh conditions of Columbus’s labor were killed, and those who survived lived to suffer another day. Columbus harmed the health of hundreds of Native Americans, and should not be held up for it. Not surprisingly, Columbus’s forced labor caused many health conditions as well. Malnutrition was common in the people (Source 4). Because of Columbus’s harsh labor conditions and little food, the native peoples suffered from insufficient diet illnesses. These horrible health circumstances were horrendous, and Columbus is not worthy of appreciation for it. Continuously, Columbus’s greatest health impact on the Natives was what he brought with him from Europe, disease. Because the Native Americans had not adapted to European culture, lifestyle, and environment, when Columbus came bearing all these attributes, the Natives were highly affected and suffered for it. The diseases that Columbus and his men were somewhat immune to had an effect on the Natives and caused various health problems, diseases, and death. Specifically, the contagious disease known as smallpox, was spread, and “killed millions of of Native Americans” (Source 2). The diseases caused by Columbus should not be praised, which is what America is doing by celebrating Columbus Day, and that day should therefore cease to exist.

Columbus