![]() ![]() They call into question the propriety of celebrating Columbus's arrival in the New World. ![]() Day), opposition to celebrating Columbus's achievements has been mounted by many human rights groups and Native American groups such as the American Indian Movement (AIM). It was first recognized as a federal holiday on October 12, 1937.Īs one of two federal holidays bearing the name of a specific person (the other is Martin Luther King Jr. Since 1971, Columbus Day has been commemorated in the United States on the second Monday of each October. Some in the Roman Catholic Church have proposed over the years that Columbus be recognized as a saint, but little serious consideration seems to have been given to the proposal. Unfortunately, Columbus was not the last to lose sight of his spiritual goals when tempted with wealth and power. And the missionary drive which was prominent during his first voyage, in later voyages became subordinate to his love of wealth and position. So that they might be well-disposed towards us, for I knew that they were a people to be delivered and converted to our holy faith rather by love than by force, I gave to some red caps and to others glass beads, which they hung around their neck, and many other things.I believe that they would easily be made Christians, for it seemed to me that they had no religion of their own.Īll the same, Columbus' concern for the salvation of these people was coupled with an attitude of superiority, which saw nothing wrong in forcibly capturing the people and making them slaves of the Europeans. Yes, Columbus was interested in trade and riches, but Christian concern also lay behind his plans. If a way could be found of reaching India by sailing West, the Turks could be attacked from behind and perhaps the Holy Land itself could be rescued from their hands. Zechariah 9:10 said that "he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth." And Psalm 107:23-24 promised that "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep."Ĭhristopher was particularly concerned with the power of the Ottoman Turks who controlled the eastern Mediterranean and were threatening Europe. He is said to have diligently searched the Scriptures and thought he found assurance for a call to sail to the far reaches of the globe with the Christian message. And hunderstood this as a title of his destiny to carry the message of the gospel to far-off lands. His very name, Christopher, means Christ-bearer. Who Was Christopher Columbus, Really?Ĭhristopher was a very devout Catholic who observed all the fasts of the church and prayed regularly. Yet, the man was much more complex than the stories often reveal. He persuaded his men to continue their westward voyage even when they threatened mutiny because they had not yet reached the expected islands of the Orient.Ĭertainly Columbus is a model of determination and courage. ![]() He waited at the Spanish court six years before King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella agreed to sponsor his voyage. He is often held up as an example of someone who set goals for himself and would not give up when obstacles to achieving those goals came his way. Probably every American school child old enough to study history has heard the little rhyme: "In October, 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue." The story has often been told of Columbus' dream of finding the East or Asia by sailing west. ![]()
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