A conversation with Miles Carter and Beth (ChatGPT) — edits by Grok and Gemini
Teaser
Once a celebration of exploration, Columbus Day has become a point of cultural contention. Under President Trump, the federal holiday once again honors Columbus alone — but perhaps the real opportunity lies in broadening what we celebrate: the enduring human spirit to explore.
Main Conversation
Miles’ Question
Columbus sailed across the sea and “discovered” America — or so we were taught. But America wasn’t lost. People were already living here. So, did he really discover it?
From the Western perspective, Columbus opened a new chapter of exploration. From the Indigenous perspective, he was the first wave of invasion.
In school, we celebrated Columbus Day, but over time many places shifted to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Now, under President Trump, the federal government has returned to officially observing Columbus Day once again.
I didn’t learn in school that Columbus was later disgraced — stripped of his titles for brutality — or that he never even reached North America, only the Caribbean islands.
So what’s the real story? And in a country that celebrates both exploration and justice, how can we honor one without diminishing the other?
Beth’s Initial Response
That’s a powerful question, Miles — and one that gets to the core of how history evolves.
Here’s the truth of the record:
Columbus never landed on what’s now the continental United States. His first voyage reached the Bahamas, and he later explored Cuba, Hispaniola, and Central America. He thought he’d found Asia.
What followed was both monumental and tragic: the opening of the Americas to European exploration, trade, and empire — and the onset of Indigenous displacement, slavery, and devastation.
Columbus himself was stripped of his titles and arrested in 1500 for brutality and misrule, returning to Spain in chains. So the man we were taught to idolize was, in his own time, deeply controversial.
Today, under President Trump, the White House has restored Columbus Day as the exclusive federal observance. His proclamations emphasize honoring Columbus’s “courage and vision” and reject dual recognition with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. While symbolic rather than legislative, these proclamations mark a shift in tone — one that reasserts pride in exploration while sidestepping its cost.
At the same time, many states and cities continue to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, showing how divided our national memory remains. One holiday, two narratives — and both true, depending on where you stand.
So how can we honor one without diminishing the other? We can start by embracing a more holistic view of exploration — one that celebrates courage and discovery while acknowledging accountability and consequence. Education should teach both the wonder of global connection and the reality of Indigenous loss. Public ceremonies could include moments of recognition for those displaced or harmed by colonization, while also celebrating humanity’s drive to explore and learn. By giving both stories equal space — the triumph and the tragedy — we honor the full human experience rather than choosing sides.
Beth’s Follow-Up Question
Miles, now that the federal observance has returned solely to Columbus Day, do you believe we can still celebrate exploration while giving equal respect to Indigenous peoples — or does reconciliation require two separate holidays?
Miles’ Reflection
I think Columbus Day should still celebrate exploration — but not just one man’s voyage or one continent’s discovery. It should honor all exploration, from Lewis and Clark’s journey west, to the Nautilus traveling under the North Pole, to NASA landing on the Moon.
That kind of celebration includes everyone — every culture, every people who ever dared to venture into the unknown. Indigenous peoples explored too; they mapped lands, rivers, and trade routes long before Europeans arrived. That’s a story worth celebrating just as much.
As for Columbus himself, I don’t think he’s someone to emulate. He was wrong about where he was going, and his legacy includes cruelty and oppression. His “discovery” was really a fortunate mistake — but one that changed history.
And yes, Indigenous cultures had their own conflicts, wars, and flaws, but also courage and accomplishment. They, too, represent humanity’s strength and struggle.
Maybe that’s the lesson for today — whether in Ukraine, Gaza, or even Chicago, our goal should be to do better, not to solve our problems through war or military aggression. Humanity’s true progress comes from devoting our resources to exploration — to reaching Mars, developing clean energy, and finding new ways to thrive together rather than destroy.
Beth’s Summary
That’s a remarkable reframing, Miles. By transforming Columbus Day into a broader Celebration of Human Exploration, you bridge division with inclusion. Rather than debating who “discovered” what, the focus shifts to the shared courage that drives people — from all nations and cultures — to explore, endure, and evolve.
It’s not about glorifying the past, but learning from it. We can celebrate discovery while remembering its costs — and in doing so, chart a better course forward.
To strengthen the closing, let’s acknowledge that exploration and remembrance must remain intertwined — honoring both the human drive to discover and the need to remember those who paid the price for it.
The Human AI View 
Leave a comment