by Colin Morley

Created on: October 04, 2008   Last Updated: January 11, 2010

October 12, Columbus Day, is a national holiday in the United States and throughout South America, celebrating the explorer Christopher Columbus's discovery of the Continent. Those of us old enough to have been plied with all kinds of fairy tales about the benign nature of colonialism by the Europeans grew up believing that Columbus's discovery was the start of a marvellous chapter in history, bringing civilisation' to primitive settlers and offering unlimited opportunity for future development.

At the time Columbus left Spain, he was a devout, Messianic Roman Catholic at a period in history when Europe was beginning to rebel against the Catholic church in the formation of early Protestantism and at a time when Spain had just succeeded in ousting its Islamic leaders, who had influenced the country for several hundred years.

Columbus believed he was chosen by God himself to bring the Catholic faith to the world. As such he seemed to take no heed of existing beliefs, cultures and faith structures and, according to his critics, rode roughshod over native American cultures both North and South, in a zealous colonialism and westernisation'. According to his defenders, such as Fr. John Harden (himself a Catholic zealot) Columbus was responsible for ridding the Americas of heathen practices detrimental to society. In Defence of Christopher Columbus the Catholic http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/Christopher_ Columbus/Christopher_Columbus_003.htm

The discovery of America by Columbus was an accidental occurrence. He had set out to reach the Asian continent in an effort to find a better route by sea than the existing overland routes to bring back exotic spices to Europe. When he landed within what is now known as the Bahamas, he mistakenly believed he was in Asia. He re-named the island of Guanahani where he landed on October 12 1492, San Salvador, but we cannot be certain if that island is the current San Salvador or one of its neighbours.

There can be little doubt that Columbus was a supporter of slavery, though in the context of the times in which he lived, it is doubtful if this can be laid as a serious charge against his character. In spite of the charges of cruelty laid against him, he seems in his own way to have had a desire to be benevolent. In his own words in a letter to the King and Queen of Spain following his epic voyage, he states of the islands' population: "At every point where I landed, and succeeded in talking to them, I gave them some of everything I had cloth and many other things without receiving anything in return, but they are a hopelessly timid people. It is true that since they have gained more confidence and are losing this fear, they are so unsuspicious and so generous with what they possess, that no one who had not seen it would believe it. They never refuse anything that is asked for. They even offer it themselves, and show so much love that they would give their very hearts."

Full translation of Columbus's letter

http://www.bartleby.com/43/2.html

Is this a true statement or a cloak for subjugating the people and subsequent colonisation and suppression? The truth about Columbus is hidden in the veils of history and probably to a greater or lesser extent literally lost in translation. Whether Columbus deserves our respect or condemnation depends very much on what we believe within the historical legacies and current day appraisals. Either way we continue to enjoy a public holiday. Time to reflect on the truth, perhaps.

Further reading:

Christopher Columbus and the Afrikan Holocaust: Slavery and the Rise of European Capitalism: Dr John Henrik Clarke A&B Books, 2002

ISBN: 1886433186

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