Southern Gal - Thanks For Your Comment
Please excuse a few typos in my original post. I was blogging via my blackberry and the thing tries to put words in my mouth LoL. I can't edit from this device but I will edit them in the morning from my main computer.
What an interesting way of looking at things. Now, this post was a real eye opener to me since I am a middle school teacher.
I lucked out because I graduated college in 1994 and two years before that we wee in the midst of the great multi-cultural debate. Since it was the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ voyages, he was the topic of many discussions, readings and lectures.
Columbus was a man who had one foot in science and one in superstition. Although most educated people knew that the world was a sphere back then (contrary to what I was taught in primary years), Columbus had the temerity to try to find a trade route to China (Cathay). We all know the history…
Most years I have an essay asking students to answer the question “Was Columbus a Hero or Villian?” They have to use primary sources to answer the question. In the diary, he discusses both the beauty, innocence and moral superiority of the Natives and what fine slaves they would make.
Its too easy to use our own viewpoint today in judging him. The context of the times are important. In my opinion, Columbus was a transitional figure, but a great one. He is partially to blame for the slaughter that followed, but not wholly.
I respect teachers and admire those who choose the profession and I am glad to hear that you give your students the opportunity to research and form their own opinions. It is true that disease and starvation was the source of demise of many Natives and thus many conclude that Columbus was and historically is not accountable for all that took place in his day. With that mindset then is Hitler accountable for the ones who died in concentration camps? Of course he is. Even if many acts to follow were performed by other tyrants he is the one who initially brought his tyranny and way of thinking to power thus empowering those other individuals who masterminded horrible acts against Jews. In some ways this framework can be used for Columbus. Society tends to give creedence, respect and even moral authority to those who survive genocide. If it is allowed that the true history of Native Americans be minimized, excused or if they are looked upon as being sacrificial people to bring about the world of today then they are not given their due respect as being ancestors of a people that experienced one of the most horrific acts in history. Just my two cents.
It is important to note that the mission of Columbus' voyage was not based on the sole wish of scientific discovery. His diaries and subsequent reports all point to his expectation of finding wealth that belonged to the inhabitants he expected to encounter. He stated his desire and plan to use any means to sieze and take possession of the wealth among the people he encountered.
Steve I was curious if you could recall the concensus of your students. Did most see him as a Hero or a Villian? What reasons did some state that caused them to come to the conclusion they did? What were some of the sources they used to assist them in their research? I know I'm playing 20 questions now LoL. I truly am curious of the outcome of your assignment though.
I've corrected the typos in the original post for this topic.
Most students fall in the middle, with a scattering who regard him as a villian. I cant recall any ever calling him a hero.
The sources are his diary and primary documents from the times. The kids always get a laugh when CC notes he "saw no sea monsters on his voyage."
I dont think the Hitler argument holds up. Hitler launhcde a systematic progarm of genocide, whereas Columbus set the wheels in motion for genocide though not on purpose.
Anyone with a barin knows Bush's invasion of Iraq made terror ten times worse than it was in early 2003, but I doubt very seriously if that was on purpose.
Your argumnets run along the same lines as Howrad Zinn in "A People's History of The United States" and I totally agree that the subsequent unintended genocide against Natives was an awful event that should not be ignored. Columbus had his part, though he was a small part in the chain, not solely responsible.
Let's try that again
Most students fall in the middle, with a scattering that regard him as a villain. I can’t recall any ever calling him a hero.
The sources are his diary and primary documents from the times. The kids always get a laugh when CC notes he "saw no sea monsters on his voyage."
I don’t think the Hitler argument holds up. Hitler launched a systematic program of genocide, whereas Columbus set the wheels in motion for genocide though not on purpose.
Anyone with a brain knows Bush's invasion of Iraq made terror ten times worse than it was in early 2003, but I doubt very seriously if that was on purpose.
Your arguments run along the same lines as Howard Zinn in "A People's History of The United States" and I totally agree that the subsequent unintended genocide against Natives was an awful event that should not be ignored. Columbus had his part, though he was a small part in the chain, not solely responsible.
Some of the comments in his diaries are funny to us reading them today. One being the sea monster comment. After what we know today it is funny to read his view of such a voyage. I agree that there are major differences between what happened to the Natives and what happened during the Jewish Holocaust but we can't exonerate his ties to the beginning of the problem. Of course years later our own government brought similar terror to the Indians in America. One of my original problems when starting this topic is the fact that CC is awarded the claim of discovery and that contradicts the facts because you can't "discover" a land and lay claim to it if it is already inhabited without calling that an invasion. As for your comments concerning Bush's invasion of Iraq we must remember however that his intent was not to enslave the people or kill the general population or steal the peoples wealth. Columbus did have such intent if it was deemed necessary which is clear from historical documentation. The Iraqi war has brought chaos to the country and mistakes made by the Bush administration are responsible even if some of the results were unintentional. Many times actions taken bring unintentional results but history should not minimize the truth of those events simply because they were not intentional.
well said...
If you can find it, you might want to pick up "Discovery, Invasion, Conquest" which is a great anthology about how Columbus has been viewed through the years. I still use it.
I will try to find it. Thank you for the suggestion.
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