Today’s Holiday

Many of us have today off to make a three day weekend to enjoy.

You may celebrate it as the traditional Columbus Day or you may think of it as Indigenous People’s Day.

It’s interesting to look at this holiday from both sides.

Christopher Columbus was and is considered a great navigator.  From a job on a merchant ship to later studying mathematics, astronomy, cartography and navigation, sailing the world was quite a feat.

In 1492, he began what would be three journeys sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean, a new route to travel.  He made land on a Bahamian Island, likely San Salvador with later trips to Trinidad and the South American mainland. 

He never did actually sail to North America but his journeys did open up new possibilities for exploration.  He died in 1506.

From the Indigenous people’s point of view, the trips made by Columbus had harsh repercussions for the native peoples. 

Along the way Columbus enslaved many native people and on the trips to the places of their enslavement the trip or from the work required many died. 

One example is the Taino population of South America.  They were forced to search for gold and work on plantations.  They were decimated to only a few hundred within 60 years of Columbus’ journeys.

Additionally, when Columbus and his men traveled to new countries they brought with them diseases.  The native peoples could not fight them and many died.

Private Home Health Care can see both points of view and we hope that whatever your feelings you can find time to make the most of the extra day off.