DeletedUser7853
US history was fictionalized for years to show only the positive impacts of exploration and cultural encounters, when the reality was that most indigenous people encountered early on were massacred and enslaved by many explorers who viewed them as another resource to be exploited in the regions they were exploring. But especially in Columbus's case; when he couldn't get them to provide the big gold deposits he was convinced they had access to, he started shipping them off to sell as slaves in Spain where many perished en-route and then the remaining died while in captivity. He tried to recoup his losses by capturing the rest of them from the Bahamas and ended up destroying over 250,000 people, completely ending the race of Arawaks.
Here is the whole entry made by Columbus, which FOE is also showing under the Columbus event but only partially:
"They ... brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which theyexchanged for the glass beads and hawks' bells. They willingly traded everything they owned... .They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features.... They do not bear arms, and donot know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out ofignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane... . They would make fine servants....With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want."
If anyone else wants to read more factual history, this is a good resource:
http://disciplinas.stoa.usp.br/pluginfile.php/159605/mod_resource/content/1/Zinn_Peoples_History.pdf
Here in the US, there is a big push to stop celebrating Columbus with a holiday and four states have in fact changed that day to "Indigenous People Day" with good success.
Even though I have enjoyed FOE for years, it makes me ill to participate in the event that glorifies one of the biggest terrorists in history. Please get rid of the Columbus event and change it to Indigenous People event, at least here in the US. Thank you.
Here is the whole entry made by Columbus, which FOE is also showing under the Columbus event but only partially:
"They ... brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which theyexchanged for the glass beads and hawks' bells. They willingly traded everything they owned... .They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features.... They do not bear arms, and donot know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out ofignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane... . They would make fine servants....With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want."
If anyone else wants to read more factual history, this is a good resource:
http://disciplinas.stoa.usp.br/pluginfile.php/159605/mod_resource/content/1/Zinn_Peoples_History.pdf
Here in the US, there is a big push to stop celebrating Columbus with a holiday and four states have in fact changed that day to "Indigenous People Day" with good success.
Even though I have enjoyed FOE for years, it makes me ill to participate in the event that glorifies one of the biggest terrorists in history. Please get rid of the Columbus event and change it to Indigenous People event, at least here in the US. Thank you.