In the book Columbus and the Quest for Jerusalem, author Carol Delaney, a professor at Stanford University, we recall that Mr. Columbus had some favorable impressions of native American indians he met. Europeans under his command were instructed not to abuse native but to trade with them. Some were punished for committing crimes against indians. Yes spanish europeans engaged in violence with native americans in Central America, including engaging in slavery and other abuses. The acts of some colonists, however, cannot be generalized to besmirch all european colonists. After the Santa Maria ran aground (1st voyage), the 39 men left on the Caribbean island with orders from Columbus not to mistreat locals had been killed and upon return although others longed for violent revenge Mr. Columbus said no. Columbus developed a positive relationship with Guacanagair, a Taino native american chief on Hispaniola and even adopted one of his sons (Diego II) who accompanied Columbus on his final 3 voyages.Christopher Columbus was a catholic spaniard, as Catholics were being maligned by protestants in europe he brought Christianity to the new world. The legacy of Christopher Columbus was celebrated for centuries for good reason. He was a progressive thinker and fearless explorer. His navigation and discovery changed the course of history.
The KKK targeted Catholics including italian-americans and tried to suppress the Columbus holiday. Italian-americans, latino american Catholics, and other Catholics recognize the pioneer and voyager as validating their presence in America that for a long time was predominantly Protestant.
In 1892 Pope Leo the 13th wrote an encyclical that recognized Columbus' desire to spread catholic teachings of history, morality, and the words and wisdom of Jesus Christ. It included such comments as:
"By his toil another world emerged from the unsearched bosom of the ocean: hundreds of thousands of mortals have, from a state of blindness, been raised to the common level of the human race, reclaimed from savagery to gentleness and humanity; and, greatest of all, by the acquisition of those blessings of which Jesus Christ is the author, they have been recalled from destruction to eternal life. Europe, indeed, overpowered at the time by the novelty and strangeness of the discovery, presently came to recognize what was due to Columbus, when, through the numerous colonies shipped to America, through the constant intercourse and interchange of business and the ocean-trade, an incredible addition was made to our knowledge of nature, and to the commonwealth; whilst at the same time the prestige of the European name was marvelously increased."
"To persuade the Indian people to Christianity was, indeed, the duty and work of the Church, and upon that duty she entered from the beginning, and continued, and still continues, to pursue in continuous charity, reaching finally the furthest limits of Patagonia. Columbus resolved to go before and prepare the ways for the Gospel, and, deeply absorbed in this idea, gave all his energies to it, attempting hardly anything without religion for his guide and piety for his companion."
All of us are sinners, and all of us have made mistakes, committed unethical acts, or committed immoral acts, none of us is perfect. The derision of Christopher Columbus is ridiculous when compared to the positive impacts the man and his voyage discoveries have had on human history.
I am happy to celebrate Christopher Columbus day, and so should you :)
