In my elementary school when I was asked in quiz or something, that who founded America the only person who struck my mind was the great explorer and navigator ‘Christopher Columbus’. I don’t know from where I learned that. May be from my elder siblings or some TV show! In my country we have a famous song in our language which means, ‘Hey, Columbus, its holiday time…. Let’s go and find some new country!’ So it was obvious for teenagers like me, who heard that song, to believe that Columbus founded America. Later in my history class I learned that it was not true that Columbus discovered America!
I then came to know, what the true story behind discovery of American Land was. I learned about other few people like Amerigo Vespucci, Viking, etc who contributed for the discovery of American land. Moreover, when I read the Loewen’s ‘Lies my teacher told me’, I was kind of shocked to hear about the flaws and the brutalities of Columbus. I feel Loewen’s history version regarding Columbus is more reliable because of the details he provides with it. It’s evident that Loewen aims to bring out the true hidden facts from behind the curtains of history.
When I saw the information on the webpage by U.S. State department, I felt that the celebration of Columbus Day was not really a national one from beginning. It was something which was initially celebrated by a group of people, with whom Columbus was connected in some way; say same country or same religion! It was Columbus’s fortune which gave him so much appreciation and honor. Otherwise there are many other great people who can race with him regarding granting a National Holiday in their honor.
I personally feel that Columbus Day should just be a day for commemoration of Columbus’s achievement, and not a National holiday in US.
I then came to know, what the true story behind discovery of American Land was. I learned about other few people like Amerigo Vespucci, Viking, etc who contributed for the discovery of American land. Moreover, when I read the Loewen’s ‘Lies my teacher told me’, I was kind of shocked to hear about the flaws and the brutalities of Columbus. I feel Loewen’s history version regarding Columbus is more reliable because of the details he provides with it. It’s evident that Loewen aims to bring out the true hidden facts from behind the curtains of history.
When I saw the information on the webpage by U.S. State department, I felt that the celebration of Columbus Day was not really a national one from beginning. It was something which was initially celebrated by a group of people, with whom Columbus was connected in some way; say same country or same religion! It was Columbus’s fortune which gave him so much appreciation and honor. Otherwise there are many other great people who can race with him regarding granting a National Holiday in their honor.
I personally feel that Columbus Day should just be a day for commemoration of Columbus’s achievement, and not a National holiday in US.
Image reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbus
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