FREE ESSAY ON COLUMBUS DAY

COLUMBUS DAY

Columbus Essay
In April, 1492, Spain received reports that the Portuguese succeeded in reaching the
Indian Ocean, therefore Spanish monarchs authorized Christopher Columbus to sail to Asia
and establish trade and start to convert natives to Christianity. The reasons that the
monarchs let Columbus sail were mainly to search for spices and profits, spread
Christianity, and to use some of their new technology like the caravel. In return,
Columbus would receive one-tenth of all the profits, and governance of the new lands
would be shared by the monarchs and by Columbus. On October 11, 1492, Columbus and his
crew arrived at an an island in the Bahamas inhabited by the Arawak Indians. When
Columbus and his sailors came ashore, the Arawaks ran to greet them bringing food and
gifts (World History Encycophydia, p.335-338). In another words, there was already people
there before Columbus even set foot on America, so he wasn't the first one to find
America, and since he wasn't the first one to find America, then there's no such thing as
a day called Columbus Discovered America Day.
Christopher Columbus went on the trip mainly for his own good; part of him was for doing
it for his country, but most of him was for himself. Although it was said that he was
sent to search of trade routes, spices, new technology, and gold, but deep inside, he
wanted to gain fame and wealth throughout this experience. Why would I say this? The
truth is that I did not; the historians said it. It was said that Columbus would receive
one-tenth of all the profits, and governance of the new lands would be shared by the
monarchs and by Columbus. (World History Encycophydia, p334) My guess was that he wasn't
really interested in the trip when the monarchs first announced to him. After the rewards
they said he'll get, he changed his mind. He took the mission because of the fortune
he'll get in return. He was conceited in a way, still, he took the mission.
But Columbus didn't really discovered America. There were Indians in the Americas before
he even arrived. When they arrived, the Indians even greeted them with food and
celebrations. How can Columbus discover America that way? He should have known that he
wasn't the discoverer of this land with his first sight of the Indians there; the Indians
were the ones who discovered America. He did discovered it for the Europeans and his
country, but not the world. He didn't found a piece of unknown land that later known to
be the Americas, he just claimed he did; one shouldn't take credits that doesn't belongs
to them. The Indians there clearly showed that Columbus wasn't the first one to discover
America. And since he didn't discover America, then his day shouldn't be celebrated.
If we're not going to celebrate Columbus' Discovery of Amercia Day, then we should
celebrate the Indian's Discovery of Amercia Day. We could have parades like the ones on
Thanksgiving. We could have people dress up as Indians and one as Columbus to act out the
scene when Columbus discovered America. This could be both educational and fun for the
kids. They'll get to learn what Columbus day is really about. 
Christopher Columbus was a hero to some people in some way, but sure I'm not one of those
people. I have a very different view of him. What was said above was just part of it. It
is kind of insulting to Columbus, but those are still my opinions of him. Besides,
there's a thing call Freedom of Speech here in America! I have the right to express my
opinons and my views.
Bibliography
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