Season of Atonement

This week we observe holidays both sacred and secular. On Monday many people celebrated Columbus Day, heralding Christopher Columbus as an Italian hero who “discovered” America. Beginning Tuesday at sundown our Jewish sisters and brothers observed the holy day of Yom Kippur when Jews ask for forgiveness and pardon for sins committed in the previous year and resolve to do better in the year ahead.

It occurs to me that those of us who have honored Christopher Columbus in the past might do well to have our own season of atonement and to ask forgiveness for the atrocities that were committed by Columbus and his followers.

I am especially interested in the history of Columbus’ travels since he landed on the island of Hispaniola, which now includes Haiti, a country that I have come to love, having visited it many times including this past summer. Haiti is, of course, even more on my mind and in my heart since the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew.

If one is to read the journal from Christopher Columbus upon arriving on the island, you would discover the following entry about the Indigenous people that welcomed them: “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…. They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane…. They would make fine servants…. With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.”

Over time Columbus and other European explorers did indeed subjugate, torture, murder and maim almost an entire population of the native Arawak population. Columbus was among the leading colonizers who plundered the land, forcing the Arawaks and later African slaves to mine metal, ore, and other riches and resources for the benefit of the Europeans. According to some accounts, less than 500 of the original 250,000 indigenous people were still alive by the year 1550.

With such a historical background, is it any wonder that there is a movement to replace the celebration of Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day as a way of recognizing the history and contributions of native people instead of the one person who exploited, enslaved, and eradicated an entire population.

May we join the Jewish community in this season of atonement. May we commit ourselves to a greater awareness of the sins of generations past. May we resolve to have a deeper understanding of the wounds that have been inflicted on a people and on a country. And finally, may we pray for and work towards the recognition and support of all indigenous peoples so that the sins of Columbus may never be repeated again.

Peace, Anne