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~*`COLUMBUS DAY DOCUMENTARY CELEBRATE 10/14/13 `*~
Source: 'NBC NEWS Excerpts'
Columbus Day 2013:
Hero, Villain or Both?
By Calvin Lawrence Jr. (@cplawj)
Oct. 14, 2013
"In fourteen hundred ninety-two/
Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
"He had three ships and left from Spain/
He sailed through sunshine, wind and rain."
-- Source Unknown --
Time was when sailor Christopher Columbus unequivocally "discovered" America,
but that was before the debate about his legacy recast him in school history books
as the Italian explorer who, more accurately, raised and solidified European awareness
of the Americas after arriving Oct. 12, 1492, in what would become known as the Bahamas.
In short, Columbus wasn't the first European to reach the Americas.
But he made the most of it, for better or worse. And that's where the Columbus Day
debate continues, including periodic calls to dump the holiday, or modify it
to something like "Exploration Day."
Native-American Day
The United States is hardly alone in celebrating Columbus Day,
but even here it's not unanimous.
South Dakota, for instance, clearly falls on the other side of the debate,
after 23 years ago changing the second Monday in October from Columbus Day
to Native American Day in honor of the indigenous people who suffered
near-annihilation after Columbus opened doors to the New World.
Italian Heritage
Many Italian-Americans defend Columbus Day as a celebration of their heritage
and the generations of Italians who've contributed mightily to U.S. prominence
through their work and philanthropy. Of that there's no doubt, although critics,
including some Italian-Americans, have pointed out that the Oct. 12, 1492,
arrival it is no representation of the
Italian experience.
Supporters claim him as a source of pride, however, not unlike other cultures
that honor their sons and daughters as pioneers.
Colonization
Columbus is an obvious target of scorn and resentment for Native Americans
whose fortunes declined precipitously in the aftermath of his journey to the
New World. He and his men also brutalized people of the West Indies and
enslaved others. Columbus supporters don't deny the mixed legacy,
but some of them point out that the national holiday is rooted in the notion
that it serve as an opportunity to bring
Italian-Americans, Native-Americans
and others together.
Columbus, USA
There are 30-plus U.S. cities and townships named Columbus, and apparently
little push to rename any of them, suggesting that the debate has long been
settled for some people with the closest association to the explorer.
COLUMBUS SAILED THE OCEAN BLUE
TO DISCOVER A WORLD SO NEW
PEACE WAS WHAT HE HOPED TO FIND
FOR ALL OF EARTH'S MANKIND
HIS HEART WAS SINCERE AND TRUE
WITH HOPES OF FINDING
A BETTER WORLD FOR ME AND YOU!
GOD IS THE JUDGE OF ALL WE DO
LEFT IN HIS HANDS
IS WHERE CONTROVERSY STANDS!
*©*14th Of Oct.*2013*
`Never Ending Circle of LOVE`
`Janie/mjfb1954`
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