Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated - Essay Example

They suggest that it is about time people reconsider celebrating Columbus Day. This ideology is the central theme of my Columbus Day should not be celebrated essay as I discuss in-depth about the various elements that justify this approach.

So, why should Columbus Day be disregarded as a national holiday? 

• Columbus allowed for the European colonization of the Americas and the collapse of the indigenous population. Even though he massively contributed to modern civilization, his crimes obscured this contribution
• Columbus intended to seize treasures from the lands and not to develop the region. Therefore, Columbus brought more trouble that the Indians did not deserve
• The United States government ought to be respectful to the Indians living in the U.S. and not celebrate Columbus Day.

When Columbus returned to America on his second voyage, the indigenous population finally comprehended his evil desire to loot the land of everything valuable. When his fleet arrived at the island of Guadeloupe, they were attacked by the Carib. These were the natives of that region. However, the Spaniards retaliated and defeated them, thereby enslaving the entire population. Because of European disease, which they were not exposed to previously, the native population died quickly. 

After a few weeks, the same story that happened to the Caribs occurred in other regions where Christopher’s influence had reached. One of the most significant is on the Arawaks of Hispaniola. These were regions populated by indigenous people, and it was reasonable for them to resist outside influence. Whenever they noticed people intruding on their land, they acted how they knew best by driving these people away. However, Christopher’s effect on these lands was very tragic as he brought great disasters to the native population.

In my opinion, and in light of all the atrocities Christopher Columbus did when invading America, he shouldn’t be commemorated as an American hero. Still, the holiday ought to be scrapped off. The United States government ought to be respectful to Native Americans and not insult them by commemorating this holiday. From a European perspective, Christopher Columbus was a hero, but he was a villain to the Indians.

Therefore, if the government observes this Columbus holiday, it is a sign of disrespect to the native Americans and other people in the country that dread this blood-shed history. When Columbus discovered America, the natives were robbed of their freedom and forced to harvest gold in their land. Also, there was war between the Spaniards and Indians, which meant a sizeable Indian population perished.

Hence, the Indian people have a reason to hate Columbus as he was the European explorer that brought disaster to their region. The government ought to consider these events and start treating everyone equally. It means respecting their rights and not celebrating Columbus Day. Commemorating the holiday is a direct insult to native Americans that a large population died trying to defend their land. People know Christopher Columbus from history books, whereby he is acclaimed for discovering America.

Whatever Columbus did those many years ago is not irreplaceable. What would have happened if he never stumbled upon the Americas? Even if Columbus did not exist, another individual would have discovered the massive piece of land. His fame came about because he discovered it at the right moment in history when the entire world was looking for new countries to explore. 

Even before Columbus arrived in America, the Vikings had already explored and built settlements in the North-eastern and North American regions. When you consider this element, you will realize that Columbus was not the first European to set foot in America. Even worse, it was not Columbus that realized he had discovered the Americas. It was an Italian explorer, Amerigo Vespucci that noticed that the land Columbus had landed on was a new continent. That is why it was named after the Italian explorer, Amerigo. 

It is integral that people realize that Christopher Columbus was just an ordinary explorer with nothing special. Columbus did not even discover America or the existent of the Americas. He was just a person that wanted to seize the treasures of the newly discovered Americas and nothing more.

Therefore, there is absolutely no reason to commemorate this holiday, considering it is all built on a lie, and it is more about the disaster that happened to the natives. Perhaps it would be best if the Columbus holiday is converted to mark the significance of native Americans and their loss during the exploration days.

Without a doubt, Columbus gave the natives, the Indians, terrible memories, but he is a hero to the entire world. His exploration opened America to destruction by the European population, and that is why Columbus does not deserve a holiday in the United States of America. As Americans continue to commemorate Columbus holiday, they are causing much disrespect to the natives. It will be a great idea if the holiday is scrapped off and not celebrated at all.