why do we give christopher columbus so much credit?

Question

what did christopher columbus do that was so amazing? oh, he discovered America but how can you discover something where there has already been people living there. i think there's no school on christopher coloumbus day. how come we don't miss a day on Martin luther king's birthday, someone who actually did something

Answer 1

I agree.In fact Christopher didn't discover "the new world".He was the first person from England to go there and put it on a map.What makes it even worse is that he called the people already living there Indians because he thought they looked like they were from india.They were Native Americans.Come on Chris!!

Answer 2

Hey, what about Amerigo Vespucci day?? Where does everyone think the term 'America' comes from - ol chris columbus has nothing to do with it. Some places due have school/work off for Martin Luther King day, but thats usually where there is a dense population of african americans - which I feel is a well deserved and recognized Holiday and should be recognized nation wide not just in specific areas - some kids in perdominately white areas do not even know who Martin Luther King is - thats sad!

Answer 3

Okay, first of all. Christopher Columbus didn't really discover America. He landed somewhere off the coast of Florida and never saw America. The reason b/c he is so important is because he set the stage for exploration. Christopher Columbus thought he had discovered what was China, but he didn't obviously and he saw that as a failure, but he really made a very important discovery. He set the stage for discovery and exploration of the new world. Does it matter if we're off of work or out of school on a day? I think you're missing the point. We have a date set aside to honor these people, not to sleep-in come Monday morning.

Answer 4

I agree, and the best part is he didn't even really discover America, but really the Bahamas. Then he proceeded to systemically commit genocide through disease, slavery, and war. I honestly have no idea why we celebrate the guy. It probably has something to do with the Catholic Church wanting to celebrate the first European in the Caribbean to spread "God's" word.

Do you really not get off for Martin Luther King Jr.'s B-Day? That's crazy. In Virginia you certainly do. Of course for a long time it was called Lee, Jackson, King Day, but they eventually dropped the two Confederate Generals' names from the holiday.

Answer 5

Yes, there were people living here, and people who had been here before, so "discovered" is misleading -- we say it out of habit. There are a gabunch of myths about Columbus and what he did and why.

The Big Deal about it was that it began regular contact between the Americas and Europe.

MLK day IS a holiday. Or at least it is for some people.

(BTW, some people call Columbus Day "Indigenous People's Day" --which seems odd to me, as it's the last thing that indigenous people would want to celebrate, I'd think. "End of Life-as-We-Knew-It Day" or "Day It All Started Going to H*ll".)

Answer 6

Well, Amen, I agree! But in response to your question, I think Columbus gets credit because of his tenacity as an explorer. He waited years to get the approval on his voyage and was somewhat of an 'out of box' thinker considering he wanted to sail in the opposite direction of all the other explorers in his time. But let's not ALL ask for a day off for Martin Luther King's birthday just to get another day off (some people do get this day off), instead celebrate his memory wherever you are, even if it's at work ;)

Answer 7

he came and discovered that we could kick a$$ in this country and I for one am glad to live in the lush USA rather than stuffy old england. He needs some credit-he went further than anyone else back when he thought he may fall off the earth-he braved imaginary sea monsters and I guarantee his boat was no yacht.that being said I think there should be a martin Luther king day also

Answer 8

To the guy who suggested that Columbus got here upon the Americas: that's not so. He became searching for an determination commerce direction to India and located the Americas somewhat. He became no longer, despite if, the 1st individual to discover the Americas. The vikings have been the 1st Europeans to discover united states of america centuries in the previous Columbus. extra greater, how do you think of close by individuals arrived in united states of america? somebody had to have got here upon It way in the previous Columbus. I only had to remark on that because checklist needs to be set rapidly. i assume Columbus is credited with greater advantageous than he would desire to because of fact he in actuality "rediscovered" united states of america. If he hadn't stumbled upon it, historic previous probable would have became out lots otherwise. And so, he will become a "hero".... despite if he's no longer certainly deserving of the identify.

Answer 9

I've always wondered the same thing... Christopher Colombus wasn't that great. He was actually quite stupid because he thought America was India when he landed. Plus, from what I have read in other text books, he raped some of the native american women. You should try to find a book called "What they don't teach you in school". I think thats the name anyways... but it goes over that with a lot of detail. Pretty good.

Answer 10

christoper columbus done a lot of stuff. yes he discovered america, but he also bought many new species of animal and plants too and from america, he also bought many new food too and from america. is he had not discovered it do you think you would be here today?? probably not, if white man(i know not pollitcaly correvt) had not found the america's then europeans would not have started to move to america, thus you would not be here right now