Recent years have seen much debate about the American colonization. Many have changed their perspective from a major event to one of great disaster. Some states don’t recognize Columbus Day as a holiday anymore. Columbus is not a hero. He should be disregarded for his role in the massacre of Native Americans. The Columbian Exchange, however, is an important part of our history and must be celebrated.
Columbus Day should only be celebrated for its effect on our lives today. Crosby’s “The Columbian Exchange” explains that the continental shift that caused the New World to split apart was reversed when there was an exchange of animals and plants. those that once were divided. It would have prevented Europe from importing wheat and America from seeing maize. This exchange is crucial in American and European histories, and it’d be shameful for America to ignore. The main argument against this holiday is that the Native American Exchange has too terrible consequences to celebrate. This argument is incorrect because of two things. The first is that history is filled with bloodshed. Schweikart’s “A Patriot’s History” claims that the Native American death toll is closer at 800,000. Although 800,000. is an alarming number, it’s small in comparison to other periods of American history. WWII caused the deaths of over 60 million people around the globe. However, nobody is suggesting that we should disregard the war or deny our contributions. Columbus was not a great person, but this holiday isn’t all about him. It’s about his contributions to the world.
The second objection to the Native American argument stems from the fact that globalization was already causing the Columbian Exchange to have its inevitable consequences. Crosby’s Columbian Exchange explains that the “Columbian Exchange” is “The history beginning… with epidemics and unidentified illness.” The Exchange witnessed more Native Americans die from disease than any other mortality. We had to connect Europeans with America in order for Native Americans not to suffer the same diseases. It was inevitable that the holiday would have disastrous consequences.
It’s importance to America and the rest of the world should make Columbus Day a well-known holiday. However, Columbus should not be considered a hero. The day is about celebrating our heritage, not any other. Not the means, but the ends of our country’s progress should be celebrated. Columbus and his co-colonialists didn’t achieve great success. They were manipulative and greedy to get what their desired. His voyage is too important not to be celebrated. Let us celebrate the occasion and remember the man.
