A Columbus Day message from Rep. Brandon Gill praising Christopher Columbus and Western civilization drew a large volume of angry responses on social media, reviving a long-running debate over how Columbus and American history should be remembered.
Gill wrote: “Christopher Columbus is one of the great men of world history. Guided by faith in Christ, our European ancestors came to the New World, settled wild lands, and built western civilization. Our history and our culture are exceptional– and we’re no longer apologizing for it.”
The post quickly generated sharp replies. One user, BRAIN, responded, “U stole the land,kill many people. U people are savages,the real devil of the world.”
Billie Nelson wrote a longer response: “Um, no! He kidnapped Indigenous people and discussed conquering them. He forced Taíno people to work for Spanish colonists. He imposed coercive gold tributes. He sent people to Spain to be sold as slaves. He, in fact, was fucking trash!”
Another user, Chief Marvel, wrote: “Of course you worship a man who committed genocide, enslaved people, and trafficked humans for profit, including taking young girls as sex slaves…oh & treated sexual violence as a reward for his soldiers…that totally tracks.”
Other commenters joined in. Tommie Jayne wrote, “Sure. Just make shit up as you go along instead of admitting the man was a brutal despot who died in disgrace.” Akevv Flurry wrote, “I was wondering when the racists would show up praising Columbus. You didn’t disappoint.”
Robert Young Pelton wrote: “What is the point of dim Christo fascists knob slobbering a loser? It didn’t work out. Move on.”
The exchange reflects a broader and recurring argument over how to characterize Columbus, European colonization, and the legacy of Western civilization in American political discourse. Gill’s message, framed as unapologetic pride in that history, drew responses that focused on the violence and exploitation associated with Columbus’s voyages and their aftermath for Indigenous peoples.
The disagreement remains unresolved, with both sides repeating familiar positions rather than engaging each other’s specific claims.
