According to many, Columbus was not the first to discover our great land, although many history books tell us differently. He had set out to find a route to east Asia, not knowing that the Pacific ocean existed–many only believed the Atlantic ocean lay between just two continents thought to exist at the time, he landed in the Bahamas and inadvertently and I suppose serendipitously ‘found’ the America’s.
Much negativity has apparently surrounded his legacy in recent years concerning his place in our history books and collective hearts of what it means to have discovered America and the possibilities that exist when we venture out on any new quest. The explorer, adventurer and American individualist in us can relate to his need to see what was beyond his own shores and set out into the unknown to improve his life and the lives of his fellow countrymen, and the world. Presumably this was the case according to what I remember learning years ago in school. In ‘googling’ to refresh my memory of the roots of why and how we celebrate or not this day, I happened upon a few articles and websites that are, what may be considered controversial surrounding how this day is viewed very differently by many indigenous peoples throughout our great and diverse land.
There is a movement of sorts, and I personally don’t know how long or fervently this has been taking place, by indigenous people to not celebrate Columbus day, which to many of us in the non indigenous population–which probably would mean everyone who is not of native American origin– has simply become a paid day off from work. I’m currently one of the unemployed so I, today anyway, I am looking at it differently.
I suspect that many of us do not reflect more than a moment or so how this day, from some 517 odd years ago–according to an article from the library of congress– on the meaning and how ones’ individual or collective actions can affect a population of people for generations. Their cultural, historical, economic, and anthropological implications is abstruse, and reflective from particularly 2 perspectives.
What prompted my research, if you can call it that, was an email that was sent via a singles social group whereas this person wrote about setting off on an adventure and not finding what they thought they would find, but rather, something different, perhaps better than what they originally thought they were setting out to find, specifically with regard to their own personal ‘list’ if you will regarding finding the attributes they desired or thought they desired and found something different, something better, a path that was leading them to a different set of outcomes in their life. Now, it may seem a stretch on comparing Christopher Columbus’ journey to someones’ own personal love life quest, but I found this persons’ perspective interesting, and thought provoking to the point of attempting to write my own article, in keeping with my goal of becoming a political opinion writer, or op-ed I guess is the correct way that professional, well written experienced opinion writers call themselves.
This pondering on the meaning of Columbus day lead me to numerous articles written by various people. An article written back in 2006 in a publication in Colorado, by what appears to be a man of native American decent piqued my curiosity with regard to how ‘they’ view this day, compared to –I’m assuming– most of the rest of the country. His article spoke about “the myth keepers of Columbus day” and how “The League of Peace and Power” which was known to the native American people as The Iroquois Confederacy, which stems from Native American writings, in part helped our forefathers write The Constitution has become misconstrued and bent to justify occupying and taking over other countries. The analogy that he makes speaks about how-according to him-our democracy is becoming myth according to the Patriot Act perverting it and reasoning to dominate, subjugate, and colonize countries such as Iraq and Palestine. I’m not sure I believe this, or not. So if we are to compare Columbus’ travels to America 517 years ago to Americas’ ‘travels’ to Europe, and middle eastern countries for the purposes of plundering, and forcing ‘our’ ways onto a seemingly very different culture that views their world from a different construct, can we, do we, how do we, work towards peace throughout the world.
Again, in keeping in part with the theme in my other previous articles on this blog, the questions are: How does President Obama, and other peacekeepers in this country and other pan-American countries, and all the countries that recognize Columbus day, how do we, they, whomever, work for peace while respecting cultural and historical aspects of ones’ culture that we are trying to help all in the name of world Peace? That is my question, dear reader. Please, express yourself. For if the beauty of our Constitution is to remain the way I believe our well meaning forefathers intended, it is called Free Speech!
However, small or large a part that Columbus set out on 500+ years ago with perhaps one goal in mind, and not knowing the profound implications his desire to utilize Ferdinand and Isabella’s money to discover a new world would take him; it took him to places he probably couldn’t have imagined it would and probably never new the enormous impact his fleet of 3 ‘little’ ships sailing off into the sunset would take him.
Nevertheless, if he brought disease back to Europe, he may unknowingly set off a chain of events that lingers 500 years later affecting many lives, hopefully more positively that negatively.
Here is to Columbus, the Constitution, Native Americans, non-native Americans, and the ability for anyone to write what they want without fear of being thrown in jail.
My question to you Dear Reader, again is: do we work for true Peace, or do we sail off into the sunset and hope we find what we think we will find?
Dynamic Diana’s Reviews 1:10am EST 10/13/2009 (10-12-2009)
transitionaltenses said,
October 20, 2009 at 4:47 am
What’s funny is, while you mentioned that you’re currently unemployed so it doesn’t count as a paid day off from work for you, I am employed full-time, but we don’t get off from work on that day!
In some ways, it was good times when I was a high school English teacher! Our schedule rocked!
As it is, I barely remembered that it was Columbus Day, and at first questioned why you were writing about it!
Do most people celebrate Columbus Day? Do you think it’s still a big deal?
Obviously, some people don’t think so! Very interesting, thanks for the thoughts, Diana!