#1374 Tell Stories, Not Myths: Columbus and the Centrality of Colonialism (Repost + Bonus Clips)
Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
Jay Tomlinson
4.5 • 3.4K Ratings
🗓️ 13 October 2021
⏱️ 84 minutes
🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Air Date 10/13/2020
Today we take a look at the myths of Columbus and American Exceptionalism™ that we cling to and turn our gaze to some of the less-understood but more accurate and important aspects of our collective history
Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
BECOME A MEMBER! (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content)
SHOW NOTES
This is a heavy episode of our show. Discussions include Blood quantum and its use in Tribal Enrollment, American·s false love affair with President Abraham Lincoln and Christopher Columbus.
Ch. 2: Why the US celebrates Columbus Day - Vox - Air Date 10-8-20
For centuries, the destruction and disease he ushered into the Americas have been set aside, allowing the myth of a pioneering sailor who discovered America and proved the world was round to embed itself in US culture.
Ch. 3: Columbus In His Own Words - Let's Talk Native TV - Air Date 10-12-19
On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on a small island in the Caribbean... these are his words.
Ch. 4: In Search of a Better American Myth - Progressive Faith Sermons, Dr. Roger Ray - Air Date 10-11-20
A civilization’s shared myths account for why things are the way they are. They can bolster loyalty to a religion or a nation, and they can excuse class and race privilege.
Jon Schwarz on social silence and hidden history.
Take action! Click the title and/or scroll down for quick links and resources from this segment. For more, visit Bestoftheleft.com/2020Action.
Ch. 7: City Upon A Hill: A History Of American Exceptionalism - BackStory - Air Date 1-22-16
Tracing the origin and misappropriation of the idea of America as a "City upon a hill."
Ch. 8: The American Exceptionalism Mythology - Loud & Clear - Air Date 7-5-19
Exploring the origins and falsity of the idea of "American Exceptionalism™"
Ch. 9: Columbus redux! - Let's Talk Native - Air Date 7-17-19
The irony of telling dissatisfied progressives of color to "Go back where they came from" is that America is only so full of white people because they left their old countries rather than staying and trying to improve them.
Ch. 10: Why The Right Is So Dishonest About American History - Cracked (Some More News) - Air Date 11-21-17
Happy almost-Thanksgiving. What could be better than football and turkey? Well, there·s genocide and stuff, but we don·t want to ruin your holidays. We·ll leave that to the disingenuous folks who would like to pretend that there is nothing wrong.
VOICEMAILS
Ch. 11: In response to Craig from OH about the progressive myth - Dave from Olympia, WA
Ch. 12: Conservative blindspot on climate - Craig from Ohio
Ch. 13: Is 'kids in cages' really a conservative blindspot? - Larry from Minnesota
FINAL COMMENTS
Ch. 14: Final comments on the blindspots from the right and left including the family separation policy, foreign policy and the climate emergency
MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
- Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr
- Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent
- Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent
SHOW IMAGE
"Christopher Columbus Statue Torn Down at Minnesota State Capitol" by Tony Webster, Flickr | License | Modifications: Cropped
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com
Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores!
Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft
Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft
Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Welcome to this episode of the award winning best of left podcast in which we shall learn |
| 0:07.5 | about the myths of Columbus and American exceptionalism that we cling to and turn our gaze |
| 0:12.7 | to some of the less understood but more accurate and important aspects of our collective history. |
| 0:18.9 | Clips today are from the Native Opinion podcast, Vox, Let's Talk Native, a progressive faith |
| 0:25.6 | sermon from Dr. Roger Ray, The Katie Helper Show, Backstory, Loud and Clear, and some |
| 0:32.3 | more news from Cracked. |
| 0:40.2 | Here are five things that you can keep in mind the next time we get close to this holiday. |
| 0:45.6 | Again, number one, highlights the historical and contemporary contributions indigenous |
| 0:52.3 | people have made and continued to make in society. |
| 0:56.6 | Adopting indigenous peoples day is an opportunity to celebrate and honor the histories, cultures, |
| 1:02.7 | contributions, and resilience of contemporary Native peoples. |
| 1:07.1 | We did that earlier by playing the piece on Eloise Cobal for you folks. |
| 1:12.2 | Number two, non-Natives may push back against campaigns that center the abolishment of Columbus |
| 1:18.9 | Day. While abolishing Columbus Day is crucial to the legislation, more support is garnered |
| 1:25.8 | when the movement centers the celebration of diverse indigenous peoples across the globe. |
| 1:32.5 | Number three, most non-Natives were taught a romantic narrative about Christopher Columbus |
| 1:38.5 | that omits the atrocities he committed against many different indigenous groups. |
| 1:44.8 | It's crucial to educate non-Natives about the true history of Christopher Columbus, |
| 1:50.9 | such as presenting first-hand accounts from Columbus's journal. |
| 1:54.6 | Now that's what John's about to do and that's a good thing. |
| 1:57.8 | With this, non-Natives will become aware that celebrating Columbus Day contributes to |
| 2:03.6 | the erasure of indigenous peoples trauma and history. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Jay Tomlinson, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Jay Tomlinson and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.