David Yeagley is the great-great-grandson of Comanche leader Bad Eagle. 
Of course Columbus discovered America—from his point of view. The word “discover” doesn’t mean no one else knew about America, or that no one was living here. It just means he landed on shores his society had not landed on before. And, because he landed elsewhere than expected, they said he “discovered” the place. It was new to them. No one of his culture had landed here before.
But it is the greatness of Columbus that liberals cannot abide. Being the pathological protesters they are, no great achiever is allowed recognition. (Liberals laud only empty words of people like Barry Soetoro.) And that which the world has previously considered great and honorable must now be denigrated, demeaned, and condemned. Indeed, damned as evil and wrong.
That’s what Jeffrey Kolowith is teaching his kindergarten students in Tampa, Florida. They mustn’t like Columbus. He was bad. “He was very, very mean, very bossy,” says Kolowith, poisoning the little children’s minds with disdain, aversion, and hatred for the very elements of character required to achieve anything grand. Self-discipline, group management, unrelenting dedication, these are not to be found in the weak and ‘loving’ liberal. The only thing they’re devoted to is undoing what achievers achieve.
An AP story, A darker side of Columbus emerges in US classrooms, indicates Kolowith is determined that children despise those who have accomplished the most significant feats in history.
Author of the article, Christine Amario, has assembled a sordid array of typical, boring anti-American brainwashers. The only one distinguished among them is in fact Mr. Kolowith—and only because he’s taken the anti-Western cause to the youngest children in the American public school system: the five-year olds.
The irony of an author with an Italian name, trying to discredit the greatest Italian since the time of Jesus! Self-purgation, is it? “Abbe pietá di me!” (Have mercy on me!) This is the liberal’s idea of nobility: self-loathing.
Well, to be exact, Benjamin Franklin didn’t discover electricity. Henry Ford didn’t discover the internal combustion engine, or the automobile. Yet, these men’s names are associated with great achievement. The rather puerile discussion over the meaning of the word “discover” belongs indeed in the kindergarten class. And that’s just where graduate professors have taken the process of critical thinking. It is just that imbalanced, skewed, and irrelevant. The emphasis on the meaning of the word is totally out of proportion, and once again liberals live off the steam of their teapot tempests.
Not to mention the “Indian” issue inherent. Columbus never met an “American Indian.” He met South American indigenous peoples on an island, his main encounter being with a tribe which had fled another tribe. The weaker Taino had moved away from the more aggressive Caribbean tribes. Columbus came into contact with a pre-existing social condition of strife and displacement.
But let today’s “Taino” explain to Donna Sabis-Burns (U.S. Department of Education’s School Support and Technology Program) the inaccuracies of historical depictions of Taino Indians. Consider, Chief Matthew Creel, of the Edisto Tribal Council of South Carolina, who dresses in distinct Northern Plains Indian clothing, helps the South American Taino Indians (Puerto Ricans in New Jersey and the Taino Jatibonicu’ Tribe of Boriken, Puerto Rico) put on the “Guakete Gathering,” the Puerto Rican version of a Plains Indian pow-wow, complete with Plains Indian dress songs and drum! I wonder if Ms. Sabis-Burns is concerned about accuracy here.
Chief Matthew Creel, of the South Carolina Edisto Tribe,
in full Northern Plains regalia, helps the Taino in plains
song and dance for a Puerto Rican “Guakete Gathering”.
Sounds like accuracy all around.
Paul Pressing, deputy director of Alaska’s Division of Teaching and Learning Support, nobly speaks for the great Eskimo population of Alaska (all 15%), who are deeply hurt by the celebration of Columbus’ arrival some 520 years ago on shores with which they were so intimately familiar. Everyone knows what that nasty old Catholic did to the grand but apparently pitiful people of the ice. (The man never set foot on the American continent.)
This is all called unity of protest, the one thing all “community organizers” know how to do, anywhere, anytime.
If Columbus didn’t discover America, or, if he was a bad person for coming here, then all white beneficiaries on the North and South American continent must quickly pack up and return to Europe. This is the only honorable thing for the white liberal self-loather to do, the only way for him to have integrity in his words.
Alas, integrity and honor do not appeal to the liberal. Integrity of words is the last thing the liberal undoer desires. This year’s recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize demonstrates that rather dramatically.
Principal Chief Guanikeyu at the March 27th 1998, Sacred Canupa Pipe sharing and Bonding Ceremony of the Taino people. A plethora of authenticity, no doubt.
20 responses so far ↓
1 David Yeagley // Oct 12, 2009 at 8:50 am
Note on the Alaska stats: the 15% figure includes “Native Americans and Alaskan natives.” This always provokes me. The eskimos, inuits, etc., never want to be called American Indians. (And I don’t approve of the term “Native American” at all, either.) Yet, they are numbered among us American Indians. That 15% figure is wholly ambiguous, giving no indication of who is what, or how much! These are just census claims, not CDIB enrolled members, necessarily. Or, maybe they did consult tribes. But, there are no tribes there in the “American Indian” sense. The indigenous people of Alaska had a different historical experience than the American Indian.
2 johnnymac // Oct 12, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I’m confused Doctor. Why is this Puerto Rican dressed in what looks all the world like some kind of suppossed “Indian” cermonial dress one might find in some tacky souvenir shop on I-40? Whats his purpose? Is he trying to get rights to open a casino? Is he trying a kind of ”Ward Churchill” thing, you know ”Indian by acssociation”? I don’t get it. To tell you the truth, he looks pretty danmed silly to me and I’ve known lots of Puerto Rican people in my life,gone to school with them, worked with them, hell, I even had a Puerto Rican girl friend once and I know for a fact that they’d find this guy to look ”muy estupido y loco”.
3 John Sandusky // Oct 12, 2009 at 6:36 pm
“Every man has within him a continent of undiscovered character. Happy is he that acts the Columbus to his own soul,” — unknown
“Columbus had to beg his way from court to court to offer to princes the discovery of a world.” — John J. Anderson; The History of the United States
Aristotle, centuries before the Christian era, following the lessons of Pythagoras taught that the earth was a sphere and that the waters that bound Europe on the west washed the eastern shores of Asia.
Of all the men that were privy to this theory for over 1,500 years, only one spent over a decade relentlessly trying to find a sponsor to back his dream — Christopher Columbus
Before he got his commission from Castille and Leon he was living off the charity and under the roof provided by the monastery of Rabida at Palos. Circumstances such as these rarely produce great outcomes, except in the case of great men with great visions that.
“Even in his naked poverty, he was the promiser of kingdoms, holding firmly in his grasp, “the keys to the ocean sea;” claiming as it were from Heaven, the Indies as his own, dividing them as he pleased.” —Christopher Columbus and his Monument
Columbia
The average man just doesn’t get the Columbus’s of the world. But they certainly enjoy the bounty of their greatness.
4 David Yeagley // Oct 12, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I don’t see how Columbus can be considered anything but great, very great, in anybody’s book. The personal suffering he went through was incredible. The will power in the man was enough for 10 men! I can’t help but admire that kind of man. HIs writings are deep and significant as well.
5 David Yeagley // Oct 12, 2009 at 7:50 pm
One thing for sure: when American educators teach even five year olds that Columbus was a bad man, we can know America will never produce anyone of his caliber.
On the Puerto Rican thing, I don’t know the answer to authenticity there. I think if you look at the links in this article, as well as the ones in the old BadEagle column I linked to, you’ll see that there is difficulty in recognizing the real thing. The Taino culture has had to be rebuilt, re-established, in some cases, re-invented. Most of the pop-up casino tribes in America face this. Only most of those people aren’t Indian at all, as in the Mashantucket-Pequots. (They’re black and mulatto.) No doubt there are Puerto Rican people with Taino blood in them. But, the culture was apparently lost long ago. They’re going by a few historical drawings or illustrations of early explorers for today’s dress.
I don’t know what to tell you about Chief Creel of the North Carolina club. Doesn’t look like they have a casino, exactly, but, they are in fact a business label. A shame that Creel thinks wearing northern Plains regalia authenticates his South Carolina club. Someone should have told him, if anyone ever took him seriously.
6 johnnymac // Oct 12, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Thanks for the explantion Doctor.I don’t know what to make of this guy. Those of us who respect and admire you know who you are. As to “Chief Creel” here, I think he’s a man in search of himself and I think he’s been searching for so long he’s lost sight of who he really is. Or was, for that matter.
7 Barely A Blog » ‘Yes, Columbus Discovered America’ // Oct 12, 2009 at 9:13 pm
[...] and imbibing a great deal of tripe about Christopher Columbus. And no one puts it quite like David Yeagley, the great-great-grandson of Comanche leader Bad [...]
8 whitetrash // Oct 13, 2009 at 8:51 am
I just happened to follow the link to Ilana Mercer’s blog. Wow… a Conservative who speaks to the treason of the filthy and disgusting Bush and his treasonous family.
Go Ilana!!!! It’s about time a Conservative with real nerve and intellect stepped up to call out that nasty family and it’s most disgusting son….
9 David Yeagley // Oct 13, 2009 at 11:28 am
Ilana Mercer is a hot one. We actually struck up a relation between Mercer and BadEagle.com. She registered here. But then, our unique and illustrious SheDesigns (Kidist), our Ethiopian/Canadian conservative took issue with Ilana. Kidist seemed a lot more competent to discuss the matters than I. It seems Mercer’s libertarianism was objectionable by Kidist. Mercer always distinguished her libertarianism with a small “l”, rather than the Libertarian position. Mercer is fiercely independent (like everyone on BadEagle.com, I suppose).
Mercer is the daughter of a rabbi, though she clearly states she is a non-practicing Jews. She simply referes to herself as a Hebrew. (I love it!!) She has lived in South Africa, Israel, and now Canada.
I love brilliant women. Mercer and Kidist are two very scintillating people. Kidist is a very talented teacher, designer, and writer. I just can’t discuss the libertarian distinctions, because I’m not that familiar with them.
Mercer withdrew from BadEagle.com, and, even Kidist isn’t around that much, because she has two of her own web sites now, and she’s very busy.
What can I say?
Ilana Mercer
10 Walksthrough // Oct 13, 2009 at 2:24 pm
“Aristotle, centuries before the Christian era, following the lessons of Pythagoras taught that the earth was a sphere … .”
Isaiah 40 v. 22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, …
How long are the pagans to be compared favorably to Christians, who paid (and still do) with their lives for their faith?
It was called The Dark Ages for a reason. The light of the scriptures was scarce. Like today. How many actually read and believe Isaiah 40?
I get your point on the liberals hating achievers and individual achievement. I get it, and I agree with that POV. It is playing out in everything our nation is going through now.
My take is, I wouldn’t give a free pass to any of the early explorers. And none of them merit this level of national adulation. But not due to their individual performances, which will ultimately be judged by God who knows what went down.
This continent teetered from one power’s hand to another’s and back before it settled under mainly English empire influence and the Constitution was written. Our founding fathers deserve better scrutiny of their actual deeds and words today.
That’s what Columbus Day means to me: it could have gone any which way, if based on this guy alone. But this guy was not alone, and he was not the final determinator of the birth and direction of the USA.
11 David Yeagley // Oct 13, 2009 at 4:23 pm
But no really great “discovery” is the work of one man. No matter what field. It is the result of usually a generation or two. It is a continuum. This is true in all the sciences, but also in technology. It is a human effort, a group effort, really.
But this does not distract or lesson the character of anyone involved. I guess what I’m impressed with is the flack, the opposition, the denigration, the hatred, which Columbus endured, as well as the great physical suffering he went through. I’ve taken a good look at his personal life. I find it unusually inspiring.
I think his aspiration was innocent. Not ever famous man’s is. There are famous men who are unworthy of attention.
12 Smile // Oct 13, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Because our school systems have become socialistic, liberating oneself from information that doesn’t promote the agenda is popular among some.
They seem never to worry about what would happen with this trend when popularity is found elsewhere. They are truly a Democracy and have others parroting this misinformation.
13 David Yeagley // Oct 13, 2009 at 10:10 pm
It is the natural pride, the abuse of authority, the juvenile egocentricism of immature teachers. In the classroom, the teacher is an emperor, or, a dictator. Human nature can scarce resist the temptation to “rule.” Teachers in the public school system, from the graduate seminar now down to the kindergarten class–luxuriate in their authority. They also congratulate themselves on their wondrous influence and power.
They’ll never, ever have it anywhere else, nor influence any other human beings. But, they have power in that classroom. Not to teach, but to shape the soul of the student.
It is a great evil, these teachers of egotism. Nobody else is great but them. That’s what they are basically teacher their “students.” I think students are victims these days, in a way.
14 John Sandusky // Oct 13, 2009 at 10:12 pm
I doubt the phrase of Isaiah 40:22, “the circle of the earth” means “sphere” indicating that the earth is a sphere. This seems most unlikely since the Hebrew word gh means “circle,” and it seems very remote that it means “sphere” because of the context, and there is a better Hebrew word for “sphere,” rwd. In Isaiah 22:18 the word rwd is translated “ball.” If the LXX translators understood gh as “sphere,” they would have used the Greek word sfairoeides. Plugging the meaning of “sphere” into every passage that gh occurs will result in awkward interpretations.
Isaiah 40:22, granted, is a controversial scripture, but I believe it is wrong to believe that it was Isaiah that first claimed the earth was round.
In fact the people of his time believed the earth was round and flat, this phrase (Isaiah 40:22) seems to refer to the shape the vaulted heavens above the earth from which the inhabitants look like grasshoppers.
22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as locusts: he that stretcheth out the heavens as nothing, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.
A far cry from an ancient “pagan Greek” that actually theorized the circumference of the earth from shadows and got it correct within ten percent (give or take) of the actual circumference.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spherical_Earth
15 David Yeagley // Oct 14, 2009 at 9:23 am
Here is one of the better, brief accounts of the Columbus ‘tours’ in the Bahamas and environs:
Christopher Columbus
16 Walksthrough // Oct 14, 2009 at 5:46 pm
John, regarding circle and sphere and flat earths. Thank you for your comments.
My partial point was, the scriptures taught creation, and the fact of that creation is that God created the heavens and the earth. The earth is a sphere. Isaiah 40:22 is emphasizing God as creator and how high above us He is. I am not aware of what your religious persuasion or belief concerning the Bible is. The Bible states that all scripture is inspired by God. That means the Spirit of God inspired men to write the books. The prophet Isaiah would not be describing a Columbus era-style flat earth here while emphasizing the highness of God over His creation. God chose the use of this word, which can by no means be understood to mean something inferior to that which pagan minds later made use of God’s creation to rightly perceive that the earth is a sphere. Jesus said even evil men can love their children, so pagans can also come to a right scientific conclusion. But because God is the Creator and the Author of scripture, we can only follow behind His revelation. And God’s people should have this advantage. But when, as in the Dark Ages, the scriptures are scarce, and men assume authority over them, chances are, people will believe the earth is flat and The Origin Of The Species is holy writ.
If you or anyone is interested, here are a couple links to consider further. That’s all I will add to the side of the point. Thanks.
Isaiah 40
The Hebrew word Chuwg
17 Walksthrough // Oct 14, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Sorry, David. I have no idea what is up with that last link, why it is spreading across the format like that.
18 David Yeagley // Oct 14, 2009 at 7:31 pm
I fixed your links. There’s a trick to it. I try to catch everyone’s, when I can.
Personally, I don’t know if the earth is round or flat, spherical or planar, circular or bent. I think reality is a three-dimensional illusion. The heavens were spread out like a curtain, like a tent, so saith the scripture. To me, that means reality has an edge. The universe has a side. On the other side, is the Creator. There is no “nothing.”
19 Walksthrough // Oct 15, 2009 at 1:04 am
Well, the Bible says that idols are “nothings.” So, there is a realistic concept of nothing.
Doesn’t Hinduism say all is an illusion but God, and all is God?
The tabernacle had curtains, and the holy of holies was separate within those curtains. God “sitteth in the heavens”, and He is holy, that is, set apart from His creation.
20 David Yeagley // Oct 18, 2009 at 9:20 am
Here’s a fine piece: The Myth of “America.” See? No one can say we’re not “fair and balanced.”
Actually, what that means is this: you give lies the same status as truth. That’s “fair and balanced.” Har, har!
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