Fake heroism
"When we read the history books given to children in the United States, it all starts with heroic adventure-there is no bloodshed-and Columbus Day is a celebration."
------Howard Zinn
In 1492, when Columbus sailed for Asia and Indies, he accidently discovered the New world-America. For hundreds, Christopher Columbus has been considered as the first person who found America. To mark his glorious landing, there is a national holiday celebrated annually in the US and other American countries. However, there is some negative evidence of Columbus have been discovered. In order to be objective to history and respectful to Native American victims, Columbus Day should not be celebrated in 2014.
First of all, Columbus was not the first person or European who landed in America. The discoverers of the New World were actually the Native Americans who arrived ten thousands years ago from Asia on foot. They were the people who settled down and built up communities in the new continent.(A)
Christoper Columbus arrives in America
This Census Bureau map depicts the locations of Na...
English: collage of public domain imagesColumbus and his men were just people who arrived in America later. If the main purpose of Columbus Day is to commemorate his phenomenal discovery and settlement in America, there is no reason to celebrate his arrival in a land with established societies. Besides, if Columbus is considered the first European who arrived in America, there is also evidence showing that others had come earlier.(A)For instance, Leif Eriksson, a Norse sailor, who landed in North America and established a colony 500 years before Columbus' first landing. (A) Although Columbus has been believed to be the hero who discovered the New World for hundreds of years, recent evidence has showed he was neither the first person nor the first European who landed in America.
Columbus Day should not be celebrated nationally not only because Columbus was not the discoverer...