Columbus Day

I think it’s quite disturbing that we celebrate Columbus Day. I mean, first of all, Columbus wasn’t the first European to find the New World. That was Leif Erickson 500 years earlier. But that’s not really the point. The point is that Christopher Columbus killed almost as many people as Adolf Hitler.

Yeah. I said it. Between the slaves who died being taken back to Spain, the thousands who died as slaves in the New World, and the MILLIONS who died from European diseases to which the natives weren’t immune, Columbus is responsible for up to 5.5 million deaths.

Hitler, during the Holocaust, killed 6 million. Admittedly, that doesn’t take into consideration the lives lost in battle during World War II. Still, Columbus wasn’t exactly a good human being.

He tortured, raped, killed, and fed the natives to his dogs. He demanded gold in order to stay alive. As in, the natives had to give him gold, or they would be killed. And we celebrate this man.

I understand why we celebrate Independence Day. We fought the British and against insurmountable odds, we won. We formed one of the original secular humanist countries based on intellectual ideas. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a huge step forward from hereditary monarchies.

I understand why we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday. He showed that you can gain equal rights without violence. He inspired generations of African Americans, and probably will continue to inspire people in the future.

I understand why we celebrate Memorial Day. Originally for those who died in the Civil War, but now expanded to include any US Soldier who dies in battle. It’s a great way to honor those who have fought and died to protect the American way of life.

I understand why we celebrate Earth Day. A way to get people more involved with green and clean energy, which will one day help the environment, and global warming.

Why the fuck do we celebrate mass murder? There’s no Charles Manson Day. There’s no Jeffrey Dahmer Day. Columbus Day, however, we celebrate. So I did some research. Why would we celebrate this horrible man? Lookie what I found. “During the four hundredth anniversary (of Columbus’ Landing) in 1892, teachers, preachers, poets and politicians used Columbus Day rituals to teach ideals of patriotism. These patriotic rituals were framed around themes such as support for war, citizenship boundaries, the importance of loyalty to the nation, and celebrating social progress.” (source)

Now it all makes sense. Inspire patriotism. Even though Columbus WASN’T AN AMERICAN. Though, it could be argued he had certain American traits, such as slavery, genocide, and land theft. What better mascot for America’s self entitled sense of self serving salaciousness? Columbus Day is just a tool used to make you proud to be an American. A mindless sheep following the leaders.