Christopher Columbus: A True Hero

Before and After Columbus Christopher Columbus was known to many Americans as the great explorer. He “discovered” America but as years went on the glorified Columbus was criticized and historians had found error in his ways. Does this mean Columbus was a villain and everything he stands for should be demolished? In this essay we will explore how Columbus Day is honored or observed in the United States of America and how celebrating this holiday opens up sore wounds for American Indians and how he opened the doors for transatlantic slavery, mass murders and cruelty to the Indigenous people of America. This essay will explore the apparent legacy that Columbus is celebrate and honored for, and whether or not all Americans should continue to honor Columbus Day.

He exploited the native land, as well as destroyed their way of living and thriving. A hero is not considered a hero because of his contribution to one organization, but he is known for his contribution to a wide range of people. He was a greedy, selfish, and barbaric man. Therefore, Christopher Columbus is in fact not a hero, because of the way he treated the natives and should be known as a villain for the way he dealt with that culture, and society. There are many different ways to interpret what exactly happened with Christopher Columbus.

Christopher Columbus has been viewed as both a positive historical hero and someone who was selfish and brought harm and misfortune to the Indians to benefit the white men. When flipping through a history textbook or sitting through a high school history course Columbus is viewed as a hero who embarked on many expeditions that helped others as well as brought people together with an abundance of goods. God, glory, gold, government, and geography motivated Columbus on his voyages. Columbus discovered land that he believed to be the Indies, which is what led him to identifying the natives as Indians. The people Columbus met were welcoming to Columbus and his men although they didn’t have the spices that were originally expected and needed.

But, I think that he is a hero for many reasons. Firstly, although he never treated people nicely (like most explorers) he did treat them with respect. Another, why Cabot should be seen as a hero is because he granted King Henry VII with land that England could now conquered. “Cabot and his crew quickly sailed back to England, where he was welcomed as a hero.” According to the website, http://mrnussbaum.com/explorers/john_cabot/ . Which basically means that Cabot did such good for England that people treated them with respect and honor.

Additionally, many people commended him and his actions throughout the war, which most likely bolstered his overwhelming arrogance further. However, while his deeds were an unquestionable feat, Odysseus could not begin to obtain ethos with the cockiness he displayed. From the start of his voyage, there are several instances in which Odysseus’s hubris was detrimental to him and his crew, which therefore makes his hubris detrimental to the harmony. One of these major disasters occurred on the island of the Kyklopês. When Odysseus and his twelve best men discover the Kyklopês’s cavern, the men immediately sense danger from their surroundings.

Page 44). Saying Christopher simply did not know that hurting the Native Americans was wrong. On the whole he did help America one positive way or another. Now here is what many

I did this because his accomplishments are what make him great in the eyes of his country and the outside world. I did not always agree that he was a great man because of his actions taken against his family. As a leader he did improve his country and move them into the modern world of that time. So my conclusion of whether or not he was great was based on his accomplishment instead of his

European explorers forced Natives to accept a horrendous fate with little to no choice. Columbian exchange, triangular trade, and the French & Indian War are just a few terrible aspects of European explorations. Many of us know that without European exploration, we would not be living here today. However, we forget the other side of the picture. Yes, he discovered new trade-worthy items such as gold, silver, and spices.

Through the use of various characters, Arthur Miller illustrates that relying on hard work brings more success than luck does. Emphasizing the unrealistic success of luck, Benjamin Loman (Ben) proves that relying on luck is absurd. Ben’s luck did prove successful in allowing him to obtain wealth, but reality states that his method was unlikely and fictitious. Primarily, he claimed to have “gone south” to reach Africa from Alaska when basic geography outlaws the possibility (Miller 48). Immediately, one notices how unrealistic his method was without even mentioning the fact that, upon speaking, he is a figment of the protagonist’s imagination.

Napoléon Bonaparte: A Heartless Ruler or a Great Influence Napoléon Bonaparte is seen by most as a butcher or a heartless dictator, but seldom do they remember the positive changes that Napoléon himself brought towards the world. Napoléon was an emperor who conquered lands and ultimately lost them in the end, hence the downfall of Napoléon. Napoléon is remembered as one of the greatest military conquerors in history (Napoleon I, 2004), but people have forgotten the side of him that has influenced and changed Europe. Napoléon has contributed and influenced, directly or indirectly, many of Europe’s culture in science, government, and even the arts. Without Napoléon, our world history would have been completely different than what it is today.

Throughout many historical interpretations of the explorer, Christopher Columbus, many included his voyage of seeking for a new route from Europe to the land of the riches, Asia. Although Columbus never set foot in Asia, he had traveled west and discovered the New World, and led many influential impacts. From Columbus’s exploration, it created several questionings along with controversies, debating whether people should celebrate Columbus Day. Nevertheless, Columbus Day should not be a national holiday, because the honor presented by the holiday does not suit many of Columbus’s despicable actions. Columbus had received the wrong title for his journey, his discovery lead to massive amounts of murders, and his greed for valuables and fame was also part of Columbus’s

Although deep down inside the real story of Christopher Columbus is that he did overall change our history and he bravely came to America in 1492. Some historians differ on how he achieved this goal. According to certain historians, some have a negative attitude on Columbus. In the article, “Columbus Doesn’t Deserve a

Chapters 20/21 Even though Christopher Columbus held onto his belief that he had reached the Indies until the day he died, the new continent he had actually reached had been the result of much geographical speculation and exploration by many curious men. “In some ways, these journeys of discovery collectively represent man’s most astounding characteristic: intellectual curiosity (Watson 424).” As Watson points out, we who live in the twenty-first century have nothing to compare to the feats accomplished by those early map makers and courageous adventurers. “The discovery of America was important intellectually for Europeans” yet many drawbacks soon followed as the New World was not as developed as the Old World (Watson 442).The lack of technology,

This affirmative action has worked to great effect, creating a more racially-just and diverse society than otherwise would have been the case. “Many view Affirmative Action as an expensive exercise that violates principles of merit of equal opportunity and that, in any event, has not achieved its original goals as enunciated by President Johnson in 1965. Further, there is no agreement or clarity about what, if anything should be put in its place” (Katznelson, n.d). The almost exclusively white-targeted nature of the extensive federal legislation before 1965 has largely been ignored by policy critics, just as it was ignored by Lyndon Johnson. Thus, often without realizing it, the United States has practiced what, in effect, was white affirmative action on a highly generous and widespread basis, followed by a much more modest program of black affirmative action.

Eminent Father, excuse me for I knew not what I was doing. Dear, sweet Rebecca Nurse shall be hung! Poor John Proctor, his notoriety scattered to the twist, all for the sake of doing right. I have not been as equitable as he has, and he is the heathen! Goodness, I fear I am to be faulted for this confusion, accomplishing more damage than help.