Columbus Day, celebrated in many parts of the United States, is a holiday that commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. However, the celebration of Columbus as a heroic explorer is deeply flawed and problematic. In reality, Columbus’s legacy is one of violence, oppression, and exploitation. In this article, we will examine the folly of celebrating Columbus Day and the harmful myths that continue to perpetuate his image as a hero.
The Myth of Columbus as a Heroic Explorer
Despite popular belief, Christopher Columbus was not the first explorer to reach the Americas. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that Norse Vikings and other indigenous peoples had already established settlements in the region long before Columbus’s arrival. Additionally, Columbus’s treatment of the indigenous peoples he encountered was brutal and inhumane. He enslaved and killed countless indigenous people, leading to the decimation of their populations through dis