Every year on the second Monday of October, Americans celebrate Columbus Day. This “holiday” is actually celebrated in quite a few countries throughout the world, and is observed as a positive affair.
Vince Schilling of Indian Country Today Media Network has decided to set the record straight by detailing the contradictions of Columbus’ “noble” legacy. The fact is, were Columbus still alive today, he would be put on trial for crimes against humanity.
Columbus Was a Cheapskate
Columbus stole a sailor’s reward on the way to the New World. After receiving funding for his trip from King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Columbus offered a reward of 10,000 maravedis (a year’s salary for a sailor, about $540) to the first person to discover land. Even though it was a sailor by the name of Rodrigo de Triana that spotted land in October, 1492, Columbus retracted the deal claiming he was the one who spotted it first because he was pretty sure he saw a dim light the night before (though even by his own admission, he could not affirm that it was land). This information comes from Columbus’s log of October 11-12, 1492 as reproduced by Robert Fuson in The Log of Christopher Columbus, pp. 73-74.
Columbus Never Actually Landed on American Soil
While Columbus returned to the Americas three more times, he never initially set foot on any part of America, and we know now that other travelers most likely made it there before him. His first landing was on an island in the Bahamas where he met the Arawaks, Tainos, and Lucayans, all of which were friendly to Columbus and his men. Impressed with their friendliness, he did what any European would do, and took some of the natives against their will. In his journal he wrote:
“As soon as I arrived in the Indies [Columbus mistakenly believed he had reached Asia], on the first Island which I found, I took some of the natives by force in order that they might learn and might give me information of whatever there is in these parts.”
Columbus Talked a Lot of Crap
When Columbus first met the Native Arawaks, he wrote in his journal:
“They… brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things… They willingly traded everything they owned… They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features… They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. 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.”
After several months in the Caribbean, Columbus had a change of tone. After two Natives had been murdered during trading, Columbus wrote:
“..[They are] evil and I believe they are from the island of Caribe, and that they eat men.” He continues that they are “savage cannibals, with dog-like noses that drink the blood of their victims.”
Thanks to Columbus, the “cannibal story” is still taught as fact in some of today’s schools. See kids? This is why you shouldn’t talk shit about people.
Columbus’ Men Were a Bunch of Rapists and Murders
After Columbus’s first trip to the New World, he left 39 men behind when he returned to Spain. The men decided they would help themselves to the local Native women, and upon Columbus’s return, he found all of his men dead. Violence ensued, and with an additional 1,200 soldiers at his disposal, Columbus’s new army raped, pillaged, and tortured without discretion.
Here is the disturbing account of Michele de Cuneo, a close friend of Columbus:
“While I was in the boat I captured a very beautiful Carib woman, whom the said Lord Admiral gave to me, and with whom, having taken her into my cabin, she being naked according to their custom, I conceived desire to take pleasure. I wanted to put my desire into execution but she did not want it and treated me with her finger nails in such a manner that I wished I had never begun. But seeing that (to tell you the end of it all), I took a rope and thrashed her well, for which she raised such unheard of screams that you would not have believed your ears. Finally we came to an agreement in such manner that I can tell you that she seemed to have been brought up in a school of harlots.”
The Spaniards committed many other heinous acts towards the Natives, such as “testing the sharpness of blades on Native people by cutting them in half, beheading them in contests and throwing Natives into vats of boiling soap. There are also accounts of suckling infants being lifted from their mother’s breasts by Spaniards, only to be dashed headfirst into large rocks,” (Schilling, 2013).
According to Bartolome De Las Casas, a former slave owner who became a Bishop:
“Such inhumanities and barbarisms were committed in my sight as no age can parallel,” he wrote. “My eyes have seen these acts so foreign to human nature that now I tremble as I write.”
Columbus Was All About the Bling
“Gold is the most precious of all commodities; gold constitutes treasure, and he who possesses it has all he needs in the world, as also the means of rescuing souls from purgatory, and restoring them to the enjoyment of paradise.” – Christopher Columbus
Columbus reported there were “rivers of gold” in the New World, as well as an abundance of Native slaves, to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, and in return, he was given his additional 17 ships and 1,200 men. Needless to say, he was desperate to produce what he had promised.
The Natives were forced to work in gold mines until exhaustion, and if they refused, they were either beheaded or had their ears cut off. Those who did not supply at least a thimble of gold dust every three months had their hands cut off. The hands were then tied around their necks, and they were left to bleed to death. Around 10,000 Natives died this way.
Sex Slaves for Everyone!
As well as using the Natives for slave-labor, Columbus sold females as young as 9-years-old to his men as sex slaves. In the year 1500, Columbus wrote:
“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.”
Columbus Used Natives as Dog Food
Apparently, Columbus allowed his men to use the Natives as dog food. It’s reported there were butcher shops throughout the Caribbean that sold Indian flesh, and periodically, a practice known as the montería infernal (infernal chase) was conducted in which Indians were hunted down, killed, and eaten by the Spaniard’s war-dogs. In an even more horrifying act, live babies were ripped from their mother’s arms and fed to the dogs as sport.
Columbus Was Arrested for His Crimes, and Later Pardoned
Numerous complaints were filed against Columbus in regards to his blatant mismanagement, and in 1500, he was arrested by a royal commissioner who took him back to Spain in chains. He was stripped of his title as governor, however King Ferdinand pardoned him, and then subsidized a forth voyage.
Thanks to Bartolome De Las Casas writings, the treatment of the natives in South America exposed Spain’s barbarism, contributing to the Black Legend—Spain’s reputation as a “uniquely brutal and exploitative colonizer,” (Foner, 2014, p. 28).
We might want to reconsider even acknowledging this so-called “holiday,” and with Columbus’ reputation being falsified to our children in school, the least we can do is set the record straight for them.
This Article (A list of Atrocities Committed by Christopher Columbus) is a free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to the author and AnonHQ.com.
Sources:
Foner, Eric (2014). Give Me Liberty: An American History. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Hartmann, Thom. Common Dreams. Oct 11, 2004. (http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1011-27.htm)
Schilling, Vincent. Indian Country. Oct 14, 2013. (http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/10/14/8-myths-and-atrocities-about-christopher-columbus-and-columbus-day-151653)
America, built on the legacy of a murderer, rapist, war criminal, thief and a liar and we wonder why it’s the rotting cesspool in evidence today.
He was worse than Hitler, historical fact.
I don’t know why people don’t understand that when something(anything)is built with errors, It will never be right in the end. SMH
So trying to blame the United States for everything bad when it is the greatest country to date. Even with all the purposeful downgrading by the traitors n chiefs who have been puppets for the elite. Columbus is nothing American imbecile.
No country is a great country. Have you taken a look at what humans have done to this planet recently?
These times are over my friend. Again the state of LAw, state of jsutice commits atrocities on the world population…
Hes part of the ORIGINAL conspiracy,why else would he be used in schools like a HERO, while Amerigo only gets a short mention usually ever. I have no doubt he was part of something much larger, thats been hidden/swept under the rug, so no REAL truth will ever be known.
He’s a fool, sent by king of Portugal to Spain to change their focus to americas while the “Real India” was for the portuguese.
Horrible… In finland many teachers actually tell the real story
Nothing has changed as these atrocities are still occurring today under the guise of church and state, as it did back then.
It still doesn’t minimize the fact that native Americans were in fact cannibals. I said this on another post as well…yes the natives were cannibals!!! Columbus is no saint, don’t get me wrong, however, eveyone hating on America deserves 5o know the truth!
The natives cry victim and everyone is so quick to sympathize.
What about the poor south americans that were being murdered, eaten and tortured before the Europeans settled here in america?? What about those poor victims? ??
South americans were being murdered and eaten to the point of extinction in some cultutes. Everyone forgets about that I guess, that’s right…. they were all murdered!!!!!
Yes people…know the truth….Columbus wasn’t a saint, however the native Americans were CANNIBALS!!!!
It’s a proven fact!!! Go dig up all their reservations, you’ll find all the proof you need!!!!
You can’t just say that “native Americans where cannibals”… yes, there where cannibal tribes, like several other places in the world. But not all wher, and infact mist weren’t. There are several groups in South America that where known cannibals, so they get as much sympathy as the next group… know your history. Please don’t try to distract the story here, which is pretty accurate. Not completely I’ll admit, but it’s point is heard. Fuck Columbus.
cannibalism alone wouldnt decimate the population of pre Spanish America…..
Hey at least they were not [civilise]
fuck all your stupid comments. Britain is the real superpower who commited despicable acts across continents. But we’re proud of it, we had the biggest empire known to man. Everything comes at a cost, including the so called American Dream. You dont even see your own stupidity yanks
And by the way, no they do not teach us that in American schools. We had to learn that independently. Schools all over the world lie about history to suit their own needs and motives. Yes, our schools lied to us about the native americans. Nowhere in any school text book will you read that native Americans were cannibals. But the fact is, yes, yes they were. That is exactly why they were out casted to their reservations. I don’t believe they practice cannibalism any longer ( I hope), but they most certainly did 500 years ago. I’m sure one day all the proof will be made public, but for now, most of you will remain brainwashed into believing whatever your educators teach you. And for the record, if you are not from America, please stop trying to teach and preach American history when you have absolutely no clue.
You are funny. Don’t act as if the American way, of censuring everything in there advantage, is the way of humanity. Most countries teach history as it is widely accepted. I’m not saying that the widely accepted history is correct. But given the evidence we have, most of it is plausible.
Native Americans weren’t all cannibals, sure there would’ve been certain groups, like there are in Asia, Africa and probably at some points in time in Europe and all over the world. These groups were however, minorities.
Yes they waged war amongst each other, as did Europeans (Rome, Greece, Germania,…) and Asians (Chinese, Japanese, Mongols,…). Hell we still wage wars. And we still tell ourselves that we do it for the greater good. Which is obviously the biggest BS ever. (Indeed, you Americans are good at that)
Native Americans did weird stuff, primitive stuff, like sacrificing people, but hey, Christians and Muslims all over the world still do the same thing. Only they call it exorcisms. People were forced to be sacrificed, but some volunteered. Hey, there’s another comparison…
Columbus was a dickhead, taking care of his own, meaning himself. Killing off people for profit and fame. Cloaking it with biased motives as if he were a saint bringing riches to Europe.
There is one last thing I would like to add. American history doesn’t exist other then the part where most of you are slavers and racists. Gathering people under your flag with fear and submission. You are the shame of our planet and the only reason your nation has power in this world, is because of the different braindrains you issued, luring great minds from all around the world with money, so they can build your weapons of mass destruction. The money probably originates with the nazis.
Don’t take this last part as fact, it’s just the way USA makes me think of USA…
Also, I don’t want to drag every American into this way of thinking, I’m sure the ones that use their brains will feel the same about the majority of your gunloving, no-brain society…
Very well said, I must say that I could go on and argue with Jeannette’s “fact’s” all day long, but I really have just stopped bothering with people who try to justify their cultures wrongs, (mine included. UK), by, simply saying “well someone else was doing it as well”, all civilizations pasts have dark stains on them, and no amount of wrangling will detract from that “fact”. Americans are the worse, there is NO justification for your forefathers actions,none. But as I have said there is no point discussing it further as the blinkers were put on at such an early age there was never any hope for you, so so sad. In the words of the great Ghandi, “an eye for an eye and the whole world will go blind”!
Ok then you can’t blame all Americans for what was acceptable over 409 years ago. You sir have no clue. And whatever country you are from sounds like a bunch of whinny people who wish they had the balls and initiative Do the things America has done.
And it continues today as it did back then with the blessings of the many different churches and states.!!
Jeannette you obviously have a problem with native Americans, hopefully they will bring back cannibalism just to eat you. I suspect you would taste like crap though
Fletch….you’re an asshole.
I have never once wished pain or suffering for anyone on here, let alone in this world.
Don’t hate just because I speak the truth.
You’re part of the problem as to why so many people are afraid to speak the truth….they are afraid 9f hateful people like you.
Don’t be such an ass just because I am honest. Actually….just don’t be an ass, period.
Of course there were people that landed on the shores of North America before him, I suspect the Native Americans weren’t just here to start, they must have come from somewhere else(Asia, hint hint). And his conquest was for the Spaniards, so why does the U.S. celebrate Columbus Day when it was the British that our society was born from? Shouldn’t the credit go to them? [UK is awesome, USA sucks balls<-(I would know, I live in the US!), big hairy ones.
The Templars were here first. We can date them back to the 14th century, however, I believe it could have been even before then.
We don’t celebrate the British as they are the very people we fought for our independence from, hence why we celebrate independence day. Americans are reborn Europeans, that’s all. Nothing bad about that. We believed in freedom, we believed in democracy and we fought for that and ultimately won. Why are americans so hated? Because we believe in freedom??? You all can continue hating us, while we continue to bask in our freedom. I love my country. I am so grateful everyday that my European ancestors braved the journey to come to America. I thank God everyday for that.
I only agree with you on one point, Christopher Columbus should not be celebrated, as he was a fraud. He did not discover America. However, the ‘native americans’ weren’t exactly saints either. Yes they were cannibals and no they went exactly “peaceful” as they claim to be either. After Columbus first arrived in amercia, before departing, 29 crew members stayed behind while Columbus went back to Spain to report his findings. When Columbus returned to america, it was discovered all 29 members of his crew were murdered. How “peaceful” could the natives of been to commit such atrocities?? Only after that discovery is when Columbus sold the natives as slaves.
Either way, neither side were saints, not Columbus and not the natives.
But as for us americans…we are products of brave Europeans making a risky journey to find a better life. And guess what??? They were successful. I am American and I love my life, I love my country and I love my freedom.
“We believed in freedom, we believed in democracy and we fought for that and ultimately won.”
So you consider it was ok that your ancestors came to America and invaded/exterminated the population that was already here? And then you say something about democracy and freedom? And you still don’t understand why an entire planet actually hate you? Poor things :(.
You say native Americans were cannibals or not that peaceful. What the fuck do you care? They were invaded, its normal they were not peaceful. If some one would invade USA now would you be peaceful? (That is a rhetorical question, you are genetically incapable of being peaceful … this is how you were borne and selected … always the most violent was having better chances of survival).
They were eating each other? So what? Since 1500 you were concerned about what is going on in other people’s culture/places? Seems this is another genetic problems of you … you just can’t stay the fuck home and mind your own business.
“it was discovered all 29 members of his crew were murdered.”
And why were all those fuckers killed? Because they were good people right? Do you have the capacity of imagining what 29 low life scums left alone with a friendly unarmed population would do? Try too … and then let me know the conclusion.
“But as for us americans…we are products of brave Europeans making a risky journey to find a better life.They were successful.”
A journey to find a better life? how? by invading other people? Exterminating those people? And they were successful and you seem proud of this. But you do not understand why people hate Americans. If they would’ve found an empty continent I would agree with you. But its not the case. Plus give me a break with the brave Europeans. Most of the fucked up Europeans, low life people, scums of all major citys migrated there to exploit, steal, kill, abuse the natives. And by the way … after exterminating the natives those brave Europeans started bringing slaves from Africa … I presume you are also proud of that too … is about having the freedom to take what is rightfully yours and other BS like that right?
As long as you do not understand your own history is little chance you will avoid doing the same thing over and over again. And reality shows us that you are doing the same shit also today … you just can’t stay the fuck on the continent that you already occupied abusively …
Why do people leave comments? I wonder.
That’s why we ran them out and we call it the Americas now cristerper calmbess kiss my ass hes ay Clam jumper.ay guy named Rodrigo seen it first.dam i did not know this about cristerper calmbess open my eyes about ay lot thanks for letting us the ppl know what is really going on
Colombus=Hero
There is a book called ‘American Holocaust’ by David Stannard which explains how the natives of both North and South America were tortured and slaughtered. Some of the quotes in that book by de Las Casas made me want to retch. What the Spaniards did, and what almost every European that landed on the Americas did was a disgrace to the natives living there. From giving them blankets infected with smallpox to raping their children, slaughtering them and stealing their land. That’s the real history. What children learn in school is only the ‘history written by the winners’–which for the most part is pure BS.
amen Gabi
Right on the money, Gabi.
The cited quote does not support the assertion that “Columbus sold females as young as 9-years-old to his men as sex slaves” any more than a reporter saying ‘bricks got thrown through windows’ is a confession that the reporter threw one.