Harriet Tubman on the $20.

He was still a racist, bigoted slave trader. The fact he plied his trade on Hispaniola rather than the mainland is irrelevant.

 

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Recognizing that the voyages of Columbus began a series of events that for many pre-Columbian Americans was a catastrophe is an appropriate topic for a Columbus Day observance.

 

In the South it's called the War of Northern Aggression.

 

Yes, the poor Indians had to stop cannibalizing one another.

 

The victor gets to write the history.

 

As rickmp mentioned, history is usually written by the winner of a war or some other conflict. In that spirit, this "Western Civilization" apparently excludes those who had been there before the Europeans came to North (and South) America, and also those who came from other parts of the world. I do not belittle the achievements of Christopher Columbus or James Cook for example. But I do not find it hard to understand that their world view, so to say, is not necessarily shared by those who these people "discovered". Migration can be darn complicated.

Christian

 

There's politics and respectful realities; I believe there is a difference and don't think you've said wrong, but isn't for me to say.

There were at least a few locals in NY where Columbus Day was "set aside" in favor of "Native American Day". The reasons given were the same as you listed, yet was, of course, conveniently ignored that the very "Native Americans", the present local tribes instead "celebrated", were responsible for the wholesale slaughter of the two tribes/groups previously inhabiting the area, and to the extent that neither existed afterward. Apparently negatives attached to Columbus, or worse, no longer apply when committed by so-called "natives". If certain present-day moral standards are to be applied to historical figures/people, it rightfully needs to be done across the board. The revisionist version of history is a dangerous one.

 

Back to the $20 bill. Let's put Lady Liberty on it -- and as far as I'm concerned, the rest of the currency -- and be done with this nonsense. In an unstable world with a lot of problems and not many solutions, too many people spend too much time worrying about stuff like this and too many words trying to stir up an unnecessary fight, IMO

 

Perhaps I've given you too much credit, but I assume that one so learned as yourself would understand the question of secession and legalities surrounding it are not so simple.

As for the "war" being one of offense for the union, fluff it as you wish, but this is historical reality.

Yes indeed, but victor-written "history" doesn't always or necessarily mirror historical fact.

Well said and much agreed.

 

"I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience" - Prez Reagan