Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day

by Jason Conant

A Look at History, Politics, and Secular Education

Columbus Day originated in 1792 in New York City, organized by the Columbian Order (Tammany Hall) to mark the 300th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas. Many celebrate it as part of their heritage, not necessarily to honor Columbus himself.

Indigenous Peoples' Day originated in 1977 at an international conference in Geneva, Switzerland, as a counter-celebration to Columbus Day.

In 2021, President Joe Biden became the first president to officially recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day alongside Columbus Day. Several states recognize both holidays. However, there has been a growing push to eliminate Columbus Day altogether.

In 2025, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation refocusing the holiday on Columbus, honoring his "extraordinary legacy of faith, courage, perseverance, and virtue."

So Why All the Division?

Both Christopher Columbus and Indigenous peoples have a place in history and deserve recognition. For years, both observances existed without the level of controversy we see today.

So what changed?

In 2020, following the murder of George Floyd on May 25, protests erupted across the country, with some turning into riots, looting, and destruction of historical monuments.

On July 4, 2020, protesters tore down the Christopher Columbus Monument in Maryland and dumped it into Baltimore's Inner Harbor. It was one of many historical monuments targeted during that period.

Somehow, the murder of one man became justification for tearing down monuments and pushing to eliminate a holiday with roots dating back 234 years.

Why? What motivates people to erase history because of events happening today? After all, history is full of people who made mistakes, committed wrongs, and failed in many ways. That hasn't changed!

I believe two major factors are responsible:

Political motivation and secular education.

Political Motivation

Think back to 2020. We were nearing the end of President Donald Trump's first term, arguably one of the most controversial presidencies in American history. COVID-19 had arrived in January, and our country was deeply divided.

Regardless of which side of the political aisle you're on, I believe many decisions during that period were politically motivated and not necessarily in the best interests of our country.

But politics is only part of the problem.

Secular Education

The word secular generally refers to the worldly rather than the spiritual, or government rather than church.

Our government education system has become increasingly secular, with politics mixed into what our children are taught.

This becomes especially concerning when teaching history.

Historical context is essential to understanding history. 

We must consider the circumstances, cultural norms, and events of a particular time rather than judging everything solely through today's worldview.

Teaching history without its full context is like reading the bold headline while ignoring all the fine print.

Ask someone under 25 what they know about Christopher Columbus. I suspect many would describe him as a villain but struggle to name anything positive he accomplished.

How many were taught that Columbus studied the Bible or began learning navigation at sea at age 14?

How many learned about his interactions with the Taino, whom he described as kind and gentle, even calling them "the best people in the world"? Accounts also describe him advocating for their equality, citizenship, and civil rights.

Or what about the claims that Columbus enslaved peaceful natives and transported them to Spain?

Another historical account argues that nearly all those forcibly taken to Spain were Caribs, described as cannibalistic, or people captured during what was then considered justified warfare.

There are also estimates suggesting that before European contact, 30% to 40% of Indigenous people in the tropical New World were enslaved by other Indigenous peoples. That practice existed long before Columbus arrived.

These are historical claims and perspectives that deserve examination rather than being left out of the conversation.

Does this mean Columbus was perfect? Absolutely not! He made mistakes and failed in many areas, just like countless others throughout history.

But I reject the modern portrayal of Columbus as nothing more than a heartless, genocidal maniac.

There is much more to his story, and I believe secular education and politics have prevented generations from hearing the whole picture. Books like The “American Story” by Tim Barton is a great read. 

This brings us back to where we are today.

Political motivation and secular education.

Our government education system, under the appearance of neutrality, has increasingly promoted a secular worldview while moving away from biblical values.

Generations have been educated through this perspective, and we are now seeing the results both politically and socially.

We have reached a point where what is wrong is considered right, and what is right is considered wrong

Don't simply believe everything you hear on the internet, the nightly news, or even in a classroom.

Do your own research. Investigate. Look deeper into history. Understand the circumstances of the time and seek out the whole story, including the parts that may not fit today's popular narrative.

And ask yourself this: Does tearing down or removing history because of something happening today really solve anything?

We've all heard the old saying, "Two wrongs don't make a right."

They simply make two wrongs.