Columbus Day Alternative

[ndrosen]

It is now October 12, the 528th anniversary of the Italian navigator’s landing in the new world, and I will get the day off, for the federal holiday of Columbus Day, which some propose to rename Indigenous Peoples Day. Personally, I plan to pause to honor Bartolomé de las Casas, who gave up his position as an encomendero, and opportunity to enrich himself by the toil of indigenous serfs, in order to speak out for a universal conception of human dignity, and struggle for the Indios to receive decent treatment. Christopher Columbus was a bold explorer, but he was also a tyrant responsible for robbing, enslaving, killing, and mutilating the natives of the islands he discovered; there are people worthier of honored remembrance.

Here is a small irony: I grew up in State College, Pennsylvania, and I remember an elementary school field trip to nearby Boalsburg, the site of the Columbus Chapel, where a descendant of Christopher Columbus gave us a tour and a history lesson.

Comments

[brainwane]

I did not know about de las Casas until today; thank you for telling me about this bit of history.

[ndrosen]

You’re very welcome, but I do respectfully point out that I did a similar post last year, and you commented on that, so you did hear about de las Casas at least once before in your life.