Oh, here, Chris.
Oh look. It’s October the 14th. Two days after Columbus officially arrived in the Americas. It's also the second Monday in October so, it's supposed to be 'Columbus Day'. As if Columbus had been the first white man to set foot in the continent. If you know me, you'd know that I am all against colonialism and the notion that Columbus somehow 'discovered' America. Many As if a whole continent would have been 'lost' somehow without the white man 'discovering' it. The Caucacity of it all leaves me speechless. But it's something that revisionist history has made sure passes on as truth.
What the invaders did was create a culture born on pillage, lust and greed. They destroyed whole cultures to impose their worldview and cosmology on the peoples they uprooted, massacred and robbed. Genocide and colonial takeover more than 'discovery'. The idea that Native Peoples would in any way 'celebrate' Columbus Day or the 'discovery' of America (north and south, darlings) is ludicrous. This whitewashed narrative is incomplete and it needs to be corrected. One first step would be to visit the National Museum of the American Indian. Wether online or by road trip. Wanna go?
So go ahead, next time someone talks with you about Columbus Day (a made up holiday, by the way) or the epitome of the romanticizing of colonization, do them a favor and show them this video and tell them to celebrate instead Indigenous People's Day. Or just wear your message. It'll make for very good -or very awkward- conversations.
Enjoy!
XOXO
So the white man came and civilized the “savages” that were indigenous to this land. Saved them from themselves, did he? Like you said, it was all greed and control that drove them.
ReplyDeleteSo if you are off today, take some time to browse the museum link above. Oh and take some time to gaze at the hotties in the t-shirts above. Lots to appreciate there. 😉
XOXO 👨❤️💋👨
Yep. It’s the usual strategy of colonization: invade, change and appropriate. Old as time.
DeleteAnd those T-shirts and the hotties are worth a look. 😉
XoXo
who gives a fuck about columbus? NOT ME!
ReplyDeleteSame, girl!
DeleteXoXo
You cannot discover what was already there, and if you say you do and then you proceed to torture and murder your "discovery" you can, as AM might,shout, FOAD!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. It was just an excuse for genocide, IMHO. The ‘oppressed’ became oppressors.
DeleteXoXo
"Romanticizing of colonialism" is right! Time to take "Columbus Day" off the calendar.
ReplyDeleteIt’s part of the whitewashing of history. I’m all for Indigenous People’s Day to take its place.
DeleteXoXo
Every time I go to the Hard Rock casino, I'm thrilled for the Seminoles who have it ($$$). When Anna Nichole Smith died here at the Hard Rock, her body/case was handled by the Seminoles since she was on Reservation land leaving local police forces out in the cold. Invitation only kind of thing.
ReplyDeleteHaha. It’s the small things, right?
DeleteAnd the whole casino thing escapes me. Really. That’s the best the white man could do?
XoXo
I could never understand Columbus Day. Now Groundhog Day makes more sense to me.
ReplyDeleteAnd Groundhog Day makes more sense!
DeleteXoXo
Actually, the first white man to discover there was land to the west had a ginger beard and ginger hair and muscles made of steel (at least in my mind) and was a member of a group of people we call Vikings. They made it to Greenland for sure, and probably Newfoundland, and then they went home and started conquering the hell out of Europe. I think we should ditch Columbus day and have Viking Day! I'm sure even Anne Marie would be up for a good Viking!
ReplyDeleteYum, Vikings! Nothing like a burly, muscled ginger!
DeleteXoXo