My eyes seem better today. Lets see how much I can write. I will not push it.
Happy Columbus Day!
Christopher Columbus left Spain financed by the Spanish hierarchy with three ships. The Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. Columbus’ intent was to discover the New World. He did in 1492. Landed on an island in the Bahamas. The trip had taken ten weeks.
He returned to Spain in fame. He made a return trip one year later.
This is what most, if not all of us, learned in grammar school.
There is more to the story, however. The “more” I learned this morning for the first time while researching for this blog.
He left Spain for the first trip with three vessels. He returned to Spain with only two. The Sant Maria hit a sand bar and her sailing days were over. Columbus had the boat stripped. He used the wood to build La Navidaly. A fort of sorts. When he left to return to Spain, 39 men remain to live at the fort. Columbus assured them he would return.
He did.
When Columbus returned one year later, the fort had been burned and every man was dead.
The Santa Maria’s demise, the fort, and the story of the 39 men never taught me in any class. I had to be 91 to learn it.
Who burned the fort and killed the men, I could not determine.
Columbus Day was established to honor Italian-Americans of which I am proudly one. My Mother was born in Italy, my Father of parents who immigrated to the U.S.
I learned early in life that most Americans discriminated against Italians. I experienced the discrimination in Catholic grammar and high schools. In college and big time in law school. I may have written a blog re the law school discrimination at some point. I cannot recall specifically at the moment.
My early years in practice introduced me to discrimination big time. In my almost 50 years of practice, the problem was eliminated. I became one of the foremost practitioners in my community. And I am proud to say the “good clints” became mine in my later years. Two major respected law firms were put out of business because their business opted to turn to me for legal help. I did a better job professionally, in a shorter period of time and my fees turned out to be less than theirs. I was not undercharging, they had been overcharging.
Having said all that, Italian-Americans got their holiday in the form of Christopher Columbus. Even today in some communities, anti-Italian discrimination exists. Some States have eliminated Columbus Day by renaming it Indigenous Day or something similar.
I have written a 100 plus more words than the last time I wrote. My eyes better, but the left one giving out at the moment. Time to stop. I have more to share, but it will have to wait to another time.
Good to be back.
Enjoy your day!