Columbus Who?

Growing up, one of the questions on our American History test was, “Who discovered America?” We all answered Columbus.

Now all these years later we learn that Columbus really didn’t discover anything since when his sailors went ashore they were met by natives of a Caribbean island who had apparently not just arrived, and no, he had not discovered America. Somehow the myth was born nevertheless.

Columbus convinced the Spanish Royals, who funded his trip, that he could find a short cut to China and Asia by sailing West where he would find and bring back to the throne, spices, silk cloth and other exotic items.

Captains who had sailed East were robbed by pirates and often killed before they reached their destination. Those who traveled East by land almost never reached the treasures of Asia. Columbus spoke a good line, but could not deliver since, after four trips to the “New World,” he died never finding the short cut or the treasures of the East.

History like our holidays are ever changing. October 12th is the traditional day we celebrate Columbus discovering America. Remember the poem. But now, Columbus Day is a tack-on day to make for a long weekend for Americans and on Monday now, regardless of the date. Some cities are ditching Columbus Day for a more broadly reaching name for the holiday, Indigenous Peoples Day.

In future generations, students may well ask, “Columbus who?”