Honoring great men has been the current way of examining historical events. Of course, every person wants to be honored and given credit after a great achievement. Conversely, it is a motivation to the rest of the society members. This has been expressed through holidays, sculptures and naming of schools, streets and towns after these great men. Contextually, Christopher Columbus is one of the great men in the world history based on his voyage. The Columbus voyage of 1492 marked his first encounter with the native Indians from the Western Hemisphere. Consequently, his voyage marked the beginning of the colonization of Americas by the Spanish. This led to the first European encounter with the Native Americans hence dedicating exploration, conquest and colonization. Moreover, it led to geographical breakthrough as the Spanish, Portuguese and British sent expeditions to the new world. During this exploration era, Columbus was able to link between the new world and the old hence leading to the start of Modern Era. Although he linked the two worlds, Christopher Columbus should not be honored with a holiday because he supported slavery, exploitation of the Native Americans, and colonization of the natives.
Columbus introduced slavery in America during the colonial period thus; he should be not be honored with a holiday. During his Voyage to America, Columbus took advantage of the native’s generosity to collect gold and transport them to Europe. As a merchant, he conducted the trade with the aim of getting profits and thus used the slaves as a cheap source of labor. He commanded the natives to get him gold and if they didn’t he would break their arms. When he wasn’t getting enough gold to impress the King and Queen, he sent the natives to Spain as slaves so he could earn himself a fortune. The society members of Aztecs were submissive and fearful in nature. As a result, the Spaniards had an easy time to rule over them and establish kingdoms. This is a mistreatment of the Aztecs in their own land. Slavery led to suffering and increased deaths of the Native Americans. This evil act should not be celebrated.
Mistreatment of the Aztecs derives off Columbus’ good title that American society wants to give him. This is clearly illustrated by the brutal activities of throwing babies into rivers, raping of the natives, killing them and burning them alive whenever they are not in agreement with his policies. Moreover, his greed for gold and material possession made him mistreat the locals and even his own crew. Significantly, Columbus made the locals work for him to death without caring about the disaster that he was causing. If Columbus had not explored America through the blue ocean, the natives would not have been contaminated. Diseases like measles and tuberculosis had emerged among the natives. These diseases found their way to America through Columbus’ exploration. He should not be celebrated due to the fact that his expedition led to the losing of lives.
Christopher Columbus brought colonization in America. It was after Columbus's exploration that setting of colonies in America started. He took America's land as his possession and controlled economic, social and political aspects of the Americans. Moreover, he claimed many territories in America and would kill anyone who opposed him. Columbus and his crew also destroyed Aztec culture by crushing their temples and statues as well as burning their books. His greed for power, material possession like gold and success in business made him treat the locals as items of trade rather than human beings. This lead to the continued exploration of the Americas throughout the land. As a result, the locals responded causing conflicts. Colonization would not have been in America if Columbus’ Crew did not discover the new world.
On the other hand, some might even say that Christopher Columbus’s voyage marked the discovery of the new world and the spread of the western civilization because he gave people the freedom to start a new life without being ruled over by the King and Queen. He gave the people their own rights, he gave the people and companies their own voice in making decisions, as well as a controlled republican government system. Precisely, his discovery of America is an act of bravery by sailing through the blue ocean to the new world. However, the brutality and violence brought about by this voyage deprives Columbus State recognition and thus should not be celebrated. It is unfair to celebrate an individual who initiated colonization, slavery and exploitation of the Native Americans at the expense of his personal interests. Instead, the indigenous and Native people should be celebrated.
In conclusion, Columbus’s Holiday should not be celebrated at based on his act of slavery, exploitation of the Native Americans, and colonization of America. The brutality and violence experienced by the Natives is a clear demonstration of how ruthless and uncaring the Spaniards treated the locals. This came along after Columbus’s voyage to America. Undeniably, Columbus is a great explorer and father of modern era. However, his greed for treasure and ruthless acts does not deserve state recognition.