Should Americans celebrate Columbus Day

Answer 1

Its largely a matter of opinion, but we all learned about the exploits of Columbus in history, he is a central figure of all American history, both North and South. So, yes for that reason alone. Is there another man who is the subject of so many monuments in the Europe and the Americas? We have come to see Columbus as a person of mixed character: heroic in taking the large risks of heading out to sea to prove his theory of worl geography, villainous in taking natives as prisoners to Spain, generous with his own life as a risk taker for God and Queen, selfish in his pursuit of gold, a man of faith who sought to bring Christianity to the pagans all the while recognizing himself as a sinner in many of his personal choices, among them adultery with a mistress who bore his second son. The large men's organization , the Knights of Columbus, was instrumental in having this day set as a special remembrance to its honoree. It now numbers over 1.7 millioin members. " The Order was founded 10 years before the 400th anniversary of Columbus' arrival in the New World and in a time of renewed interest in him. Columbus was a hero to many American Catholics, and the naming him as patron was partly an attempt to bridge the division between the Irish-Catholic founders of the Order and Catholic immigrants of other nationalities living in Connecticut. The Connecticut Catholic ran an editorial in 1878 that illustrated the esteem in which American Catholics held Columbus. "As American Catholics we do not know of anyone who more deserves our grateful remembrance than the great and noble man - the pious, zealous, faithful Catholic, the enterprising navigator, and the large-hearted and generous sailor: Christopher Columbus."[9] The name of Columbus was also partially intended as a mild rebuke to Anglo-Saxon Protestant leaders, who upheld the explorer (a Catholic Genovese Italian working for Catholic Spain) as an American hero, yet simultaneously sought to marginalize recent Catholic immigrants. In taking Columbus as their patron, they were sending the message that not only could Catholics be full members of American society, but were, in fact, instrumental in its foundation."

Answer 2

Apparently when Christopher Columbus set sail for Indiain 1492, he turned the wrong way and landed in modern-day North America. When he met the Native Americans residing there, he called them Indians and did not expect such tribal ways of living when everyone else told him that the actual Indians were siting in gold and riches (which is why other countries were out to get India, which was later colonized for the next 450 years or so by Britain, France, etc.). Columbus cleared the Indians out and set up the first settlement in "India", which later turned out to be America. If he didn't screw up like that, we all wouldn't be here, and I wouldn't be answering your question.

Answer 3

YES!