Some Say Columbus; Berkeley Says Powwow

Contra Costa Times ^ | October 13, 2002 | Kara Shire

[Tancred]

BERKELEY - If you believe the textbook version of Christopher Columbus, he was an explorer of mythic proportions, the man who proved the earth was round, the man who discovered the new world.

But there is another version to the tale, one that depicts the Italian sailor as a greedy conqueror who pillaged the earth and enslaved the people he found there.

[Pikachu_Dad]

ROFLOL. "He was a general in the army. It was his plan to use the island of Haiti as a jumping-off point to conquer America."

Execpt that he did not know North America existed. He was looking for the Indes.

[EggsAckley]

Berkeley, Sebastapol and Santa Cruz

of course

Families meandered through the Indian Market on the outer edges of the powwow circle, picking up turquoise and silver bracelets, thick Indian blankets and whimsical dream catchers, most of which are tagged "made in china."

[RWG]

"We did not give thanks, because we lost our land. We lost everything that belonged to us." Indigenous peoples are/were as cruel to themselves and other indigenous groups as any conqueror has been. The whinning does not seem to be drowned out by the fortunes casinos are generating for indigenous peoples, some to the tune of $80,000 a month. Give up a little land for sovereignty and a fortune and at the same time disrespect the man who made it possible. Custer must be turning over in his grave.

[50sDad]

You know, for six thousand plus years, the earth has been a world of warfare. The strong beat the weak, the weak get obliterated or occupied. Now hear this:

Native Americans, I am sorry but my ancestors beat yours. Though warfare, chicanery and the occasional disease which you had no immunity for, they took the nation. As it has always been, the winners write history. In "noble savage" tradition, the better warrior won. If we are to respect the "Circle of Life" that my Liberal mush-head enviro-friendly friends claim to honor, the strong eat the weak. Move on.

[Welsh Rabbit]

Indigenous peoples are/were as cruel to themselves and other indigenous groups as any conqueror has been.

Sorry, that just doesn't jive with with the current "enlightened" portrayal of Indians as a bunch of peace-loving hippies living in harmony with nature. Report back to your nearest public education facility for re-education immediately. /sarcasm off

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

The complex and controversial history of Columbus and America's native peoples was not on the minds of most who gathered Saturday for a powwow and Indian Market at Berkeley's Martin Luther King Jr. Park

Complex? What is complex about historical fact? Columbus raised money and organized an expedition, demonstrated the world was a sphere, disproved superstitious notions of beasts in waterfalls at the ends of he earth, found the New World (again), and was able to sail the unknown and make it back to his point of departure to report to all what he saw. Maybe this is complex to Marxist ideologues whose only goal is to instill confusion into young minds so as to raise and lead an army of disruptive idiots bent on destroying all the wealth created by those who freely choose and truly contribute to society.

[Texas_Jarhead]

well said

[breakem]

Columbus will continue to be one of the great pivotal characters in western and world civilization. He did what no one before him would or could do and his voyages lead to what is agruably one of the greatest ciivilizations in the world.

In a world of war and might makes right, the Indians were overrun by a superior civilization. They made war and enslaved each other. They engaged in cannibalism, torture, human sacrifice, body mutilation etc. They got their asses kicked by a stronger civilization: Europe. This sanctimonious whining about Columbus is a desparate attempt to get emotional reparations.

So let's agree there was slavery and war and disease on evryone's part and the Indians lost. Now what!

[Eternal_Bear]

Honor thr treaties made! Can you even do that? Is that too much to ask to keep your word?

[breakem]

A little too late to honor treaties broken 150 years ago. Let's rip up those cities and interstates amd move back to europe. Not gonna happen.

Nobody is ignoring historical reality. Just don't claim the nobel honorable label for yourself and spit on people like Columbus. Vent your anger at the King and Queen of Spain, but to what avail?

The whole problem with your position is that you want living people to undo what was done 100s of years ago. It's not going to happen. You fought and ate each other then the europeans did a number on you. Get over it and play the hand you've been dealt.

[mathurine]

I suppose if Columbus had not come, no one else would have and the aborigines would still be out in their deerskins stalking game to shoot with stone-tipped arrows. The whole PC agenda is so stupid. The reason all these Indian groups are so adamant about blocking any archaeological explorations is because they don't want it revealed that they were among the few civilizations that regressed instead of progressing-- Mohammedanism being another notably regressive culture.

[breakem]

The discovery of pre-Indian bodies is really getting to them. But let's not let scisnce get in the way of feelings.

[B Knotts]

Certainly the Cherokee never oppressed anyone...well, unless you talk to the Creeks... :-)

[B Knotts]

I frankly doubt either the sincerity and/or sanity of people who claim to feel outrage over injustices from half a millenium ago. Same goes for Osama and his whining about the "tragedy of Andalusia." Psychotic.

[breakem]

When people want redress for past wrongs, I think of the Isrealites barrling the Canaanites and what that has led to. How long will those battles be refought.

I'm part Canaanite and damn it, I want reparations. Maybe a condo on the Mediterrean.

[driftless]

Best summation I've read so far on all these Columbus threads.

[breakem]

sail on!

[ppaul]

www.suntimes.com

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http://www.suntimes.com/output/letters/cst-edt-vox14a.html

Let's celebrate an American hero

October 14, 2002

The drums will roll, the bands will strut and politicians will court the rapidly eroding ''Italian vote.'' It is Columbus Day 2002!

Mayor Michael Bloomberg invited ''The Sopranos'' sellouts Dominic Chianese and Lorraine Bracco to the New York City Columbus Day Parade. Our own Mayor Daley would never consider inviting James Gandolfini or Edie Falco to our parade. They mock their heritage and defile the memory of their heroic Italian ancestors. Mayor Daley loves Columbus Day, and always salutes the accomplishments of the great ''admiral of the Ocean Sea.''

Christopher Columbus was adopted as an ethnic hero after waves of Italian immigrants brought their blood, sweat and tears to the teeming shores of this ''sweet land of liberty.''

They found other ethnic groups honoring St. Patrick, Casimir Pulaski and von Steuben, so they needed to join the parade. Columbus is not celebrated in Italy. Only a small plaque commemorates his birth in Genoa. He was discovered in America by a needy population of penniless and powerless immigrants searching for their place in the sun. Even our nation's capital bears his name. Cities and universities proudly proclaimed to be his adopted children.

Christoforo Colombo was an authentic American hero. Then the marauders came in the night and rained lies on our parade. Charlatan historians revised, distorted and finally destroyed the well-documented legacy of Columbus.

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans will salute ''America, To Thee I Sing'' today. Look at the list of war casualties from the Twin Towers. The melodious, beautiful names of Italian Americans are tragically prominent in the roll call of heroes: citizens, police, firemen--none of whom resemble any characters in ''The Sopranos.''

President Vito Cali and parade chairman Robert Cimo speak for the Italian-American community as they invite all Americans to celebrate and remember Columbus Day 2002. Let the healing begin.

Dominic Di Frisco, president emeritus,
Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans