Monday, October 13, 2003 - Another holiday for many. The day a man named Christopher Columbus "discovered" America.
The question remains:
How do you discover a land that already has inhabitants?
That's a lot like someone "discovering" your car stereo. "I have searched long and hard...and here it is...I have found it...a car stereo...CD with AM/FM radio and detachable faceplate...and I see no one else around...I claim this car stereo in the name of Spain!"
I'm sure the Native Americans (or Indians, as Columbus called them) wish they could call the police regarding the theft of their land.
Well, let's examine what the "Indians" got in return for their land:
-smallpox
-vererial disease
-genocide
-slavery
...and eventually...
-McDonald's
-Wal Mart
-George W. Bush
When Columbus landed, what could that first conversation have been? According to Mickey Z. of Alternet.org, it might have gone a little something like this:
COLUMBUS: Red man, we want your land and everything on it.
INDIAN: Okay, muscular paleface, but what will you offer in return?
COLUMBUS: Venereal disease, smallpox, the destruction of your culture, genocide, Christianity, and a really bad image in John Wayne flicks.
INDIAN: Can you toss in a few casinos?
COLUMBUS: Sure, but you'll have to wait about 500 years.
INDIAN: Okay, Chris, you've got a deal.
Happy Columbus Day!
(Here is a link to the actual Alternet.org article titled "Not All Italians Love Columbus")
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