“Columbus was stupid,” my son said with a smile.

“Why do you think that?” Knowing this boy to be quite witty, I was eager to receive the explanation.

“He was lost, he had no idea where he was.”

“It’s not like they had GPS back then,” Misty reminded him.

“Well, he knew what he was looking for in India and should have realized his mistake when he didn’t find the spices.”

“So, you’re saying that America wasn’t spicy enough for Columbus?”

What once was a revered man in history has become someone reviled. We are taught of the atrocities he committed against indigenous people. My digital calendars read both Columbus day and Indigenous people’s day today. Is Columbus a hero of mine? No, but I think that he could easily be cast as a entrepreneurial visionary. He bucked the norms and didn’t give up even though his plan was rejected many times.

To the best of my knowledge, Europe didn’t have maps of the western hemisphere when Columbus sailed in 1492. This could account for the fact that he believed the circumference of the world was less distance than sailing around the southern tip of Africa in order to trade with India. Our vast knowledge of geography today might cause us to chuckle at our ancestors but do not allow chronological snobbery to cloud your judgement. I challenge you to guide a ship in the open ocean using a sextant and the stars; I can’t do it.

In articles like, “12 Atrocities Committed By Christopher Columbus” found at https://www.museumfacts.co.uk/christopher-columbus/ an unknown compiler of cut and paste, out of context information engages in a smear campaign against the man. No sources are listed as to where the website obtained this information, it’s just listed as “Facts.” To me, this is no better than a MEME on Facebook. To verify or debunk these 12 claims against the man would take days or weeks of research involving multiple accounts of the same events, preferably from both sides. The average person will likely just believe a website named, “museum facts” and move on. I know in the past I did. I was foolish and I spread misinformation.

There is no rebuttal without its issues, but I submit to you, “Debunking “Top 5 Atrocities Committed by Christopher Columbus”.” When you begin to question the rebuttal, read the comments and question even more. Never stop questioning EVERYTHING. Read the sources listed in this article, at least it has some. Cross reference those sources and keep reading. Stop looking at cat videos on Tic Toc and expand your mind.

What Mental Grenade post would be complete without addressing an opposing point of view? I’m sure if you take the time to analyze my statement, my posts, and my general stance on things, I fall grossly short. I do my best to be open minded and search for TRUTH. Objective truth, the baseline of the issue, the heart of the matter – however you want to phrase it, that’s what I’m looking for. “That’s your truth,” you might say. Check out this article about, “The Difference between Objective and Subjective Truth & the Illusion We All Believe” – and we all thought the great wall of China was visible from space… Nope! Check it out.

Every country has screwed up. Every people group has a bloody past. The Indigenous People’s Day is a growing movement. The history of cultures that came before should be taught accurately and respectfully. The colonies and later, the government of the US did much to destroy “indigenous” culture, people, and liberty. We lied and went back on our word, breaking multiple treaties and land agreements.

It wasn’t all one-sided. “Genocide, slavery, and rape: Let’s remember the atrocities of indigenous peoples,” by Christopher Tremoglie, reminds us of the dark times long before Columbus arrived. Tribal life is far more brutal than the “racial capitalism” that is supposedly poisoning our country today. The tone of this article, like all of them listed in this post, is slanted in one way or another. Take the good with the bad and form your own opinion but don’t dismiss it just because of the way it’s presented. We all need to work on our communication skills.

I think we’re drunk on ignorant, self-righteous indignation, virtue signaling to anyone we think will feed into our need for self-loathing. That’s right, our purported righteousness can be obtained by hating that we’re a part of this system. Wake up.

“While Indigenous Peoples Day is “cool,” he said, “I don’t want a day for celebration. I want justice.”” Kyle Mays, an Ass. Prof at UCLA was quoted in this AP article about IPD. Justice for whom? How do you get justice for dead people when their tormentors are also dead? Could it be considered justice to award compensation to relatives of the oppressed, despite the fact that they did not bear the weight of it? Should we give back the land that we once promised to the native tribes and displace all non-natives currently living there? Is that justice for them? What did they do?

What do you think?
Why do you think that?
Who could you talk to that would provide you with an intelligent and opposing view point?

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Drew OUT!