Christopher Columbus Ethical Issues Essay

It is interesting what we find justifiable and what we see as “wrong”. There are many controversial ethical decisions that the U.S. have taken that leave to ponder the very idea of originality. Is something original because one has found it or because one has claimed it? It is interesting that the U.S. has established a holiday in commemoration of Christopher Columbus and his “discovery” of the Americas. In some way, it is interesting that people just seemingly forget about how America was truly discovered and the blood bath that took place to Native Americans from that land. (1) It was a huge genocide that led all the Native Americans to be pushed off their original land. Native American women were generally raped, used for labor, or in some

cases as a translator. On the other hand, Native American men were often threatened or killed in battle against the Spanish.Native American men used brutal force against the Spanish because many of their women were taken. Many Native American women were forced to intermarry or were often raped. (2) This intermarriage, if not rape, led to a diverse genetic population, but also led to a question of identity for the Mestizos. My ancestry both Native American and Spanish, is what drove me to understand more of how the Spanish interacted with indigenous people or Native Americans. I in many ways feel like I am the oppressor and the oppressed. Understanding this interaction, between Spanish and Native Americans, is crucial in understanding my identity and myself. The genetic test I used was 23andme. (11) 23andme tells the consumer how likely he or she is in comparison to other genetic markers from that specific region. I am 78 percent Native American and East Asian. But, I also happen to 17 percent European from my dad’s side. My dad’s lineage is mainly European, specifically Spanish, but he was born in the same country as my mother, Ecuador.
This picture demonstrates my paternal haplogroup, based off of my genetic background. The paternal haplogroup, essentially explains your genetic code from your paternal-line ancestors, it also demonstrates how common that haplogroup is in comparison to others in that area. Mainly areas of what are now Spain are clearly highlighted as a place with the most probable ancestral background.

This picture demonstrates my maternal haplogroup, also based off of my genetic background. It is more diverse that my father’s haplogroup, and it essentially demonstrates my Native American and East Asian ancestry from my mother. (11) It is interesting to note that although it does demonstrate North American ancestors, it also demonstrates South American ancestors, specifically and possibly Incan lineage. This identity is what made me so interested in the interaction between Native Americans and Spanish settlers, as well as how Native Americans had to assimilate to fit in Western civilization.
Furthermore, to comprehend the interaction between Spanish Settlers and Native Americans, one must first begin to understand the primary interaction between the Spanish and Native Americans.

“In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue”. As a child I was constantly encouraged to praise Christopher Columbus because without him we wouldn’t have ultimately settled in the Americas. I never really question this idea, but simply took in the facts told by my 5th grade teacher. Christopher Colombus day, for me, was simply just another day that we didn't have school. On the other hand, my father didn’t like the idea of celebrating a day in which Christopher Columbus was praised for overthrowing many Native Americans. The celebration of Christopher Colombus day seems to be really out of place with the moral and ethical value that we as people believe to stand for. Christopher Columbus was one of the main reasons for Spanish settlement in America. However, similarly to my dad, I don't believe he should be praised for destroying Native American communities and claiming land that did not belong to him in the first place. (9) Christopher Columbus did not discover the Americas in 1492, because there had already been people there. So why do we have a Christopher Colombus day? Well many people are still under the illusion that Christopher Columbus is some heroic person that traveled from afar with a purpose to help settle what we now call the United States--however, this idea is

false. (1) Christopher Columbus was given ships and men,by Portugal, to find a new voyage to India, for their resources. Christopher Columbus was a good voyager, but his lack of geographical knowledge led him to stumble upon the Americas. However, the Americas were already inhabited by local Native American tribes. (1) Upon the discoverment of gold and riches in the Native American Soil; Christopher Columbus returned with more men seeking to strip them of their gold. Portugal’s ambition for these valuable resources led to the expansion of western civilization in North America. However, it left a huge toll on many Native Americans residing in North America. Christopher Colombus day is currently a national holiday commemorating Christopher Columbus’s “discovery” of the Americas.(9) Christopher Colombus day was first established by the FDR in 1937, as a National holiday. However, there has been a lot of heated debate of whether or not it is morally correct to keep it as a National holiday. Lily Rothman, a journalist, believes that Christopher Columbus day may very well change to indigenous day in the forthcoming future. (9)There has been a lot of resistance to withdraw Christopher Colombus day, as a national holiday, or even rename it as Indigenous day. (9) Yet, Spain and Portugal have gotten in the way of such movements by investing large amounts of money to continue the holiday and make it nationally acclaimed. In spite of the efforts to keep Christopher Colombus day as a national holiday, certain places in the world, or even in the U.S., have renamed Christopher Colombus day. (9) For instance, South Dakota celebrates “Native American day”, on the other end of the spectrum, Argentina celebrates “Day of respect for cultural diversity”, while Venezuela acknowledges it as “The day of Native American resistance”. (9) Whether or not you celebrate “Christopher Columbus Day” or “Native American Day” it is essential to look at the harsh cold implications the Spanish had on the indigenous communities.
(3) Many Native Americans became ill or often died because of the many diseases the Spanish had brought over. (8)The immune system of the Spanish was different than the immune system of the Native Americans; they both had adapted from different environments and thus had different genetic code suited for their environment. The lack of knowledge in epidemic diseases for Native Americans, is what allowed the Spanish to take over many territory.(8) Native Americans had a homogenous MHC type, which caused them to die in large numbers by the Spanish . A MHC type is our body’s defensive mechanism against diseases and is what ultimately helps the body’s immune system. (8)The similarity in MHC types, in Native American communities, are what helped the Spanish overtake many indigenous populations. The majority of Native Americans perished by disease. However, a small percentage of Native Americans and Spanish settlers with strong immune systems survived. Many Spanish settlers often raped Native American women, and, in some cases, intermarried and formed children known as Mestizos. Mestizos were often immune to some Spanish and/or Native American diseases passed on through their maternal or paternal ancestors. Only those Native Americans who were immune to the many diseases the Spanish brought over survived. (8) Due to the large number of deaths from Native Americans by disease, the Spanish turned to Africa for labor intense work.
Although a vast amount of Native Americans had died, because of disease brought over by the Spanish. (1) War was also one of the key elements for their mass murder, and was prominent after the Spanish arrived. (10) The modern weapons used by the Spanish were powerful than the weapons of Native Americans. (10) These modern weapons, used by the Spanish, consisted of Steel swords or even harquebus, which was an early version of a musket. However, the skill set of Native Americans made up for the lack of gunpowder they possessed.(10) Native Americans were quick with handling different types of weapons such as bows and arrows, knives, and spears. Their constant practice in hunting animals to survive made Native Americans skillful in hunting and warfare. Native Americans also had a keen ability to climb trees, which was useful in mapping out terrain and gathering resources.(8) Apart from hunting, Native Americans were also highly intelligent in agriculture as it was needed to survive when hunting did not take place. This foundation for agriculture is essential in our current day society as it helped establish many of the agriculture bases that we have today. Mazie, a popular crop, was largely popular in the Americas for its durability against disease and variety. (8) Many of these crops that were first cultivated in the Americas quickly spread after the Spanish arrival. In the 19th century, it helped Africa, Central, and Southern Europe. These Native American crops created a huge influence worldwide reducing hunger in many places and helped increase population.
In general, Native Americans that were strongly attached to their customs and culture were forced to assimilate as, they were pushed off their land, killed in battle, raped, or used as slaves for labor.

200 years after the Spanish arrival, 90 to 95 percent of the Native American population declined. The remnants of the Native American community are now considered “Hispanic” or “Latino, leaving off their Native American background. This huge genocide of the Native American Population led for entire customs, cultures, and fundamental knowledge to be completely wiped out. In the United States Native Americans, today, make up only about 2 percent of the United States population. This invasion and genocide is not entirely uncommon by the Spanish, as they have also invaded many indigenous lands in South

America.