“Today, the United States observes a holiday in honor of Columbus’s arrival in the New World on October 12, 1492. We’re hardly alone in marking the occasion – most of our southern neighbors commemorate the day as well. The Bahamas marks Discovery Day straightforwardly enough, while Belize and Uruguay celebrate the Day of the Americas. Most Latin American countries recognize El Día de la Raza, or “Day of the (Hispanic) People/Race.” The Argentines gently sermonize with El Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural: “The Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity.” Finally, the chavistas of Venezuela seek catharsis on El Día de la Resistencia Indígena (Day of Indigenous Resistance). It may be a bit on the nose, but Hugo Chavez’s Bolivarian Republic never was one for subtlety.
“Columbus Day, in all its iterations, brings to the fore all the baggage that the Americas carry regarding the European conquest of these continents. History books have been written and re-written over the past decades as the traditional, lauding view of Columbus’s arrival has come under severe criticism. It’s all well and good to recite the poem about Columbus sailing the ocean blue, the critics say, but it does nothing to recognize the apocalyptic impact the arrival of Europeans had on the indigenous populations.
“Insofar as these controversies lead us to a greater historical consciousness about the injustices and cruelties of colonization, they have their merit. . . . For all of this, though, it still seems fitting for Catholics to mark the day and the man. This should not just be on account of some provincial pride that one of our coreligionists was pivotal in the settlement of this continent. We should celebrate because Columbus planted the flag of more than just Spain – he established a foothold for Western civilization in the new world.”
In a recent commentary, Brother Henry Stephan, O.P., offered some reflections on Columbus day and what it represents.
To access Br. Henry’s complete post, please visit:
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment