Eng 48A
Journal on Columbus
12/3/09
Christopher Columbus
"When Columbus was selling Queen Isabella on the wonders of the Americas, the Indians were 'well built' and 'of quick intelligence.'... Later, when Columbus was justifying his wars, and his enslavement of the Natives, they became 'cruel' and 'stupid,' 'a people warlike and numerous, whose customs and religion are very different from ours.'" (Loewen Pg. 62)
"They traveled three days' journey and found an infinity of small hamlets and people without number, but nothing of importance." (Norton Anthology Pg.33)
The first quote illustrates what Loewen describes, as cognitive dissonance- changing ones opinions to fit ones actions. Columbus, is at first impressed by the Native Americans, and admires them for their strength and intelligence, but as soon as he comes to enslave them, they become cruel, warlike, and stupid, necessitating their enslavement. Obviously Columbus was having a crisis of identity. Was he doing wrong by slaughtering, and enslaving entire tribes, or was he managing the savages, and bringing God to them. By describing the Native Americans as cruel and warlike, Columbus excuses his own actions. It would seem wrong to enslave, and murder strong and intelligent people, so he changes his opinion of the Indians in order to safeguard his conscience from the repercussions of his actions. After all, the mind is a powerful thing capable of excusing any act, no matter how vile and deplorable it may be. It begs the question: 'Is it possible for a man to believe himself to be evil by nature?' I for one, say no.
"Jewish financiers and Jewish scientists made possible the discovery of America by Columbus, and a Jew was the first known European to set foot on American soil, according to the Rev. Dr. William H. Morgon, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church." (New York Times, May 9th 1921)
"Estelle Irizarry studied his language and grammar and concluded that Columbus was a Catalan speaking man from the Kingdom of Aragon, an inland region of north-eastern Spain at the foot of the Pyrenees." (Telegraph.co.uk)
The second set of quotes bring up the issue of Columbus' identity. Who was Christopher Columbus? Was he a Christian born Italian, from Genoa as is commonly believed, or was he something else entirely? As Fiona Govan, of the Telegraph states: "Italy, France, Portugal, and even Scotland are among those who claimed Christopher Columbus as their own over the years." Even the true name of Columbus comes into question. Known as Cristòfor Colom in Catalan, Cristóbal Colón in Spanish, and Cristoforo Colombo in Italian, Columbus, as we know him, is very much an unknown (Wikipedia). Personally, however, I believe that he was originally a Catalan Jew from North Eastern Spain who converted later in life in order to keep from being expelled by Ferdinand and Isabelle's decree of expulsion. Proven not only through his powerful relations with Jews, but through the linguistic fingerprint he left behind, there is substantial evidence to support this theory (Estelle Irizarry). Moving beyond the evidence in question, however, if Columbus was in fact a Spanish Jew, it would lead him to have a strongly conflicted identity. Ruled by a king and queen that had expelled his religious following, he must have been under endless scrutiny, and would have to continually prove himself, not only as a success in the 'New World', but as a Christian as well.
1451-1506
"When Columbus was selling Queen Isabella on the wonders of the Americas, the Indians were 'well built' and 'of quick intelligence.'... Later, when Columbus was justifying his wars, and his enslavement of the Natives, they became 'cruel' and 'stupid,' 'a people warlike and numerous, whose customs and religion are very different from ours.'" (Loewen Pg. 62)
"They traveled three days' journey and found an infinity of small hamlets and people without number, but nothing of importance." (Norton Anthology Pg.33)
The first quote illustrates what Loewen describes, as cognitive dissonance- changing ones opinions to fit ones actions. Columbus, is at first impressed by the Native Americans, and admires them for their strength and intelligence, but as soon as he comes to enslave them, they become cruel, warlike, and stupid, necessitating their enslavement. Obviously Columbus was having a crisis of identity. Was he doing wrong by slaughtering, and enslaving entire tribes, or was he managing the savages, and bringing God to them. By describing the Native Americans as cruel and warlike, Columbus excuses his own actions. It would seem wrong to enslave, and murder strong and intelligent people, so he changes his opinion of the Indians in order to safeguard his conscience from the repercussions of his actions. After all, the mind is a powerful thing capable of excusing any act, no matter how vile and deplorable it may be. It begs the question: 'Is it possible for a man to believe himself to be evil by nature?' I for one, say no.
"Jewish financiers and Jewish scientists made possible the discovery of America by Columbus, and a Jew was the first known European to set foot on American soil, according to the Rev. Dr. William H. Morgon, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church." (New York Times, May 9th 1921)
"Estelle Irizarry studied his language and grammar and concluded that Columbus was a Catalan speaking man from the Kingdom of Aragon, an inland region of north-eastern Spain at the foot of the Pyrenees." (Telegraph.co.uk)
The second set of quotes bring up the issue of Columbus' identity. Who was Christopher Columbus? Was he a Christian born Italian, from Genoa as is commonly believed, or was he something else entirely? As Fiona Govan, of the Telegraph states: "Italy, France, Portugal, and even Scotland are among those who claimed Christopher Columbus as their own over the years." Even the true name of Columbus comes into question. Known as Cristòfor Colom in Catalan, Cristóbal Colón in Spanish, and Cristoforo Colombo in Italian, Columbus, as we know him, is very much an unknown (Wikipedia). Personally, however, I believe that he was originally a Catalan Jew from North Eastern Spain who converted later in life in order to keep from being expelled by Ferdinand and Isabelle's decree of expulsion. Proven not only through his powerful relations with Jews, but through the linguistic fingerprint he left behind, there is substantial evidence to support this theory (Estelle Irizarry). Moving beyond the evidence in question, however, if Columbus was in fact a Spanish Jew, it would lead him to have a strongly conflicted identity. Ruled by a king and queen that had expelled his religious following, he must have been under endless scrutiny, and would have to continually prove himself, not only as a success in the 'New World', but as a Christian as well.
20/20 Another case of confused identity...and its sometimes poisonous consequences.
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