Not Celebrating Christopher Columbus Essay - 1370 Words

Christopher Columbus should not be considered a hero because he took advantage of the generosity of the natives to achieve his greedy ambition. Even though he is celebrated in the United States, Christopher Columbus should not be considered a hero. He took advantage of the generosity of the American natives he found. His greedy ambition had horrible results that most Americans do not even realize. Christopher Columbus was born in about 1451 in the Italian city of Genoa. He was the son of a wool merchant, and spent most of his childhood working as a part-time weaver. (Zinn) During his teenage years, Columbus got job on a merchant ship and stayed mostly at sea until 1470, when French privateers attacked his boat. Unfortunately the†¦show more content†¦(Rouse) The Taino natives had been living off the islands for over 1,500 years and developed a set of strong values, consisting of generosity, kindness, and gentle personalities. Their culture was so intricate and multifaceted, and the Taino fed millions of people. In addition to feeding everyone, the Taino also maintained a spirituality that encompassed the respect of their animal and other natural food sources. (Barreiro) The Tanios all lived together in little villages and had a developed agriculture of corn, yams, and cassava. They could spin and weave, but they had no horses or other work animals. They had no iron, b ut they wore tiny gold ornaments in their ears. The word Taino in the Arawak language meant men of the good, and based on what the historians have seen these Taino people seem to be inherently good. (Barreiro) Well known for their remarkable hospitality, their belief in sharing, the native people were open, friendly, and welcoming to Columbus and his crew from the moment they stepped foot on the Taino’s island. To the Taino people, Christopher Columbus and his crew were complete strangers who arrived carrying swords and speaking an unfamiliar language. Yet the Taino men, women, and children quickly emerged from their villages and ran onto the islands beaches to welcome these unwanted guests with food, water, and gifts. (Zinn)Show MoreRelatedChristopher Columbus : The Greatest Failure995 Words   |  4 Pagesperfect. Every great man has had or has enemies. Christopher Columbus was this man. It is Christopher Columbus that sailed around the world and accidently discovered the â€Å"New World† in 1492 according to an article by frontpagemag.com. This was no ordinary man, Christopher was brave and willing to take risks. Keep in mind Christopher Columbus was living in a world where â€Å"a lot of ordinary people thought the world was flat (Almasy, CNN). 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