Happy Columbus Day

I spoke last time about the odd phenomenon of “new” knowledge, most of which comes from what my third grader learns at school. For instance, that there are now five oceans in the world (not four, like when I was a kid), and four states of matter instead of three. Another tidbit I picked up is that in many schools these days, Christopher Columbus is introduced as the “first foreigner” to come to the New World.

Now, on this point, I have to disagree. Foreigner? Yes. But, don’t forget that Leif Ericson landed in North America around the year 1000, almost 500 years before Columbus. Also, Native Americans migrated from Asia to North America across the Bering Strait region over the course of hundreds of years. They were not all from the same areas. So, I suppose some of these migrants would be considered original settlers, and later migrants would have to be considered foreigners as well.

Over time, Columbus Day has become one of those holidays that has sparked controversy over the process and scope of European settlement of America. Some see it as a memorial to a daring seaman who ushered in a new age. Spanish settlement spawned French, Dutch, and English exploration and settlement, which eventually led to the establishment of our country. Others see it as an inappropriate and insensitive celebration of one culture’s overtaking of another.

But, instead of delving into that debate, I’d rather share a few lines from a letter that Columbus wrote on February 15, 1493, describing his first encounters with the native peoples of the Caribbean. I find his comments fascinating, particularly those pertaining to his belief in God and the potential for the native peoples to believe in God also.

To me, the Indians’ first encounter with Columbus is just about the closest thing I can think of to aliens landing in a spaceship and little green men visiting me at Virginia Beach as I am reclining and reading a book on a warm summer day. It was that bizarre. Anyway, here are a few excerpts where Columbus describes the land and the native peoples. Enjoy.

“Spanola is a marvel; the mountains and hills, and plains, and fields, and land, so beautiful and rich for planting and sowing, and for breeding cattle of all sorts, for building of towns and villages. There could be no believing, without seeing, such harbours as are here, as well as the many and great rivers, and excellent waters, most of which contain gold.”

“It seems to me that in all those islands, the men are all content with a single wife; and to their chief or king they give as many as twenty. The women, it appears to me, do more work than the men.”

“Of anything they have, if it be asked for, they never say no, but do rather invite the person to accept it, and show as much lovingness as though they would give their hearts. And whether it be a thing of value, or one of little worth, they are straightways content with whatsoever trifle of whatsoever kind may be given them in return for it.”

“I gave gratuitously a thousand useful things that I carried, in order that they may conceive affection, and furthermore may be made Christians; for they are inclined to the love and service of their Highness and of all the Castillion nation, and they strive to combine in giving us things which they have in abundance, and of which we are in need.”

“And they knew no sect, nor idolatry; save that they all believe that power and goodness are in the sky, and they believed very firmly that I, with these ships and crew, came from the sky.”

“Since thus our Redeemer has given to our most illustrious King and Queen, and to their famous kingdoms, this victory in so high a matter, Christendom should take gladness therein and make great festivals, and give solemn thanks to the Holy Trinity for the great exaltation they shall have by the conversion of so many peoples to our holy faith; and next for the temporal benefit which will bring hither refreshment and profit, not only to Spain, but to all Christians.”

“This briefly, in accordance with the facts. Dated, on the caravel, off the Canary Islands, the 15 February of the year 1493.”