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Morris and Means disagree with historians about Columbus: Just as Columbus could not, and did not, "discover" a hemisphere that was already inhabited by nearly 100 million people, his arrival cannot, and will not, be recognized as a heroic and celebratory event by indigenous peoples. (535) On the contrary, they view the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 as an occasion to be mourned. They have mourned, they have attacked, and they have intimidated schools across the country into replacing Columbus Day celebrations with "ethnic diversity" days. This is flat out just wrong. We should honor Columbus and respect Columbus Day. "The life and achievements of Columbus demonstrates how powerful and lasting an influence one individual can have on the course of human history" (William J. Clinton 1547). "We are grateful for the tremendous contributions and for the ingenuity of spirit that is Columbus' enduring legacy" (William J. Clinton 1789). The politically correct view is that Columbus did not discover America, people had lived here for thousands of years. Worse yet, it's claimed, the main legacy of Columbus is death and destruction. Columbus is routinely vilified as a symbol of slavery and genocide, and the celebration of his arrival is likened to a celebration of Hitler and the Holocaust. The attacks on Columbus are ominous, because the actual target is Western Civilization. Morris and Means are never positive towards Columbus: Consequently, this murderer, despite his historical notoriety, deserves no recognition or accolades as a hero; he deserves no respect as a visionary; and he is not worthy of a state or national holiday in his honor. (535) Did Columbus "discover" America? Yes - in every important respect. "Although great explorers reached the shores of this continent both before and after Columbus, few have captured the American imagination as he has" (William J. Clinton 1547). This means that Columbus brought America to the attention of the civilized world, i.e., to the growing, scientific civilizations of Western Europe. The result, ultimately, was the United States of America. It was Columbus' discovery for Western Europe that led to the flow of ideas and people on which this nation was founded - and -on which it still rests. The opening of America brought the ideas and achievements of Aristotle, Galileo, Newton and the thousands of thinkers, writers, and inventors who followed. Bill Clintion explains how Columbus improved our world and in time, North America: He made possible the exploration and settlement of N. America and opened the door to our continent for generations to follow-people of every race, culture, and ethnic origin, who have given our Nation its rich and unique diversity. (1547) Prior to 1492, what is now the United States was sparsely inhabited, unused and undeveloped. The inhabitants were primarily hunter/gatherers, wandering across the land, living from hand to mouth and from day to day. There was virtually no change or no growth for thousands of years. With rare exception, life was nasty, brutish and short. There was no wheel, no written language, no division of labor, little agriculture and scant permanent settlement, but there were endless, bloody wars. Whatever the problems it brought, the vilified Western culture also brought enormous, undreamed-of benefits, without which most of today's Native Americans would be infinitely poorer or not even alive. "This renowned explorer braved the open sea, so feared by his contemporaries, and revealed the splendors of the New World to Renaissance Europe over 500 years ago" (William J. Clinton 1789). Columbus should be honored for this, for in so doing, we honor Western civilization. But the critics do not want to bestow such honor, because their real goal is to put down the values of Western civilization and to glorify the primitivism, mysticism and collectivism embodied in the tribal cultures of American Indians. They decry the glorification of the West as "Eurocentrism." We should, they claim, replace our reverence for Western civilization with multi-culturalism, which regards all cultures as morally equal. In fact, they aren't. Some cultures are better than others: a free society is better than slavery; reason is better than brute force as a way to deal with others; productivity is better than a stand still. In fact, Western civilization stands for man at his best. It stands for the values that make human life possible: reason, science, self-reliance, individualism, ambition, and productive achievement. The values of Western civilization are values for all; they cut across gender, ethnicity and geography. We should honor Western civilization not for the ethnocentric reason that some of us happen to have European ancestors but because it is the objectively superior culture. Underlying the political collectivism of the anti-Columbus crowd is a racist view of human nature. They claim that one's identity is primarily ethnic: If one thinks his ancestors were good, he will supposedly feel good about himself; if he thinks his ancestors were bad, he will supposedly feel hate inside. But it doesn't work; the achievements or failures of one's ancestors are monumentally irrelevant to one's actual worth as a person. Only the lack of a sense of self leads one to look to others to provide what passes for a sense of identity. Neither the deeds nor misdeeds of others are his own; he can take neither credit nor blame for what someone else chose to do. There are no racial achievements or racial failures, only individual achievements and individual failures. One cannot inherit moral worth or moral vice. "Self-esteem through others" is a self-contradiction. Thus the trick of "preserving one's heritage" as a rational life goal. Thus the cruel hoax of "multicultural education" as an antidote to racism, it will continue to create more racism. Individualism is the only alternative to the racism of political correctness. We must recognize that everyone is a sovereign entity, with the power of choice and independent judgement. That is the ultimate value of Western civilization, and it should be proudly proclaimed. "Christopher Columbus' extraordinary journeys stand as inspiring examples of great determination" (William J. Clinton 1789). Bill Clinton establishes Columbus Day: In recognition of the enduring achievements of Christopher Columbus, the Congress, by joint resolution of April 30, 1934, and an Act of June 28, 1968, has requested the President to proclaim the second Monday in October of each year as Columbus Day. (1547) Isn't that enough to prove that Columbus should be given the credit? I don't think Congress would just name a holiday to any ordinary Joe. Next October 12th honor Columbus, don't vilify him. Bibliography: Internet Word Count: 1127
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