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Sunday, March 21, 2010
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Most people can recall the memorable childhood song taught in elementary school about the man who is celebrated every year on Oct. 12th which began with: “Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492”. However, what if this man did not exactly discover the new world? What if there was more to discuss about this holiday than the everyday American seems to forget in thanks to a day off?
Students and professors alike gathered in dozens in City College’s Multicultural Center of City College on Oct.12th, 2009 to discuss the man behind the holiday-leaving an open ended conclusion of the fate of the celebration.
The discussion quickly asked if Columbus was really the first person to discover the “New World”.
The answer came in mixed reviews claiming it was indeed the Vikings or indigenous cultures, but history Professor Riad Bahur had another take on the integrity of the discovery.
He stated no one can discover something that was already there-that there is a difference between recognition and discovery.
By saying Columbus discovered the America means “the people who lived there prior didn’t exist.”
Ethnic Studies professor Tami Cheshire joined the panel with her opinion for the motivation for Columbus’ infamous sail.
According to Cheshire, Columbus’ desire came from 3 places- recognition, glory, and gold.
While many from the panel supported the theory that was indeed the motivation for many conquerors, one asked, “Why Columbus?”
Riad Bahur simply replied “he is a symbol for colonial societies.”
“Those who establish holidays are usually powerful,” said Riad. “Columbus is a hero to those who benefited to the conquest.”
Riad also acknowledged that the holiday does come with some controversy.
Many people felt the holiday is less than deserving and the day should even be revoked.
Discussions were bought up of Columbus’ less than stellar contributions to the new world such as new diseases, genocide, racism, and even destruction of a culture.
A targeted topic circling around this discussion was ethnocentrism and that manifest destiny was the detriment to the indigenous people.
While some tried to stay on topic, many could not resist seeing the connections to current day topics.
One person draws attention to several global examples of ethnocentric actions that mirror Columbus that are occurring right now.
The discussion is left with many opinions in the air, history stated, and people left wanting some repercussions for the acts of Columbus and his voyage.
Sacramento City Student College Student John Garcia left the discussion with a new understanding of the holiday and an appreciation for those who feel displaced from what happened centuries ago.
“Sure those people were greedy and ethnocentric.” Said Garcia “But look where we are now- we’re all lucky to have this country”
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If anything, Columbus Day should only be celebrated by Hispanic countries South of the American border. Somehow, and almost entirely incorrectly, he became the personae of the building of America.
Dear professors of revisionist history: Columbus led the settlement of Central and South America, which led the Spanish to conquer the lands of the indigenous people - The Spaniards raped, plundered and murdered the indigenous population and bred like rats. Eventually displacing most of the indigenous people. Mexico was STOLEN by brutal force (manifest destiny) from the indigenous people, by the spawn of the plundering Spaniards and so was "Atzlan" otherwise known as the Southern United States.
Also, contrary to what feel good liberals want to believe, Mexico and most other "hispanic" countries are extremely ethnocentric, they are openly racist, and heavily discriminate against the indigenous population. Is that also Columbus fault? At least in the US we felt some guilt about what the settlers did to the Indians, we gave them millions of acres of land and reservations. Since the 1800's we have spent hundreds of billions of dollars. Indians in America get free health care, free housing, free education (all the way through college) and they get to build casino's where they bring in BILLIONS of dollars - and all for something that happened 130-400 years ago.
What has Mexico done for the indigenous population? The openly discriminate against them in jobs and housing and force them to come illegally to the United States.
I am sick and tired of revisionist history from liberals always trying to make Americans feel guilty about something.
Revisionist of history like Riad Bahur who is a soft spoken Professor has a knack for sending any discussion on America in a negative direction .
And BTW I also supported the IRA, I am in fact a supporter of armed revolt when the binds of government become to tight...At times it is the only option an oppressed people can take..after all voting doesn't work.
Unfortunately, this is the solution we have freely offered those who live South of our border. Why should they fight and die for their own country when we will give them our country for free, and without a fight?
We should have used the CIA and our military to overthrow the corrupt robber baron La Raza governments. After all we had no problem overthrowing governments to stop the expansion of communism in Central America.