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Related: About this forumTYT: The REAL history of Columbus Day
Published on Oct 6, 2015
Monday, October 12th is Columbus Day, which we have celebrated in this country since the eighteenth century and thats probably long enough. When you find out the actual facts of what Columbus did when he got to America, youll find one of the darkest chapters in American history. Cenk Uygur and John Iadarola (Think Tank), hosts of the The Young Turks, break it down. Tell us what you think in the comment section below.
"Second, Columbus wasn't a hero. When he set foot on that sandy beach in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492, Columbus discovered that the islands were inhabited by friendly, peaceful people called the Lucayans, Taínos and Arawaks. Writing in his diary, Columbus said they were a handsome, smart and kind people. He noted that the gentle Arawaks were remarkable for their hospitality. "They offered to share with anyone and when you ask for something, they never say no," he said. The Arawaks had no weapons; their society had neither criminals, prisons nor prisoners. They were so kind-hearted that Columbus noted in his diary that on the day the Santa Maria was shipwrecked, the Arawaks labored for hours to save his crew and cargo. The native people were so honest that not one thing was missing.
Columbus was so impressed with the hard work of these gentle islanders, that he immediately seized their land for Spain and enslaved them to work in his brutal gold mines. Within only two years, 125,000 (half of the population) of the original natives on the island were dead.*
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-kasum/columbus-day-a-bad-idea_b_742708.html
niyad
(113,095 posts)niyad
(113,095 posts)Shockingly, Columbus supervised the selling of native girls into sexual slavery. Young girls of the ages 9 to 10 were the most desired by his men. In 1500, Columbus casually wrote about it in his log. He said: "A hundred castellanoes are as easily obtained for a woman as for a farm, and it is very general and there are plenty of dealers who go about looking for girls; those from nine to ten are now in demand."
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)yuiyoshida
(41,819 posts)He would have been in for a surprise, the Samurai would have kicked his ass.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)skamaria
(329 posts)I don't think Tom Cruise was a samurai back then. Who would have led them into battle! lol
yuiyoshida
(41,819 posts)I'm sure Ken Watanabe would have made him fall on his own sword!
MisterP
(23,730 posts)most ironically, we have Columbus *Day* because we thought he was a progressive figure back in the 19th century (and he could appeal to new immigrants)!