Columbus Day

The Columbus Day I know is about celebrating Christopher Columbus' finding of the "new world" which is known as the Bahamas or the Americas. Columbus is popular for his contributions of finding the new land and not of the derogating sides to his findings. Although Columbus Day appears to be a celebration, it is rather a day that people should be mourning for the Arawaks, the Native Americans on the new land who had been manipulated and tortured till death under Columbus' authority. 

Personally, I find it very frightful of how Columbus made use of these Arawaks who had no harm, thus, had great hospitality towards Columbus and his crews. Howard Zinn's writing about Columbus made me realize that Columbus is very self-centered and greedy. He was on a conquest for gold and the Arawaks did not hoard them away from Columbus but helped him search for it. The Arawaks shared food, shelter, and everything they had with the shipmen. Nonetheless, Columbus cruelly shipped the Arawaks back to his place and sold them as 'slaves'. They were nothing different from cows and buffalos that humans use. 

It is very appalling to hear that such great hero society admires and praises today is very inhumane. Despite Columbus’ successful findings, his actions led to the mass extermination of the Arawaks. The media should not publicize only the favorable things Columbus contributed but should also publicize the absence of his self-righteousness towards the Arawaks. I strongly feel that it is undeserved for those Native Americans who died without receiving the world's acknowledgements.