Columbus Day: A British Perspective
Being on the other side of pond on Columbus Day has a strange feeling to it. Normally, in America, school's might have the day off, certain stores might put some red white and blue in their windows, and the media would be blown up with controversial discussion on whether or not Columbus is a man worth celebrating. Here, nothing.... Not only do people not talk about Columbus that much, but if they do, they make the comment that it was Columbus' brother who came a bit to late to England to ask for patronage for the long journey. To the Brits, Columbus is a man they neglected. When asked about whether or not they consider Columbus a part of their journey to the New World way back when, they quickly say no.
I was able to ask a few Brits about why England doesn't tend to even acknowledge Columbus Day and their answer is blunt: because of the controversy it strikes today. The many strikes against having Columbus Day parades in the states, and the argument that it's celebrating the exploitation of nations is precisely the reason the Brits do not even take notice of the day. They claim
they had nothing to do with Columbus. It was not their men that attacked and exploited South America, Latin America and parts of Mexico and the Southern U.S.. The Brits are adamant about that their original goal was to either only reach India, or leave England for religious freedoms. Their determination of not being labeled with Columbus is seen the argument that he sailed for Ferdinand and Isabella, not the Tudors. (note the daughter of these two monarchs {Catherine of Aragon seen on right} was married to Henry VIII for a awhile and had a daughter Mary who always supported and allied herself with Spain). No, the English believe they did not take part in the killing of Mayans and other tribes, because they were busy fighting a Reformation (agains the pope that allowed Columbus to go), and when they did colonize it was under Elizabeth I (3 monarchs after Henry VIII) where the failed
colony of Roanoke {seen on left}was started. Then it was the colonization of Puritans. However, the Brits like to slide in that this was years later.
All this to say, I find it quite interesting that the Brits do not even like to mention Columbus. This is the only time I've even seen them defend their reason for colonizing America to begin with. They don't want to be labeled like the Spanish or Portequese who they believe are the ones who actually exploited the Native Americans. I would like to say that by not participating or noting they day is also a way of ignoring the controversies at hand. Yet, in reality what could the English today truly do on the current issue? Is it just an issue for the United States, Latin America, and South America to address. Or should these European countries also take part in these great debates? Post below if you have ideas or thoughts on this? Should places like England ignore days like Columbus Day? Or should they take part?