Columbus, Fear/xenophobia, and COVID

Xenophobia is about fear or hatred of others or anything that is strange or different. Fear we all got – let’s face it. As Columbus Day sails into the past let’s pause and consider: instead of cancelling the man and the ‘holiday’, think about Columbus’ leaving Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. The only thing we should cancel is fear; fear of those who are different.

Here in the USA, we learn in 1492 Columbus commandeered the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria across the Atlantic, seeking new trade to conquer the economic world. What we don’t learn – and understand – is those same docks were filled with Jews being expelled from Spain.

Fear is natural; easily pollinated and too easily grown. Unfortunately…

Imagine fear circulating docks, whipping up dirt streets into sailors’ racist/xenophobic mindset. I’m thinking Columbus and his crew’s emotional baggage was far heavier than the chests stored below deck. Fear likely left no room for understanding: if they were ignorant and fearful of Jews – indigenous peoples would have been scarier.

Last year we rallied around Black Lives Matter, and on Columbus Day we (now) proudly announce it’s Indigenous Peoples Day – but what does that mean, really? How have we learned to include and respect others’ differences in the past year? Past 500 years?

COVID is a good metaphor for Xenophobia: funky words, hard to remember AND even harder to acknowledge. Yet, they both kill spirit and soul and are transmitted in similar ways.

No need for a microscope to see xenophobia. Unfortunately, there’s no vaccine either. Even though xenophobia spreads as easily as a virus AND can be stopped by our actions.

It doesn’t take much to ‘see’ someone different, uncovering fear leading to racist/bullying .

In 1492 Spain, xenophobic racism led to the expulsion of Jews. Today anti-Semitism is alive and well and just one type of racism infecting humans. Racism against Blacks and people of color ‘expels’ educational, economic, and fair voting opportunities. Health and life quality are impacted by poor quality housing, garbage dumping and/or trucks with high CO2 emission driving through poor neighborhoods.

We know better. How do we not ACT better?

Would you have sat down and talked with the Indigenous people you encountered in this new world? (if you came from this country dripping in xenophobia and fear of other/Jews?) Would you have wanted to? WOULD YOU HAVE HAD THE COURAGE? I know I want to believe I would want to, be able to, and, have the courage to do so.

Rather than cancel Columbus, let’s rename and turn It to Columbus’ Curiosity, Communication, Connection Day. Here are 5 actions to act courageously this year:

1. Focus on Backstory: 500 years later, instead of canceling Columbus it’s time to understand his backstory. We’re still wrestling with the same fear of others that’s been around since the beginning of the human species. Acknowledging Columbus’ story can help us understand our own fears – perhaps, finally, working towards exploring – NOT conquering – new worlds and relationships.
2. Acknowledge your story: Hindsight is 20/20 and easy when viewed by the safety of time and internet. But there’s always the nagging question: What would I do? How can we possibly know: it’s not 1492; and, we’re not sailing across the ocean blue in a rickety ship with no shower, toilet, or internet.
3. See with your ears and not your eyes. It’s so easy to assess someone by appearance. We spend time and energy on our looks. Isn’t it why social media posting is popular and ‘important’, AND, why young people, especially girls, are so damaged by it? Identify is more than an assumption of eyes. Look, but it’s far more important to listen.
4. Use your ears. Add in curiosity and communication. Don’t focus on what you think you know about someone. Instead focus on what you don’t know about someone and what you would like to know.
5. Communicate using the scientific method as a template turns curiosity into communication. As any Nobel Winning Scientist knows, it’s important to keep experimenting and asking new questions to uncover more information. Injecting curiosity, asking questions, disproving assumptions, and listening is the ‘cure’ for xenophobia.

2. Fear of others is also fear of others ideas, experiences and even dress (and why following trends is so important, right?) And easy for groups of people to decide together who they like or don’t like, include or shun.

True, nobody likes everybody, and not everybody likes the same people. This isn’t about liking or not liking. It’s about accepting people one doesn’t like – accepting what you don’t quite understand or even feel comfortable with.

3. USE YOUR EARS, not your eyes.

4. Curiosity can be overrun by fear – refocus on uncovering self-identity – and – identity of others.

This is hard I think … Summoning up curiosity after assuming people’s identity based on (my) experiential history, social media, or friend’s history. Instead: Ask questions. Listen to answers. Listening is hard/ talking/posting our own ideas – super easy. Little actions/Big change.

5. Communication and connection is about asking questions to understand – not focusing on fear.

Fear is absolutely imbedded in Mother Nature as a means for survival. Our Human Nature allows us to replace our imbedded fear with emotional intelligence. Communication can replace fear with understanding, IF we learn to ask questions using the Scientific Method.

Prevention isn’t easy, it just takes a little self-knowledge and courage.

Columbus taught us what (and how) we did wrong as a species. Now it’s time to decide IF we can learn from his ‘mistake’. Let’s choose to talk WITH each other; not just at, or about, others. Let’s choose to be open and connect with those who are the same and especially those who are different. Let’s decide to learn, honor, listen.