Oh Columbus
BY: Lincoln E. Steed & Barry Bussey
Nothing so defines the modern capital of the Dominican Republic as the Columbus monument, which dominates a hill just above Santo Domingo. Its soaring concrete facade—which evokes a massive ship bearing down on the land—contains more than the supposed bones of Christopher Columbus. It could just as easily be bearing the memories of religious zeal that destroyed a people in the New World.
Columbus made landfall in the Bahamas, moved on to Cuba, and then established the first outpost for European power in the New World here in what is modern-day Dominica.1 While thoughts of gold inspired the whole expedition, they were almost equally motivated to Christianize the inhabitants. Unfortunately, their methods knew no restraint. Within 50 years of the first voyage a Carib population2 estimated to be as high as 10 million had declined to about 400. Disease, forced slave labor, and unimaginable cruelties—known only because the perpetrators themselves wrote of them—led to almost total extermination.
A famous chief named Hatuey led an opposition till his capture. The conquistadores put him on a stake to burn him alive. But before lighting the fire they offered him the chance to convert—and then the offer of a cleaner death by beheading. Only by accepting the Christian faith, he was told, could he hope for heaven and an eternal life of bliss. “No,” he said, declining the offer, “I don’t want to meet any more Christians.”3
Now, so many centuries later, religion and religious dialogue have taken on a very different character in the Dominican Republic. At the International Religious Liberty Association Congress I attended we shared the value of religious freedom with leaders of many faiths and interacted with various political leaders. A Jesuit priest spoke eloquently about the freedom for all to determine their own faith direction.4 A congressman gave a very encouraging report of the in-process development of a new constitution and how it would enshrine the rights of religious faith for all. Best, it seems, to keep the bones of the past well and truly buried in the concrete of the past.
The present for the Dominican Republic was on dynamic display two days after the conference. Over 13,000 mostly young people assembled in a downtown stadium to celebrate and praise religious freedom for more than four hours. It was a highly charged program that moved along with an energy seemingly derived from the frequently cheering thousands. I will never forget the moment when, to the accompaniment of a costumed chorus and musical soloist on the stage, a “cast of hundreds” in costume enacted the freedom story of the biblical exodus.
Also on stage was Moses and Pharaoh’s court. Down on the floor a multitude of Hebrew slaves surged through the parting waters of the Red Sea (a billowing vision of cloth held by more actors). On the stage a brazier next to Pharaoh flamed up as he spoke of never letting them go. But at that moment down on the floor someone lit a huge paper-wrapped column that literally became the pillar of fire leading them to freedom. Thank God for religious liberty. And the crowd cheered!
Lincoln Steed, editor, Liberty magazine.
Source: http://www.libertymagazine.org/index.php?id=1569
P.S. A few detailed observations:
- The first European settlement in the New World was at La Navidad on the north coast of the island; Which was named Hispaniola by Christopher Columbus (Quisqueya), currently in modern Haiti. La Navidad was later abandoned due to the natives' attacks that killed all the Spaniards, and a permanent settlement was established on the south coast, on the western bank of the Ozama River in the present site of the Capital of the Dominican Republic: Santo Domingo de Guzman Republica Dominicana; not Dominica, that's a totally different island and history! Still this new settlement predates any other permanent European settlement in the Western Hemisphere; Even, the settlements of Jamestown and Plymouth. From Santo Domingo, the Conquitadores would set off to explore and conquer the Caribbean islands, Florida, Central and South America.
- Most of the inhabitants of Quisqueya (Hispaniola) were Taino of the Arawak family of tribes. The Caribs were a small minority on the Island when Columbus arrived. The Caribs were mainly a seafaring people that thrived on conquest and fishing. Most Caribs lived in the Lesser Antilles: From The Virgin Islands to Trinidad.
- Hatuey was a Taino native of Quisqueya; But, he abandoned the island for good when the Spanish settlers began to mistreat and enslave the Tainos. Hatuey fled to the island of Siboney (Cuba); where he plays a more dramatic part of that island's history.
- When Columbus arrived, he brought Dominican Priests (note the name Dominican Republic) on his voyage; These same Dominican Priests (note Santo Domingo) headed the Inquisition in Europe, and the christianization of the Taino people on Quisqueya. Within 50 years (after they had decimated the native Taino populace) a new order was established that replaced the Dominicans' dominant role of the Inquisition: Loyola's Jesuits. It's ironic that a Jesuit should be a featured speaker at a Religious Liberty Festival. What an oxymoron? Religious Liberty and Jesuits don't jibe too well. Have any of the organizers of that Festival ever read the history of the Reformation? Or, have they read the description of the Jesuits in the book The Great Controversy? It surely was a Festival; One to come and leave your thinking caps at home, and just wear your festive frijian cap! It's a good thing that it wasn't a Carnival. Then, maybe the fireworks would have been live!
This article could have been more appropriately titled "Oh the Facts";
Or, even "Oh Ellen G. White, The Reformers, and the poor remnant without a clue".
Arsenio.