2008 Woodie Awards
Christopher Columbus: Hero or Tyrant?
Examining the True Legacy of a Historical Legend
Domingo Estrada
Issue date: 10/21/04 Section: Opinion
Every year since 1937 when President Roosevelt declared Oct. 12 "Columbus Day" this so-called hero has been celebrated. President Nixon later made it a national holiday to be celebrated the second Monday of October. Yes, he may have been a hero, but the question that needs to be asked is a hero to whom?
The myth that he "discovered" America is highly inaccurate and accepted only by some.
The truth of what really took place when Columbus came to America was a conquest or invasion of the people that had been living there for thousands of years before Columbus ever set foot in the Americas.
For too long history books have taught that American-Indians were nothing more than primitive people and gave no mention of the cruelty Columbus imposed on Native Americans.
Columbus' gold-search obsession led him to commit atrocious acts of mutilation, such as cutting off the body parts of American-Indians who did not collect enough gold for him.
Spaniards who carry swords and wore heavy armor slaughtered any American-Indians that dared to fight back against Columbus's wave of violence. According to Howard Zinn, Americans taken as slaves for labor were hanged or burned to death once they were of no more use to the Spaniards.
Is there bravery or honor in forcing Native Americans into slavery? Why does the US continue to celebrate the holiday of someone who made slaves out of men, women, and children?
How can anyone be given credit for discovering any area when there were great civilizations already inhabiting that land? These great civilizations consisted of Aztecs, Mayas, Incas, and Taino Indians to name a few. They are the real Americans and not savages as they are often grossly portrayed in many history books that glorify the heroic adventures of Columbus.
Would a bunch of savages been able to build some of the most elaborate pyramids of the world? These indigenous people were known for being artistic as evident in many of the works they created, such as stone masks, wood carvings, and other similar arts.
The myth that he "discovered" America is highly inaccurate and accepted only by some.
The truth of what really took place when Columbus came to America was a conquest or invasion of the people that had been living there for thousands of years before Columbus ever set foot in the Americas.
For too long history books have taught that American-Indians were nothing more than primitive people and gave no mention of the cruelty Columbus imposed on Native Americans.
Columbus' gold-search obsession led him to commit atrocious acts of mutilation, such as cutting off the body parts of American-Indians who did not collect enough gold for him.
Spaniards who carry swords and wore heavy armor slaughtered any American-Indians that dared to fight back against Columbus's wave of violence. According to Howard Zinn, Americans taken as slaves for labor were hanged or burned to death once they were of no more use to the Spaniards.
Is there bravery or honor in forcing Native Americans into slavery? Why does the US continue to celebrate the holiday of someone who made slaves out of men, women, and children?
How can anyone be given credit for discovering any area when there were great civilizations already inhabiting that land? These great civilizations consisted of Aztecs, Mayas, Incas, and Taino Indians to name a few. They are the real Americans and not savages as they are often grossly portrayed in many history books that glorify the heroic adventures of Columbus.
Would a bunch of savages been able to build some of the most elaborate pyramids of the world? These indigenous people were known for being artistic as evident in many of the works they created, such as stone masks, wood carvings, and other similar arts.