... and his name is Christopher Columbus. At first this might seem to be a strange comparison but once you take a closer look, the similarities become clear. They both have their own national holiday (although Piet shares it with his superior, Sinterklaas). They are both historic figures, and they have been celebrated for decades. But recently they have become icons of an uncomfortable past of which the question has risen: should we still be celebrating this?
Yesterday it was Columbus day in the United States and across various countries in North and South America. The day commemorates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas on the 12th of October 1492. And although it has been celebrated for years and years, many now believe that Columbus doesn't deserve this honour.
We don't "sugarcoat" this anymore...😒👎🏼 kids need to know the truth #ColumbusDay pic.twitter.com/tLEnFkxeaN
— Alisha (@ambriner33) October 12, 2015
First things first
It has long been discussed whether Columbus was even the first to cross the Atlantic ocean. Weren’t it the Vikings? Or the Arabs? Or even Basque whalers? Apart from this, perhaps quite trivial, argument there is an array of other arguments that can be made to dishonour Columbus’ day. Some see it as a celebration of colonialism and find it offensive to the native people of the continent. Some claim Columbus was responsible for murder, enslavement and even genocide.
Especially the ‘celebration of colonialism’ argument has been echoing in the Netherlands for years now, in what has come to be known as the ‘Zwarte Piet discussion’. Is it coincidental that both traditions have come under attack in recent years, or is there a better explanation?
Coincidence?
I think not. The call to rewrite Columbus’ legacy is getting louder every year. And just as with Zwarte Piet, the public is engaging more and more in an active discussion as to whether this tradition still has a place in our society today. But what has this to do with PR, Media or even the Public?
As Danique mentioned in her blogpost on the Zwarte Piet discussion, this phenomenon is an example of a power shift, granting ‘power to the public’. And in my opinion this debate has been rocket-fueled by the wide adaptation of social media.
#NadaQueCelebrar
The Dutch discussion has been taking place mainly on social media and in particular on Twitter, with an endless list of hashtags used for centralizing the debate.
Also Facebook has proven to be a platform for this public discussion, especially the ‘Zwarte Piet must stay’-camp has ensured an incredible mobilization on Facebook: the ‘Pietitie’ (wordplay on Piet and petition) page has been liked 1.9 million times. The ‘Zwarte Piet is racisme’-page, which is the page owned by the instigator of the anti-Zwarte Piet movement Quinsy Gario, has almost 16.000 likes.
Let's celebrate #ColumbusDay by walking into someone's house and telling them we live there now. pic.twitter.com/6TXydWmqpr
— Bipartisan Report (@Bipartisanism) October 12, 2015
Something very similar is now to be observed around Columbus day. With people using the #ColumbusDay hashtag to criticize the tradition. Also in the Spanish speaking parts of the Americas, this trend is to be seen, with the hashtag #NadaQueCelebrar (nothing to celebrate) trending across South America. And just as with Zwart Piet, the countermovement has not remained quiet for long: #ColumbusWasAHero.
Do you share my views on the importance of social media within these debates? Or would these discussions have developed to this extent, regardless of these new media developments?
By Maarten Snijders
I think it is important that debates like this get the opportunity to be presented on social media. There always been a debate between 'traditionalists' who vehemently back the status quo and the 'progressives' who objectively look at past events and do not wish to celebrate them. You give a good example of Columbus, especially regarding the countermovement.
ReplyDeleteI share your views regarding the importance of Social Media. It can reignite debates about social issues that are important to our identity. Critically analysing your country's past exploits is something that should be encouraged, not quashed by organisations telling the consumer how to think. People are more empowered now thanks in part to Social Media. Of course, these debates have been around for a while but now Social Media gives people a platform to voice their opinions, which i believe is inherently a good thing.
Andrei Rydzkowski
I agree with Maarten and Andrei that social media play an important role in these discussions. I think that debates likes this are always around and become bigger and bigger overtime with or without the use of social media. However, I think that with the rise of new media developments, such as social media, discussion like this more rapidly grow into (inter)national discussions. With the use of social media everyone can join the debate anytime, anywhere. Where earlier the public could send an opinionated letter to a newspaper to interfere in a discussion, now a days the public can interfere in the debate immediately by tweeting, liking and blogging.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Maarten, Andrei and Iris. In my opinion, social media cover a vital function for the public debate around this topic. This does not mean that the debate could not happen without social media, but that social media facilitate the growth of the discussion in the society. For example, thanks to social media also people that were not initially interested in the discussion can easily gather information and opinions about the topic. Consequently, people use the info and opinions gathered on social media in order to create their own opinion. It can be explained by the fact that the salience of a topic on social media can influence people's interest about a topic.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you've said, it would be hard not to. But I would like to build on the idea mentioned by Iris, that 'social media discussion like this more rapidly grow into (inter)national discussions'. I believe in social media as a tool for enhancing discussion or even starting it, but sometimes it feels that there are many unnecessary voices in some discussions. For example, it would be strange if I re-tweet something about Columbus day (and I would, because the tweet by Bipartisan Report is hilarious), because I'm not a part of the debate what so ever. I have a right to do so, but my opinion is not really relevant there. Even though I have enough cultural background to understand the issue, I have no interest in it. In the mean time, I would still re-tweet the picture with Columbus because it's funny.
ReplyDeleteWhat I wanted to say is that even though social media give a nice platform for discussions, its uncontrolled environment sometimes undermines the quality of that particular discussion.