No video clip, but in here’s a musical clip I’m sure many of us all remeber…
Happy Columbus Day
by turfgrrl
October 8th, 2007 · 14 Comments
Tags: In the News
14 Responses so far ↓ “Happy Columbus Day”
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You’ll understand if some of my relatives — I’m part Abenaki — don’t celebrate this day. Around 75% of the tribe died from diseases introduced by the Europeans.
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LOL. What is THAT supposed to mean? It was over 400 hears ago. At this point the holiday is not celebrating the man, but is symbolic for the act of founding our civilation.
Isn’t that kind of like saying that you’re fond of barn animals and won’t celebrate Christmas because the cows and mules were kicked out of the manger in order to make room for the kid?
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Yes, but it’s important to note that our civilization was founded by default. Columbus mistakenly ended up in what is now America when he “sailed WEST to go EAST.” His theory of sailing west to go east was rejected by a few investors before Ferdinand and Isabella handed him a few ships. They finally caved in because they were interested in the tales of silks and exotic spices that Columbus promised them if he were to travel to the East Indies. Of course, he never did end up there. He took a wrong turn and landed on what is now America. Whether he founded America or not is a matter of cultural perspective. He found new land for the Europeans, but it was already “found” by the indigenous tribes that already lived there. Hey, Turf… who’s to say that there wasn’t a few love matches between Europeans and the natives? Remember, love means never having to say you’re sorry.
P.S. Love that clip!
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Watchdog- You are correct obviously on this, however, this like all other holidays are adopted by imigrants to stand as a reminder of where their ancestors came from and to pay tribute to those who came and worked the lands and gave us what we call our home today. Many forget though that in order for us to enjoy this land we tokk it from those who truly were the natives. This didn’t just happen because of Europeans Mr. Geake, people came from all over the world to settle in this land of the free and reap the profits from those who tilled the soil. The Italians who choose to adopt Christopher Columbus as their founder in the new land are only doing so to pay homage to their ancestors.
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#3 There certainly were a few love matches in the early days after European arrival. William Bradford (the Plymouth Colony’s longstanding Governor) mentions one in particular in his fascinating and entertaining memoir of the colony.
It seems that one of the single men (Ellison was his surname) in the party outraged some of those with more delicate sensibilities by setting himself up in a love shack a bit outside the main encampment with a couple of young native women. Among his more brazen offences was to set up a May pole around which he and the ladies danced. Miles Standish was ordered by Bradford to organize a posse to flush the guy out. When they arrived, both the gentleman in question and the ladies were blind drunk. When Standish ordered the man out one of the girls to a shot at him in an attempt to retain her paramour. A few more shots were fired on both sides with no harm done. Ellison was eventually taken into custody after he and his friends passed out.
Too bad more people haven’t read this fascinating and generally entertaining account of America’s early days. The Plymouth colonists were far more interesting than people know. In a final chapter Bradford lists among his disappointments in the colony the high prevalence of buggery among its members.
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#5 Harry Patzer…..I don’t have a dictionary at my disposal. Can you define what you mean by “buggery” in your last sentence. Thanks
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#6. try www.dictionary.com since you have internet access - but not if you are a republican - it may be too shocking for you.
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Why does everybody have to be sooooooo PC? I think that it is what it is, A day to remember our start. He was a terrible navigator, like any man he did not stop to ask for directions. Enjoy the day!
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#7-you are so ignorant. What does being a republican have to do with owning or using a dictionary? That is just a lame statement from someone who will go to any lengths to discredit the opposite party.
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yes Harry in the early days,dad still takes us still to service in this church as well where they still read from some of the very same accounts.
http://cms.plymouthuu.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=10&Itemid=45
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The Native Americans slaughtered each other quite efficiently before we got here. We just introduced a few new ideas. If you look at Africa you can see that the natives of some African countries take great pride in slaughtering each other.
1000 years from now I am sorry to say we will still be killing each other,it is our nature. White black, brown, yellow, no matter the human is an equal opportunity killer.
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#13 of 25 wow, talk about a holiday downer.
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Sorry, but I think you know that it is the truth. I hate to be a pessimist, but the older I get the more I see the world going to hell in a hand basket. We can only do what JFK said,”While hoping for the best, prepare for the worst, and you will never be disappointed.”
I start to get less pessimistic around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hope still springs eternal.
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Most civilizations existed and expanded through war. Weaker ones were taken over by stronger ones. As Americans weaken our resolve as it comes to defending our border, we will be more likely to become like the other great civilizations that were overrun by societies with a stronger will to win.
