After carefully analyzing both readings from Howard Zinn and Scott Foresman, as well as the podcast by National Public Radio, I have reached a conclusion about my argument. Regardless of the years of turmoil and damage Columbus and his sailors bought to the America’s, there are sustantial benefits that came out of it. Both the Indigenous Americans and the Europeans encountered different people with cultures and beliefs opposite of their own. According to Columbus’ notes, in Howard Zinn’s book,  A People’s History of the United States,“They…brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawks’ bells. They willingly traded everything they owned….They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features. . .(pg 1)”.

The radio segment “The Movement for Indigenous People’s Day”, sparked more of an interest for me in celebrating Columbus Day, than previously before. What sparked my interest was the interpretation of Columbus Day from a proud Italian’s point of view. For many Italians, Columbus Day reminds them of the pride and victory in “discovering” the “New World”. It’s a piece of history that is widely recognized and venerated by people all across America. Two questions I walked away with after the readings and radio segment are, does the good outweighed the bad in terms of conquering land and its people? Also, is conquering land and its people necessarily for further development?

Self grade 4/5