Christopher Columbus: Hero Or Villain?

Christopher Columbus, Hero or Villain?

Christopher Columbus does not deserve to be honored as a hero with his own holiday. Close to 500 years, people have praised Christopher Columbus and also celebrated him as though he was the one who truly founded America. Teachers teach students that he was a great man, also how he found treasures and land known as America. Students are also taught about the names of his three ships he used on his first voyage. However, they did not teach us the truth about Christopher Columbus, and his so called “discovery”.

Christopher Columbus, as we all know unintentionally founded America. Christopher Columbus had just left spain in search of Asia for treasures when he landed on The Caribbean Island. When they

arrived at Hati they demanded food, gold, and and other things from the Indians. Christopher Columbus also punished those who committed offenses against him. He also raped and enslaved the natives there. When the Arawaks(Native group) tried to fight back it led to a slaughter ordered by Columbus. At the very end of the day those who weren’t killed were bought on the ship as slaves. Later when he reaches North America he greets them with a sword when the Natives shower them with gifts. It states in line 3 that “When Columbus and his sailors came ashore, carrying swords, speaking oddly, the Arawaks ran to greet them brought them food, water, gifts.” Also in paragraph 4 it bassically says he forced them to give him Information on gold. not only was that cruel but it was greedy too. Finally when he was about to leave he brings them aboard the ship as prisoners because he wanted them to guide him to where the gold was. Like it states in paragraph 7 “it led Columbus to take some of them aboard ship as prisoners because he insisted that they guide him to the source of the gold.”

However some people believe that he does serve a holiday because of reasons of him proving the earth was round when that also isn’t true. If he proved the earth was round, he was actually 2,000 years late because Ancient Greek mathematics proved that the earth was already round. Not only that but Aristotle in the 4 century B.C.E already proved the physical evidence that the earth was round by seeing the shadow of the earth on the moon. But after all this why do we celebrate Columbus day? The only reason why we celebrate it because at the time United States was fighting with England. John Cabot “discovered” America in the name of England around 1497 and paved the way for England's colonization of most of North America do American colonist instead tuned to Columbus as the one who found America not England's Cabot. Also the reason why our capital Washington D.C is District of Columbia not District of Cabot.

In conclusion, Columbus should never in the slightest way be considered a hero for what he did or even deserve a holiday. In fact he should be considered a murder and a rapist for what he did to the Native Americans. It's easy to call him a villain after hearing all the details of Columbus's adventure. All the destruction and pain that he brought to the Native Americans make it obvious that he is the villain here. But should we celebrate him for opening America to the western civilized world? Or should we condemned him for beating, raping, and killing of native Indians. My decision still stands that Columbus should not deserve a holiday or be considered a hero. What’s your decision?