It’s time we take a moment to reflect what we are actually celebrating on Columbus Day.
We aren’t celebrating the discovery of the Americas. No one discovered the Americas because there were hundreds, if not thousands, of native tribes that independently developed from the Eastern world. Columbus wasn’t even the first foreigner to land on the Americas. A viking explorer, Leif Erikson, visited nearly 500 years before Columbus even thought to set sail.
Celebrating Columbus Day glorifies the rape and genocide of Native Americans that lived here before. There is no argument against it. European foreigners are the direct cause of millions of natives dying from disease. Many were raped, murdered and disregarded as not human entirely.
The soil on which America was “founded” is plagued with an atrocity so grotesque it makes me shudder.
Native American neglect still runs rampant through America. That is not the America I want to be a part of. It is not American or patriotic to perceive Columbus’s voyage to the West as brave.
It is not American to applaud the aftermath of his landing. It is not American to ignore the lasting consequences of his mistreatment. It is not American to celebrate Columbus Day. Point blank.
And yet, we still do. Christopher Columbus is by no means an American hero. He should not be treated as such.
I understand the vulgarity and volatility of this column is harsh. I recognize my point of view is polarizing to a group of American citizens. Considering the transgressions of the past eight months and the protests calling for racial justice, I understand the debate to remove offensive aspects of our history is a hot topic. However, I rather we portray the truth than uphold this drastic lie.
When I was a kid, I thought Columbus was the good guy. I had no idea about the horrors which followed Columbus landing on the eastern shores before I entered high school. Kids are indoctrinated to believe these tales only symbolize patriotism. It’s not patriotic to perpetuate a genocide.
However, centuries have passed. What happened has happened. Now we don’t do enough to make reparations. After all, none of this land is ours. Yet, Native Americans only hold small amounts of protected land across the vastness of America. They are institutionally disfavored and are continually treated with hostility.
Now, in the thick of situation, we must do what is right. Columbus Day should no longer be celebrated, in any capacity. We should instead celebrate the prosperity of America’s Natives and Indigenous people.
We need to turn the tides of how we’ve treated Indigenous people. The first step is right in front of our eyes. It only takes one motion to change just the name of Columbus Day to show solidarity—to show that we recognize what he did is no cause for celebration. If we really want to be the best country in the world, we should strive for this realization and this development.
I no longer celebrate Columbus Day. I celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day. You should too.
Carter Kolpitcke can be reached at [email protected].