Columbus Day Approacheth

[Lits]

So with Columbus Day around the corner, I'd thought I'd open a thread, hoping to bring light to who Christopher Columbus actually was, and why I detest this holiday.


1. He collected slaves.
When Columbus first landed in the Bahamas he encountered what was most likely the Taino people, writing back to the sovreighnty that he noted their weapons were far less sophisticated than his own. He said he could "easily conquer and govern them as [he] pleased"

2. He was a child rapist.
He took the majority of the Taino people's young girls (average age 12) and sent them back as "gifts" for sex slavery to his family and friends, keeping some for himself.

3. He was a genocidist.
When he was done exhausting the Taino people (who, origionally were peaceful and amicable to him, even learning his language to better communicate for trade) of their goods, their people for slavery, and their knowledge of the surrounding land, he slaughtered them in various methods for reasons of just simply getting them out of the way. He intentionally used Small Pox as a means of destroying these people and their culture.


In short, Christopher Columbus STUMBLED upon South America by accident and then used and murdered whoever was in his way for personal financial gain and repor with the King and Queen.


Remind me again why we celebrate this holiday?

[Manic Velocity]

Well... he discovered America!

...oh wait.

But... he proved that the Earth is round!

...oh wait.

Anyone remember the "Jaynestown" episode of Firefly?  Mal's quote is one of my favorites:

"It's my estimation that any man who ever had a statue made of him, was one kind of son of a bitch or another."

[Fuse]

It's a Hallmark holiday as far as I'm concerned...

[Anamodiel]

I suspect that Lits wasn't exactly the most sober when she wrote this.

I could be wrong.

[Lits]

Sobriety not necessary when discussing false holidays!

[Broin]

Are you kidding me...?  

Quick question.... are you still in school with those crazy whack jobs whose single purpose is to denegrate and destroy the founding ideals and principals that our whole civilization is based upon, because they simply don't like the concept of having a morale code?  Or.... have you sucked up so much of it in your time in the land of limp wristed plasctic bannana good time rock and rolla weirdo's that it is ingrained in you.

I mean if you are so concerned about Columbus whose now dead and gone, then I'm sure you are super concerned about someone like Polanski... Or how about whole Olympic thing where Obama tried to help his slum lord friends unload those areas of the projects they own at new high end prices.  

Seriously why look to the past when you have a bunch of thugs, rapist, and genocidist here in the present, several of which are best buds and installed in the white house.

[Fuse]

I think it's the California air.

[Manic Velocity]

Are you kidding me...?  

Quick question.... are you still in school with those crazy whack jobs whose single purpose is to denegrate and destroy the founding ideals and principals that our whole civilization is based upon, because they simply don't like the concept of having a morale code?  Or.... have you sucked up so much of it in your time in the land of limp wristed plasctic bannana good time rock and rolla weirdo's that it is ingrained in you.

I mean if you are so concerned about Columbus whose now dead and gone, then I'm sure you are super concerned about someone like Polanski... Or how about whole Olympic thing where Obama tried to help his slum lord friends unload those areas of the projects they own at new high end prices.  

Seriously why look to the past when you have a bunch of thugs, rapist, and genocidist here in the present, several of which are best buds and installed in the white house.

But none of the present thugs, rapists and genocidists have their own national holiday. It's only after a few centuries of ridicule that the assholes are glorified. Lincoln sure as hell wasn't considered a civil rights hero in his own time. Maybe in a hundred years or so we'll have Bush Day or Obama Day.  

Honestly, I found this thread a bit of an eye-opener. I remember blindly accepting what I was taught in school; that Columbus set sail with three ships and single-handedly killed two birds with one stone and gave Spain the finger. Then a few years later, I learned that was all bullshit. But it never occured to me that he was a child rapist, of all things.

I've been helping the step-daughter with her schoolwork lately, and I'm really trying to encourage her to question the things she is taught. I know she just wants to get the work done so she can go hang out with her friends, but I keep pushing it little by little.  Every now and then I see something stick with her and it makes it entirely worth it. If she knew these things about Columbus, I know full well that she would mirror Lits' sentiments.

[Ash]

Are you kidding me...?  

Quick question.... are you still in school with those crazy whack jobs whose single purpose is to denegrate and destroy the founding ideals and principals that our whole civilization is based upon, because they simply don't like the concept of having a morale code?  Or.... have you sucked up so much of it in your time in the land of limp wristed plasctic bannana good time rock and rolla weirdo's that it is ingrained in you.

I mean if you are so concerned about Columbus whose now dead and gone, then I'm sure you are super concerned about someone like Polanski... Or how about whole Olympic thing where Obama tried to help his slum lord friends unload those areas of the projects they own at new high end prices.  

Seriously why look to the past when you have a bunch of thugs, rapist, and genocidist here in the present, several of which are best buds and installed in the white house.

But none of the present thugs, rapists and genocidists have their own national holiday. It's only after a few centuries of ridicule that the assholes are glorified. Lincoln sure as hell wasn't considered a civil rights hero in his own time. Maybe in a hundred years or so we'll have Bush Day or Obama Day.  

Honestly, I found this thread a bit of an eye-opener. I remember blindly accepting what I was taught in school; that Columbus set sail with three ships and single-handedly killed two birds with one stone and gave Spain the finger. Then a few years later, I learned that was all bullshit. But it never occured to me that he was a child rapist, of all things.

I've been helping the step-daughter with her schoolwork lately, and I'm really trying to encourage her to question the things she is taught. I know she just wants to get the work done so she can go hang out with her friends, but I keep pushing it little by little.  Every now and then I see something stick with her and it makes it entirely worth it. If she knew these things about Columbus, I know full well that she would mirror Lits' sentiments.

You might want to skip the "child-rapist" bit though...just my 2 cents.

[Manic Velocity]

Are you kidding me...?  

Quick question.... are you still in school with those crazy whack jobs whose single purpose is to denegrate and destroy the founding ideals and principals that our whole civilization is based upon, because they simply don't like the concept of having a morale code?  Or.... have you sucked up so much of it in your time in the land of limp wristed plasctic bannana good time rock and rolla weirdo's that it is ingrained in you.

I mean if you are so concerned about Columbus whose now dead and gone, then I'm sure you are super concerned about someone like Polanski... Or how about whole Olympic thing where Obama tried to help his slum lord friends unload those areas of the projects they own at new high end prices.  

Seriously why look to the past when you have a bunch of thugs, rapist, and genocidist here in the present, several of which are best buds and installed in the white house.

But none of the present thugs, rapists and genocidists have their own national holiday. It's only after a few centuries of ridicule that the assholes are glorified. Lincoln sure as hell wasn't considered a civil rights hero in his own time. Maybe in a hundred years or so we'll have Bush Day or Obama Day.  

Honestly, I found this thread a bit of an eye-opener. I remember blindly accepting what I was taught in school; that Columbus set sail with three ships and single-handedly killed two birds with one stone and gave Spain the finger. Then a few years later, I learned that was all bullshit. But it never occured to me that he was a child rapist, of all things.

I've been helping the step-daughter with her schoolwork lately, and I'm really trying to encourage her to question the things she is taught. I know she just wants to get the work done so she can go hang out with her friends, but I keep pushing it little by little.  Every now and then I see something stick with her and it makes it entirely worth it. If she knew these things about Columbus, I know full well that she would mirror Lits' sentiments.

You might want to skip the "child-rapist" bit though...just my 2 cents.

Well I know that now.  Where the hell were you yesterday?

[Lits]

morale code?

I think the word you're looking for is "moral" code.

And I only bring it up, like Manic said, because it's been made a national holiday. And as far as questioning what you are told, it is the nature of progress and evolution. "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." Much like your dissent of the Obama administration.

See everybody gets along because we all respect each others' right to an opinion

[Da6onet]

Speaking of dissent...

[Columbus] intentionally used Small Pox as a means of destroying these people and their culture.

Do a quick google search for "columbus intentionally using small pox" and you'll come across many ranting blogs/opinions but no actual evidence.

The closest thing you'll find to this folklore is that Peter d'Errico's research on Lord Jeffrey Amherst, commander of British forces in North America during the French and Indian War (1756-'63). link

Now it doesn't make Columbus a nicer guy, but lets at least blame the small pox on the ignorance of medical knowledge in late 15th century and these little shits

[Lithium]

You're right, the holiday should be changed to George S. Patton day. But alas he is a terrible man too. His only good deed was saving THE WORLD from Hitler.

So, instead we will just make it Santa Clause day, because Santa Clause only brings joy and cheer and does no evil.

[Broin]

morale code?

"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." Much like your dissent of the Obama administration.

That thee is just funny... Just like ole Hillary said everyone has a right to dissent and disagree.  Well unless you disagree with Obama and the Dems because then they call you things like

Racist
Bigots
Homophob
Nazi
Skin Head
Turn Coat
Uncle Tom
Inciting Violence

LOL I could go on and on but you get the idea... And before I hear this crap about they all do it... This is coming from the Dem leadership not some rank and file member at a protest rally.  These things come from the top when they address US citizens through the medis or during house and senate sessions.

[Setun]

Considering most famous people in history have had their share of fuckedupness, I'm not surprised Columbus did this...if you look up any big name in history, you'll find some really shitty stuff about them.  I'm pretty damn sure Columbus did what he did because that's most likely how they handled "savages" in his time.  He prob did it without even thinking he was doing anything wrong.