Columbus-Hero or Villain
Great article about how schools are instructing students about the impacts of Columbus' arrival in the New World.
posted by Mr. Carlisle at 4:54 PM
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Great article about how schools are instructing students about the impacts of Columbus' arrival in the New World.
About Me
- Name: Mr. Carlisle
- Location: Portland, Oregon, United States
I'm a native South Carolinian and I attained my undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of South Carolina. I taught fourth grade for two years in the Mississippi Delta and two years at an alternative high school in Western North Carolina. I have been at Tigard High School since the fall of 2003, where I teach U.S. History and Psychology.
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9 Comments:
I disagree with the Wanted Poster for 3 reasons.
1. He did NOT purposely go over there to 'initiate the destruction of a race' or to be racist; although racism was a big part of why the genocide happened.
2. I believe it is true that Columbus had irrational thoughts, ideas, and motives towards the indigenous people, but that doesn't mean he was right in the middle of the maiming and torturing of them.
3. The statement 'Grand Theft' is not accurate in my opinion because the statements in tonight's hw assignment clearly said that the indigenous people gave anything and everything they owed with little to no resistance. How can you not be a little greedy and want to take over the territory when the people are so hospitable and generous? I don't think he stole the possessions or land from the people, he more or less took a free gift like any normal human being would have.
8:53 PM
he was wanted dude
this is clarke robinson nickis little brother
10:04 PM
"Every hero is somebody else's villain." I find this statement by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto in the article to be a very good "few word" description of the controversy over peoples opinions of Columbus. While he did perform what people consider heroic actions(?), which is something that should be acknowledged he also performed or caused unspeakable deeds to the indigenous people of the Americas. We must look at the facts and see them for what they are, not let other facts sway our opinion of the person as a whole and overshadow the rest of what the person has done.
5:21 PM
Columbus was originally viewed as a hero, however as it said in the article all hero's have a darker side. Everyone has probably done something in their past they wouldn't consider a heroic action. Back when this occurred he would be considered a hero in Spain because the native are as low as slaves, and they claimed land for Spain. However the native would consider him a villain because he wiped them out with diseases and battles.
Back then I would not consider him a villain because of the environment he was brought up in. However if he were to do the same thing Today I would consider him a villain.
I asked my brother if he considered Columbus a good or a bad guy, and with the education he has been given he said Columbus was a hero. This shows schools need to show both sides of things not just the good sides.
10:09 AM
Isabella,
How old is your brother?
10:33 AM
I think history should be taught through both perspectives: protagonist and victims. We cannot ignore Columbus's accomplishment, no matter how accidental they were. If he had not of accidentally found America and the Columbain Exchange had not taken place, our lives would be indescribably different. However, this should not be a reason ignore his wrongdoing to the Natives. Students should learn both sides and decide whether the discovery justifies the genocide based off their own bias.
1:51 PM
Columbus didn't realize the harm he was doing but that does not justify what he did to the Native people
5:02 PM
So many people view Columbus as a hero and it is because they don't have the whole picture only a view of what classroom's have provided. Although Columbus had "founded the new world" according to some people ( there has been evidence others came before him), he wiped out almost a whole race of people. And that in itself is unacceptable at any cost. At his time though the Indians were viewed as less than human so according to the majority he was doing nothing wrong. Of course one man thought differently, Las Casas.
6:49 PM
My brother is 14.
4:19 PM
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