“They do not bear arms, and do not know them…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.”
–Christopher Columbus, from his log, regarding the Arawak Indians of the Bahama Islands.
When he arrived on Hispaniola in 1508, Las Casas says, “there were 60,000 people living on this island, including the Indians; so that from 1494 to 1508, over three million people had perished from war, slavery, and the mines. Who in future generations will believe this? I myself writing it as a knowledgeable eyewitness can hardly believe it…”
–Las Casas, History of the Indies
“The cruel policy initiated by Columbus and pursued by his successors resulted in complete genocide.”
–Samuel Eliot Morison, Christopher Columbus, Mariner
“What Columbus did to the Arawaks of the Bahamas, Cortes did to the Aztecs of Mexico, Pizarro to the Incas of Peru, and the English settlers of Virginia and Massachusetts to the Powhatans and the Pequots.”
“When we read the history books given to children in the United States, it all starts with heroic adventure – there is no bloodshed – and Columbus Day is a celebration.”
–Howard Zinn, A People’s History of the United States
The terrible truth of this country is that it was built upon the genocide of native races and the enslavement of imported races. Only today are we waking up to assess the incalcuable debt of suffering and destruction that the Europeans and their American-born offspring incurred against their fellow human beings. But look around: it continues to this day, with the war in Iraq, the benign neglect of Africa, the constant interference in South America, our lopsided support of Israel, the House of Saud, and Mubarak’s heavy-handed regime. In the name of “self-interest” politicians and businessmen orchestrate the repression and murder of untold numbers of innocents. When will it all end?
P.S. Happy Columbus Day.
When will it all end? Never I suppose. It might be in good taste to cancel the parades though.