Columbus Day - Celebrating the First Illegal Alien
Published October 12, 2009 @ 08:00PM PT
I went out to get the mail today and was reminded that it was Columbus Day, named after Christopher Columbus who mistakenly chanced upon what is now called 'America' while looking for India.
Chris Columbus is the reason I have to tolerate ridiculous questions like "What tribe?" whenever I respond with 'Indian' for my ethnicity. But for the indigenous peoples of America, 'Indian' is a concept imbued in violence--violence against their homes, cultures and identities. And we dare not forget that violence.
As shown in the video, I would much rather re-define this day as a day of apology to indigenous peoples because without the first 'illegal alien invasion' of Christopher Columbus, none of us would be here today. In many parts of the United States, students held counter-protests to Columbus day, making sure that their counter-narratives, their histories of war, genocide and disease are not lost to history.
Check out Howard Zinn's "Columbus and Western Civilization" for a detailed deconstruction of the mythic 'discovery' of America.
Video H/T: VivirLatino
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Comments (21)
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Author
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Prerna obtained her Masters degree in International Relations in 2007 and took a hiatus from academia. During this break, she co-founded DreamActivist.org and helped launch a program for immigrant youth in the Bay Area (S4FC). Currently, she is also a Managing Editor at The Sanctuary. Views expressed on this blog are her own and not that of any organization currently affiliated with her. Contact email - prerna@change.org
re-define this day as a day of apology to indigenous peoples because without the first 'illegal alien invasion' of Christopher Columbus, none of us would be here today.
Another attempt of assuming. During the time of Columbus, the world was flat and unexplored. If not for Columbus finding what he thought was the Indies, it would have been another explorer shortly there after which would have discovered our land. Don't forget the Vikings had already discovered the east coast in 1000 AD and the Chinese had discovered the west coast in 500 AD. Even the Russians had found the west coast prior to Columbus.
Posted by Liquids Reign on 10/13/2009 @ 08:26AM PT
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Another racist comment. You can't 'discover' a land that has already been discovered, not to mentioned settled and occupied.
Posted by Prerna Lal on 10/13/2009 @ 10:01AM PT
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Another racist comment?? You have a lot to learn. Sorry, but I donot agree with your opinion, if that makes me a racist in your eyes, you just lost your credibility. And as a Blog Author one would think you would have a little more civility with your responses.
You fail to make an arguement against mine. This land was not nknown to exist in the time of Columbus, with the exception of stories from the Vikings and legends from the Chinese.
Posted by Liquids Reign on 10/13/2009 @ 12:57PM PT
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If Columbus never discovered America, it would have been the next explorer, only moments later in time. To state what you have: none of us would be here today is a statement that has no bearing in fact, pure assumption that in no way can be considered as truth.
Posted by Liquids Reign on 10/13/2009 @ 01:46PM PT
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The reason I don't bother with your points is that you are digging your heels into something that misses the point entirely.
Do you favor celebrating war, rape, torture, and genocide on Columbus day?
Don't answer that.
Posted by Prerna Lal on 10/14/2009 @ 02:11PM PT
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So that gives you the foresight to call my comment racist??
On Columbus Day, I celebrate the founding of this land by an explorer who was in search of a faster route to India. As for the Native Indigenous, they have every right to not celebrate this day for what was done to them was atrocious. Now, what you need to realize is that for as much that was done to them, the way they were treated in the past, our States and Government are now attempting to reconcile to some degree. Also, they all have every right that any other Citizen has and fall into minority status when it comes to AA.
Your basic argument is to deny this holiday based on the fact that because of it genocide was brought about for greed. That's understandable, but that's not what the day is about, it is about the day this land was founded and by whom it was founded, nothing more. We can all agree the ensuing atrocities that followed, not immediatley upon arriving but months later as per your links, were and are wrong and should not be celebrated and Columbus should be damned for them.
Posted by Liquids Reign on 10/14/2009 @ 06:12PM PT
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dis·cov·er (d-skvr) KEY
TRANSITIVE VERB:
dis·cov·ered , dis·cov·er·ing , dis·cov·ers
01. To notice or learn, especially by making an effort.
When people try to redefine the word "discover" to fit a modern political agenda, they expound no more than ignorance of the language. People discover facts that they previously had not know evry hour of every day, even though others may have had prior knowledge. Columbus certainly did not create the Carribean Islands, but it is unquestionable that he discovered them for himself, his exploration party, and for Europe.
In addition since there were no immigration laws in the Carribean, he,andhisparty, cannot be classified as Illegal Immigrants. It is correct in saying that had it not been for Columbus, it is inevitable that European, Asian, or African nations would have come to the continent eventually anyway.
Posted by Mister Charles on 10/23/2009 @ 01:39PM PT
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Prerna, I could give a hoot about Columbus day; if your that offended by it, have it. I know your going to argue la Raza's rhetoric, and I really don't care. Countries are taken over by wars, and we're all indigenous people of this Earth. So, instead of focusing your hate on a "Spanish"explorer; why not focus on the "quiet"-troop surge, in the Middle East? Many Latino Americans are in the U.S. Military. They are helping our Government destroy Afghanistan's, "indigenous people." Or does it only count when it's your ethnicity that is under attack?
"Viva la Raza;"right?
Posted by L.S. hope on 10/13/2009 @ 08:47AM PT
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Columbus wasn't Spanish and I am hardly anywhere near what you call 'la raza.' Calling out war, genocide and rape in one part of the world does not mean I do not care about what is happening in other parts. But it was 'Columbus Day' yesterday, and this 'immigrant rights' blog.
Posted by Prerna Lal on 10/13/2009 @ 10:00AM PT
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Why not call it,"the indigenous people's blog?" Or heck, why not just call it:"The racism blog?" We'll invite everyone, from every blog, on change.org, over here, and have it out. We're all blaming each other for the same thing anyway. If we're all racist and we're all poor; how long before we'll realize,"we're all wrong?"
I would love to eliminate the cause, for this,"cause."
Ms. Prerna, your right. They aren't quite sure what ethnicity Columbus was. Evidence is starting to point to "Italian." I could care less at this point.
Posted by L.S. hope on 10/13/2009 @ 11:28AM PT
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It is so inappropriate to celebrate such a person. The real people of this continent have had to fight terrorism and expansionism since 1492. Delivering conquest for empire and violent Christian-Supremacy merits being a dartboard cover more than a date on the calendar. Rev. Bookburn - Radio Volta
Posted by Rev Bookburn on 10/13/2009 @ 06:36PM PT
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We've had this same debate in Australia over Capt. Cook's landing. Celebrated as Australia Day in January on 26th, it's no picnic for the indigenous people here either. They also wanted it recognized for what it was. Instead though, of focussing on the negative aspect, I would suggest another more culturally important day be celebrated for the Indigenous people. In America's case, maybe the day the first Ghost Dance was performed, or the day the tribes consolidated the confederacy? All worth celebrating, all great contributions to be proud of.
Posted by Oceania OZ on 10/13/2009 @ 07:07PM PT
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For clarification, my limited understanding of Wovoka's vision for the Ghost Dance/Ghost Shirt was to "remember who you are". Many mistook spiritual immortality for physical immortality. Clearly not the same. Apologies to any indigenous peoples out there if I'm completely off track on that one.
Posted by Oceania OZ on 10/13/2009 @ 07:13PM PT
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It's okay, the point is to make sure that instead of calling it 'Columbus Day' and marganilizing the war, genocide and pillaging that took place, it would be much matter to give this day for indigenous rights.
Posted by Prerna Lal on 10/14/2009 @ 02:09PM PT
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Thanks Prerna. I guess what I'm saying is that if I were indigenous (which at some point I must be), I would not wish to celebrate my people on a day which marks the demise of my culture. I would want to celebrate that culture at a time at which it was at its highest cultural expression, as a mark of respect for it.
Columbus began the rollercoaster you are on now. If you want to celebrate that, then acknowledge the warts and all. But please give me another day that doesn't carry this kind of baggage.
Posted by Oceania OZ on 10/14/2009 @ 08:26PM PT
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More simply, choose a day that brought out the best aspects of the culture, with or without baggage. In the two examples I gave above, these were noble responses to conflict and baggage. Maybe there's no such thing as baggage-free growth. It is the response that matters, and those are one's we can all learn from. I have no desire at all to learn from or emulate Columbus, or Cook for that matter.
Posted by Oceania OZ on 10/14/2009 @ 08:44PM PT
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I believe it is the indigenous community here that is calling to redo Columbus day and make it mean something else. So I need to respect that. We shouldn't 'celebrate' this day at all unless we are completely redoing what it means.
I am not really indigenous to some place -- I am from Fiji originally so I actually understand some issues to do with Maoris in NZ and abrogines in Australia. Glad to see someone else from the South Pacific region.
Posted by Prerna Lal on 10/14/2009 @ 08:46PM PT
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Great post! I am disgusted that such a vile human being is celebrated as a hero. And it's not about being "politically correct," but sensitive and respectful to fellow people. Racism, slavery, rape, torture, and genocide is unacceptable, period. Would people be so quick to celebrate Hitler, had he been an explorer? I doubt it. But then, I wouldn't be too surprised, either. Our culture has a tendency to romanticize violence, and have it define us as a people. Just because something is traditional or historical, does not make it commendable. Once we realize this, maybe we can finally progress as a society.
Posted by Chelsea Dub on 10/14/2009 @ 10:57PM PT
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Columbus wasn't an illegal alien because there weren't laws on the books here then regulating citizenship. It doesn't help the discussion and debate when people mischaracterize the facts so badly.
We're not a nation of immigrants (the vast majority of us are honest, law-abiding citizens), we do not have a tradtion of rewarding dishonest and law-breaking behavior but we do have a tradition as a nation of laws, and there is a big difference between respectful people who come here legally and want to immigrate and those who come here by disrespecting us and our nation and breaking our laws. Race is irrelevant as is religion and ethnicity - people are either honest and respectful and come here legally or not. And Columbus was never an illegal alien - first or last.
Posted by Jen Werner on 10/17/2009 @ 12:36AM PT
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I loved this video, am not the brightest start in the sky but I try to shine. It seems to me that in today's American world and culture we try to blame colored immigrants for all of our problems, we even gone has far as blaming global warming on immigrants and even over population. When my great-great- great-grandfather was born this was Mexico and his home....forced out of his land and home by European Invaders he was forced to go south to Mexico, now we come back home to our land and North Americans call us "illegal" thats bulls@#$%! And yes Comlumbus was an illegal alien cause the Indians didn't want him here...We were here first! Don't forget! We are citizens of this planet and should worry more about taking care of it and each other, world is coming to an end soon anyways so lets just love!
Posted by Jacquie Chavez on 10/27/2009 @ 12:41PM PT
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"...now we come back home to our land..."
Sorry, but reality must set in at some stage. This is no more the land of a Mexican national, than if I went back to Scotland and tried to reclaim the Highlands. Get over it, and try living in the 21st century. After all, it is not where we came from that is as important as where we are all going to as a group. :)
Posted by Mister Charles on 10/28/2009 @ 01:19PM PT
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