Christopher Columbus Revisited

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
He was the drill, and the Natives got screwed.
Celebrate his journey, honor his name
But I assail him with an armada of shame.
Desperate for the glory, hungry for the gold;
Now listen intently as the true tale unfolds.

He visited various kings, soliciting money for his venture
Promising them fame and galleons laden with treasure
beyond measure; and so he applied the pressure.
But none consented; they rejected his proposal
And so he confronted the Spanish and became more vocal:

“Everlasting respect along with infinite glory;
You will give birth to a time-honored story.
A tale of discovery against all odds,
but destined for success as ordained by God.”

Ferdinand was swayed so he caved and paid,
unaware of the children yet to be slain.
Columbus inspected the cannons and loaded the rifles,
Stocked his ship with supplies and copies of the Bible.
“Civilize the savages and Christianize the cannibals;
They will embrace Christ and cease living like animals.”

And he sailed, scurvy and typhoid abound,
Dreaming of riches, his mind heavy from their pounds.
Once he landed, he promptly demanded audience with their leaders.
Cynics of this story must agree; he was not the pleasantest of greeters.
Natives were fascinated with creatures from other lands
and so they decided to befriend, offering an extended hand.

“I did not even say please, but I already have them on their knees.
My gifts of exotic food, toys, and blankets
will be poisoned with disease to incite the panic.”
A treacherous plot to overtake the natives;
Scholars agree that his methods were creative.
Biological warfare was his original invention.
Hitler and Mussolini had similar intentions.

Many a village was pillaged while women were raped,
but from public criticism he undoubtedly escaped.

© 2007 Angad Bhai