Today is “Columbus Day.” While it is a controversial holiday
for some people, the fact remains that Columbus did find a place that was “new”
to him and his fellow countrymen. However, I believe the problem lies not in
the discovery, but its aftermath. Instead of allowing the natives to continue
living as they had been, these bullies came in and took over. Forcing the
Native Indians out of their comfort zones and into a lifestyle they were not
used to; where many died, due to exposure to diseases and other things that
were foreign to them. Today the struggle continues, as they live on
reservations (in America) and their culture is disrespected by others. A land
that once belonged to the ancestors, now barely recognizes them as a people.
As you go through this day, think not only about Columbus
but the Native Indians that were displaced all across the Americas (specifically
the Arawaks, Tainos, Mayas and Incas to name a few).
One man’s discovery leaves another man lost.
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