Christopher Columbus is no hero.
Some say he is actually responsible for causing 95 million deaths of Indigenous peoples worldwide.
He was not a great discoverer either. He had no idea where he was going, and never even came to the land we know today as North America. In fact, he was way far off in Haiti and, thinking he had landed in India, called the traditional Arahawk people of that territory “Indians”.
That name has since stuck on us like glue and has caused generations of systemic genocide and mass attempts to annihilate our culture.
But each year, on October 12th, “Columbus Day” is celebrated, paraded, and honoured in the United States, and in many Latin American countries including Costa Rica and Spain, for what this mass murderer did to my people. Actually in Venezuela they have renamed it “Indigenous Resistance Day”.
Watch this clip from the Canary Effect by the Bastard Fairies, an amazing independent music duo from the Yankton Sioux reservation.
I’m disgusted, appalled, and saddened that this day continues to be celebrated. I know I will NEVER celebrate genocide. And I know that as a feminist, I have a DUTY to cry out against Columbus, and everything he stood for.
Watch this message from NICAN TLACA community who call on us all to do something about it and stop the genocide now.
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three comments
I have the same feelings, and I have since 4th grade. Actually, now that I'm older, I understand more what my teacher was telling us.
Posted by Brianne
October 13, 2008, 5:53 PM
If it makes any difference at all, today is also Thanksgiving in Canada. No mention of "explorers" or genocide, pilgrims or First Nations people; just the general celebration of the harvest and a time for family.
If I ever move to the US, I will never celebrate Columbus Day (Fuck Columbus, he was lost.)
I would continue to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving, Shameless. May we count our blessings today.
Posted by DLF
October 13, 2008, 6:26 PM
I'm Canadian but due to a job transfer my Dad moved our family to New York for about 6 years. I was in their education system from Kindergarden until the end of grade 4.
I was never very interested in History but I remember being taught about Columbus. I learned how he petitioned the Queen to sail for spices, how his crew almost mutinied when he headed to the 'edge of the earth', the names of his 3 ships (the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria), and how he 'discovered' America. But I never learned about his treatment of indigenous peoples until I returned to Canada... I was shocked to find out they celebrated such a horrible person.
It is sad but it is no wonder they celebrate his so-called-acheivement, they are taught ignorance. Obviously I did not complete my education in the U.S. so perhaps the story is completed for them as they grow up but I somehow doubt it.
Posted by Nikita
October 16, 2008, 2:22 PM
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