We should hold Columbus to account for the abuses carried out during his expeditions. He led these expeditions, and on those grounds alone, as a leader, he holds a share of responsibility for the conduct of those under him, but his culpability goes farther than that. Columbus was not ignorant of his men's actions. They were often working under his orders or with his approval. For example, consider the enslavement of Native Americans: this was Columbus's own policy, which he enacted out of belief in its profitability. The same also applies to much of the violence carried out by his men, as well as the tribute systems he set up in the Americas. Even in his own lifetime, this got him into trouble. In 1500, he was brought back to Spain to be put on trial for cruelty.
Upon reaching the New World, Christopher Columbus' men committed many atrocities against the indigenous peoples. As their leader, he should be held responsible for the human rights violations his men committed, even if he was not physically involved in the acts. Leaders set the tone for how a mission will be carried out. Had Columbus had concern for the treatment of the indigenous peoples, he would have set very clear expectations for how his men would treat them and punishments for violating those expectations. Instead, he gave his men license to behave badly and did not punish them when they did so (although in many other respects he was a very strict leader). Columbus receives credit for the achievements which would not have been possible without his men (most notably orchestrating the first permanent European presence in the New World), so it is only fair that he should receive blame for the failure of his men to treat the indigenous Americans with dignity.
No comments:
Post a Comment