Almost overnight, he became known as "a brutal person and an incompetent navigator who ushered in centuries of death and oppression for those who lived on this continent before his arrival." (See Thirty Million.and Counting.) For centuries, Columbus had been hailed as a brave explorer whose daring, perseverance, and navigational knowledge led to the "discovery" of America. In 1992, the Columbian quincentennial, the 500th anniversary of Columbus's voyage to North America, spawned a national vilification of Christopher Columbus. An observance examines the whole event, puts it into a modern as well as a historical context, examines the world in which the event took place - its mindset, ecology, demography, religious outlook, sociology - admits to the existence of both positive and negative aspects, and communicates the true significance of the event, a significance which if properly understood, resonates as much today as in the time when it happened." "What is the difference between a true observance and a mere celebration? A celebration is a birthday party for which we put candles on the cake, forgetting imperfections, glossing over errors, and raising our glasses in unadulterated praise. Included: Links to on-line lesson plans for teaching about Columbus across the grades! This year, observe Columbus Day by helping your students explore Web sites that put the controversial explorer's achievements into historical perspective. The voyages of Christopher Columbus provide unlimited teaching opportunities - opportunities that can be pursued without glorifying the man or denigrating his achievements.
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