There Goes the Neighborhood

Life is good. Life is normal. Everything seems pretty okay. Then next thing you know, these strange people show up on your land with their large ships, foreign language, and shiny treasures. What do you do?

I wouldn’t exactly welcome them with open arms.

We all wonder, what did the natives feel when Christopher Columbus and his men kind of just, well, appeared on their island? Obviously shock, probably a lot of curiosity. But whatever they felt, they still welcomed Columbus and his men and treated them with kindness. Yet Columbus manipulated them and viewed their trust worthless. He planned for them to be slaves, to be overtaken easily and converted to Christianity. And as for the land, well, Columbus was just going to take it for Spain, because why not?

Yes, it’s easy to point the finger at Columbus. But let’s take the focus off of him for a moment, and think about the natives. Their culture valued trust and friendship, so it made sense for them to welcome these mysterious strangers. However, it wouldn’t have hurt to have been a bit more cautious and protective. You don’t know these people, or their intentions. Maybe it’d be smart to keep your guard up. Just saying.

The natives and settlers had major conflicts, we all know that. But that was so fifteenth century, right? Well… Think about today. There are still racial conflicts, right?

Sadly, the answer is yes. Different races are well, different, and sometimes conflicts arise because of those differences. People don’t understand each other, or are ignorant and insensitive, tensions form and feelings are hurt. Despite the sayings that declare that everyone is equal and that no one should be discriminated, sometimes it sure doesn’t feel that way. What matters, however, is how you react to all of this. How do you treat others who seem “different” than you? Do you understand their differences and embrace them for who they are, or ignorantly make some rash judgment based on who you think they are? And I’m not just talking about race anymore.

I mean, this isn’t the fifteenth century anymore, so it’s okay to not fear for our lives when we meet someone who’s different than us. What I’m saying is, don’t be afraid to meet people who don’t share the same interests as you, or befriend someone who has some different views and takes from what you think. Give them a chance, and you just might be surprised of what you might learn from them.

Cliché? Maybe. But maybe there’s some truth to it as well.