Christopher Columbus
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 6:01 am
Christopher Columbus has not yet had the movie he deserves, but I prefer the Fredric March version to the later versions. Happy Columbus Day and cheers to all adventurers and explorers!
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I grew up near the (inter?)national headquarters of the Knights of Columbus, so we got huge helpings of information about him each year. However, it was the glossy propaganda that usually goes with elementary school education. Other “experts” say the realities of Ole Chris’ adventures were quite different. He was lost, he was placed in chains for piracy, and he was a manipulative opportunist. are among them. I m sure the historical guy is somewhere between the hysterical margins of information. Nonetheless, I liked it all because we got the Jewish holidays, followed by Columbus Day off from school – any reason was a good one.
So here’s to the Piratical Explorer, Chris C.!
This morning I offered a blessing for all the explorers and immigrants who came to this country with great expectations. That offers some blessings to cover the multitude of sins the immigrants committed (my own ancestors included from almost 400 years ago)
Jestrfyl, I was fascinated at the difference between the famous Columbian Exposition celebration in 1892 (which I heard about a lot growing up not far from where it occurred) and the much more muted and nuanced celebration 100 years later, reflecting as positive the benefits of cross-cultural trade and other exchanges but also recognizing the damage to indigenous peoples as a result of his trip. I wonder how we will see him in 2092.