An Ode to Columbus Day


On October 12, 1492 Christopher Columbus, sailing the Ocean blue came across a new land -- at least a land new to him. He had been sailing west looking for a shorter route to Asia. When he arrived in what has become known as the West Indies, he thought he was in Asia. In time, he discovered that he wasn't in Asia, but rather that he had stumbled upon another land mass, previously unknown to him.

The results of that "discovery" have been mixed. For the inhabitants of these lands, "first contact" proved to be a disaster. Disease was a major problem, one that threatened to wipe out those who lived here. But exploration soon gave way to conquest and exploitation. Even more people died and civilizations disappeared.

The question is: can we judge previous generations by modern standards? On the issues of conquest and exploitation, I think we can. There were figures such as Bartolome de las Casas, who early on spoke out against what was happening. As for the disease, it's unlikely that this could have been prevented. You had two groups of people whose immune systems were very different.

So, should we celebrate or should we not? I'm not doing anything special. But I'm glad I'm here. I'm a descendant of Europeans, of a variety of nations, who chose to come to North America. There is much to decry, but much to celebrate as well.

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