I am not sure about the rationale behind celebrating the exploits of
the European mariner from Italy who discovered the New World (North America);
and for that reason he deserves to have such an honor bestowed upon him?
Besides, he didn’t discover America anyway. In the books, LEGENDS, LIES & Cherished Myths of American History, by Richard
Shenkman, and Don’t Know Much About
History, by Kenneth C. Davis, this explorer is presented more as a mass
murderer than a hero. He was responsible for the extermination of thousands of
Arawak Indians on the island of Haiti [NOTE: These are the same tribal
ancestors referred to as the Taino in Hispaniola and the Bahamas referenced in
Smithsonian.com]. According to historian Howard Zinn, the celebrated Columbus
wanted a tribute of gold to take back to Spain from Indians fourteen years and
above; those who did not comply had the hands cut off and bleed to death.
He goes on to recount that two years after Columbus’ arrival 250,000
Indians on Haiti died from murder, mutilation, or suicide. As a result of the
indigenous population’s encounter with Columbus, his fellow explorers from
Spain, following in his footsteps continued with the same and even worse
mistreatment of the Arawak that by 1515 there were just 50,000 Indians left; in
1550 only 500 remained; by 1650 there were none (zero). Because Columbus
discovered a peaceful people who welcomed him and his crew with kindness and
open arms, now they no longer exist. If there was ever more incriminating
evidence for crossing out October 8 on the calendar, then I cannot think of a stronger
case to be made. This was genocide and ethnic cleansing in its most egregious and
highest form and truly a holocaust for them. To honor this man after the
atrocious murder and enslavement of men, women, and children would be like the
Jews celebrating Adolph Hitler-which of course, warrants no further commentary;
and so it should be with this evil man, too. Instead of the surname
"Cristobal" that refers to someone of saintly character he should be
named "Diabolos" for his deeds are more closely related to Satan than
Christ.
So, why would there be national recognition of a man such as this-it
all has to do with repeatable criminal acts. Columbus came to a foreign land
and “discovered” a people already living there and subjugated them while
wanting their gold. The European settlers to America that established the 13
colonies also “discovered” Indians living here, also. However, unlike Columbus
who wanted to fill the royal treasury in Spain to reimburse King Ferdinand and
Queen Isabella the cost for subsidizing his voyages (ship, cargo, and crew,
etc.), in America there was the expansion westward under the mantra of “Manifest
Destiny” to dislocate indigenous people comprising 500 separate nations
(including colonial tribes) and government complicity in the crime of the ages by granting large tracts
of land to any White settler who was up
to the challenge of taming the wilderness frontier-except that the Indians were
there first and ostensibly standing in the way of progress and profits. To make
a long story short, the First Nations tribes and people are about a fraction of
what they once were, along with losing the vast tracts of land that they once
owned; having been taken away by military conquest and through legal treaties
that were never adjudicated (enforced) consistently in their favor in state/
federal courts, the Supreme Court or ratified by just acts Congressional
legislation. This pattern of exploitation and subjugation is not quite the
genocide that was done to the Arawak, but it is still near cultural
annihilation in almost every significant and conceivable way. So, why does America still celebrate this mass murderer's deeds; that's a very good question, indeed.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
October 11, 2014
