Columbus Had Good Intentions
Jessica Peace
Wayland Baptist University

Documentation of Columbus’s journeys and explorations has created profoundly different opinions from those who study him. Columbus was a not a “wholly bad”(Royal, 2000, p.36) person, he did have genuine care and concern for the land and the Indians but he had duty and honor to his country that took precedence over anything else. Columbus was an eager but flawed man with documented contradictory actions but nonetheless is the root of why we get to call America home. Columbus’s discovery was both an invasion and a discovery; the land was new to European knowledge but an invasion of Indian Territory. It is undeniable the land was inhabited by tribes of Indians whom Columbus respected but saw them as inferior creatures as “they bear no arms, and are all naked and of no skill in arms, and so very cowardly that a thousand would not stand against three” (Sale, 2000, p.33). Although there is evidence of generous and harsh treatment of the Indians, it is irrefutable that Columbus claimed occupied land. Columbus saw opportunity and seized it, just as we are encouraged to do today. The Indians had a wealth of opportunity before them and Columbus believed they were too ignorant to value it. Columbus is no different than an eager entrepreneur of the 21st century who grasps opportunities to take something and improve it. Columbus knew the trees and other resources “would be of great value in Spain, as dyeing materials, medicine, spicery, etc.” (C. Columbus, Friday, October 19). He admired the land and trees as he repeatedly comments about how different they are from those in his country and that “the natives take no care about them”(C. Columbus Tuesday, October 16). Columbus saw a way for his country to benefit from the land and the byproduct was America. Columbus was proud to represent Europe and his Highnesses of Spain as he is always referring to them and staking claim in their honor and collecting samples of the resources to take back to them. Columbus does display acts of “stubbornness, obsessiveness, and paranoia” (Royal, 2000, p.35), which hindered him from seeing that the Indians were using the land sufficiently and that they were healthy and happy with their living conditions. Columbus was so caught up in the beauty and the unused resources that he never took the time to fully appreciate the Indians way of life, which could have benefited Columbus and other explorers if they would have studied their behaviors.
Columbus’s voyage and discovery strikes very different emotions amongst historians and students. Columbus’ contradicting behaviors and treatment of the Indians has sparked debate about his intentions. Columbus kidnapped Indians during his first voyage but he set one free to show “perspicacity and good will” (Sale, 2000, p.40). He comments about how the Indians welcome him and are very helpful and then states, “they ought to be good servants and of good intelligence . . .I believe that they would easily be made Christians” (Sale, 2000, P.29). Contradictory situations as these make it hard to decide if Columbus was good or bad, did he steal the land that we have built our country of freedom on? The thought that we live freely on stolen land strikes up debate and argument over the facts of his voyage as we try and understand Columbus’ situation and intentions. History will always be up for debate because facts are based on truths but can be interpreted differently. As new facts are discovered, ideas and truths can change and will change historian’s interpretations. Columbus’s journal and documented encounters by others create a gray area allowing for good factual debate on who Columbus was. Kirkpatrick Sale and Robert Royal are prime examples that two people can take the same truth, “Extracts from his Journal” and justifiably interpret it differently. There will never be a clear truth when it comes to Columbus; there are only facts that allow us to be knowledgeable of the times, his travel and discovery of America.

References
Primary Documents: Christopher Columbus, “Extracts from His Journal” Sale, K. “1492-1493” Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in American History, Eighth Edition, Volume One. (Guilford, CT: Dushkin-McGraw Hill, 2000), 26-34. Royal, R. “El Almirante” Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in American History, Eighth Edition, Volume One. (Guilford, CT: Dushkin-McGraw Hill, 2000), 35-42.