Date: 24 Sep 91 13:23 PDT From: hfrederick@igc.org Subject: Columbus Reconsidered: Herstory Message-ID: <1563600003@igc.org> /* Written 1:50 am Sep 17, 1991 by jdmann in cdp:alt.activism */ /* ---------- "Columbus Reconsidered: Herstory" ---------- */ /* written 9pm 9/16/91 by David Yarrow (jdmann) */ /*-------- WHO WAS CHRISTOFORO COLOMBUS? -------*/ In history, 1992 is the 500th anniversary of Columbus' first voyage to the New World. In herstory, 500 years is a fundamental cycle -- half of a millenium -- in which polarity reverses. Certainly the 1990s seem to be a time when the world is turning upslide down -- or insight out. In such a reversal of phase, the past takes a new face. In this changing light, let's look anew at who was Colombus. Columbus kept a diary of his 1492 voyage. He wrote in this journal that at one point in the journey, he held a conference on the Santa Maria with the captains of all three ships. Christoforo penned in his log that he consulted his map, and based on his map and the sighting of some birds, they changed course. Eight days later, they sighted land. Many historians and scholars have commented on this singular reference in Columbus' memoir to a map. They have wondered what it told him, and where he got it, and why he consulted it thus and then. No one has ever shed any light on this cartographic mystery. When Columbus originally petitioned the Spanish Naval Commission for ships and provisions to make his voyage, he asserted that he expected to find land 850 leagues to the west. Indeed, eight days after they changed course based on Columbus' map, the three ships encountered land 850 leagues west of the Iberian Peninsula. How remarkable! When Columbus set sail with three ships, there wasn't a Catholic priest on any three of the vessels. Considering this expedition was chartered by Spain's most Catholic monarchs, this seems a bit odd. If one of the men had died on the trip, who would have given last rites? Columbus? One of the other captains? History tells us that Columbus' adventure was financed by the sale of Queen Isabella's jewelry. But that's only half the story -- history. We aren't told who bought her jewelry to capitalize Columbus' quest. Would Queen Isabella tell us this part of herstory? Yet, in herstory, I've heard that a consortium of wealthy Moorish, Jewish and Cathar financiers put up funds to finance the foray. Now, this opens doors to several mysteries and speculations. It's important to know that in 1492, Spain's most Catholic monarchs were endorsing passage of laws which enforced on all residents of Spain a requirement that they, too, be Catholic. Far from separating church and state, this wedding of religion and government would have closed steel jaws on any who refused to profess belief in both. Or put them to the sword. Or roasted them on a stake. In a few more years, this legally enforced religion led to the Inquisition and all its terrors. Already, in 1492, many of Spain's non-Catholics were moving to liberal Portugal and other countries where the threat of persecution and oppression had not yet gathered the force of law. Wise and educated leaders of Spain's non-Catholic communities were looking for safe havens for their people. According to a NY Times feature on 6/2/91: There have been those who think Columbus might have been Jewish, but the Encyclopedia Judaica doesn't seem eager to claim him. According to the entry on Columbus, "He was himself mysterious abouthis background, which he wished to conceal. However, he boasted cryptically abouthis connection with King David. The mystery of Columbus' origins is largely the outcome of his own mendacity." Whoever he was, it is also odd that the sails of Columbus' vessels had crosses on them. Not Catholic crosses. Rather, these were Templar crosses, with four equal sided, flared arms meeting at a narrow center. Now, on Oct. 13, 1307, French King Phillipe and Catholic Pope Clement (Phillipe's puppet) declared the Templars to be heretics who practiced a blasphemeous religion which included the worship of a skull and bones. For their crimes, the Templars were hunted down, imprisoned, tortured, forced to sign confessions, executed, and extinguished -- says history. At the time in history, the Templars were the second most powerful organization in France. With their great wealth they created a banking and currency system; as holy knights, they maintained safe passage on roads and highways; as monks, they built the Gothic Cathedrals, and named them "Notre Dame" -- says herstory. Fortunately, the Templars were forewarned of the King's play for power, and most escaped, taking with them the fabulous Templar treasury. Also disappearing then was the Templar fleet, which at that time was Europe's largest navy. No one knows where the Templar navy fled, but they had the most sophisticated maps and navigation equipment of that age. History tells us that in 1492 Columbus was looking for a westward route to India. Upon arriving on a western shore, he therefore proclaimed them the "West Indies" and the inhabitants thereof were "Indians" -- a misnomer that has stuck through the last 500 years, testifying to our continuing confusion about culture, geography and history. Yet, according to herstory, Columbus was so impressed by the goodness, grace, gentleness, and generosity of the residents of his new-found island that he declared they must be "in Dios" -- or living "in God." >From this came their name: "Indians." In the next century, Spanish galleons would haul vast bullions of New World gold back to Europe. Often these monarchial vessels were raided by ships which sported the Jolly Roger of a skull and crossed bones. History tells us these raiders were pirates; but herstory whispers these freebootin' buccaneers were Templars sailing from their secret refuge. There's a lot of unknown history (and herstory) about how the New World was won (and lost). Even as Europeans have erased the native history, culture and populations, so they have erased their own native herstory of religion, culture and secret societies. Maybe, as we pass the 500 year, half millenial mark, in this saga of Empire and Re-public, maybe it's time to get the whole story. Does this wet your appetite? -- for a green and peaceful planet, the turtle /*************************************************************/ /* David Yarrow (turtle) Econet: jdmann 315-675-8498 */ /* Earthwise Education Center, P.O. Box 91, Camden, NY 13316 */ /* "be earthwise, not clockwise" */ /*************************************************************/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: gates@igc.org Date: 24 Sep 91 17:49 PDT Subject: Re: Columbus Reconsidered: Herstory Message-ID: <1563600005@igc.org> Columbus' voyage began in as much oppression as it finally caused. His expedition was delayed in leaving because the harbor was clogged with boats carrying evicted Jews out of Spain. Most of Isabella's famous jewels came from the property of jews that had been confiscated by the Inquisition, which was already well under way at that time. He may or may not have been Jewish, but there is more evidence that his navigator was a marrano -- or secret jew, simply a person pretending to be a Catholic to escape death. Columbus' expedition finally was able to leave the day after the expulsion orders' final deadline. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: pstanfield@igc.org Date: 12 Oct 91 12:20 PDT Subject: Re: Columbus Reconsidered: Herstory Message-ID: <1563600050@igc.org> Especially interesting is the silly folk etymology of indios = en Dios. It doesn't get much air play among latinos it's so off the wall. Especially when one knows that <> was the common word for anyone from India for 1000 yrs. before Crist'obal Col'on, who may have been to Italia but was most likely a native subject of King Fernando el cat'olico of Arag'on. Colom (meaning dove) being a common word in the catal'an language of Cataolnia, Valencia and the Balearics, from whence most likely his ancestry -- a tru sea-faring people (with por casualidad connexions to the Order Templar). With a name like Crist'obal, it's doubtful the Almirante del Mar Oc'eano was ever a practicing Jew or Muslim, altho many were in 1492 Spain before the final fall of the Islamic Kingdom of Granada and the introduction of the Santo Oficio de la Doctrina de la Fe (the same still extant Vatican entity that silenced the liberation theologists for a while a few years back and order Matthew Fox a year of silence for his creation-centered spirituality... plu c,a change, plus c'est...) It's a common-knowledge historical "fact" in Valencia, that Isabel did NOT *sell* her jewels; she pawned them to Jewish (not Muslim) money lenders of Valencia for the going rate of the day. Jews had an important banking a professional role because they did not have the Koranic or Christian prohibition against usuary (which the so-called "Christian" countries could well use in this day of ridiculous interest rates). The ceiling of the Palacio de la Generalidad in central Valencia is embossed with gold leaf said to be taken from the royal interest payments and given to the City/State out of gratitude by the same Jewish merchants from the nearby Lonja -- the orginal European stock/commodities exchange (and source of the word lounge). (Oops, just made an un-PC statement, it's once again in catal'an, the Palaci de la Generalitat.) Little did they realize that the place that had been their home since before the fall of Valencia to el Cid Campeador, don Ruy, almost 500 yrs. before was soon to support the religious ban --and confiscate their wealth. I always assumed that was how the gold got on the Generalitat's ceiling, as it was "filthy luchre" having been taken in usuary, the city dads could only paste it up to look at. Oh religious sensibilities are the nicest ones to have. At any rate, yes Col'on was definitely a man of his times who not only admired the indios' kindness, pacific nature and freedom in the unspoled caribbean, but immediately pointed out their utility as slaves should he find the goldmines of the indies. What he did was no small feat for the times. Surely he had knowledge of the viking sagas and other prehistoric attempts to cross the Atlantic, which probably the Templars could have provided him. He was some- thing a mystery to all who followed as he became quickly legendized, the only way to cope with someone who was also bound in chains as a potential traitor and at the same time a national hero. A sort of Lt. Col. Ollie North of his time? Great? Historic? Both yes. But how to evaluate at 500 yrs distance? Good, ethical? Maybe not. Seeking a way to flee the ghastly late medieval Europe? Also a likelihood. Worse than other Spaniards of his time? Probably even better. Disastrous for native peoples of this contntent? Oy gevalt! But please carefuylly separate the leyenda negra and the leyenda de oro about the Sapnish conquest very carefully. BOth are legends, not history. Paz, dpablo stanfield h., seattle ps: See Michener's _Iberia_ for an interesting argument pro catal'an Colom.