SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Network Indiana): The University of Notre Dame is looking to cover its Christopher Columbus paintings.
The school’s president made the announcement yesterday.
President Reverend John Jenkins said the world had a different view of Columbus back in the 19th century, when the murals were painted. Jenkins says the modern view of Columbus, and what happened to native people after he arrived, has changed.
A letter shared by Jenkins said when the murals were painted, they reflected the ideas of the time.
“In recent years, however, many have come to see the murals as at best blind to the consequences of Columbus’s voyage for the indigenous peoples who inhabited this ‘new’ world and at worst demeaning toward them,” Jenkins said in the letter.
“I have heard from students, alumni, faculty, staff, representatives of the Native American community, and others on this complex topic. I have decided, after consultation with the University’s Board of Fellows, on a course that will preserve the murals, but will not display them regularly in their current location,” Jenkins said.
He said the arrival of Columbus was a difficult thing for Native Americans.
“Whatever else Columbus’s arrival brought, for these peoples it led to exploitation, expropriation of land, repression of vibrant cultures, enslavement, and new diseases causing epidemics that killed millions.,” Jenkins said.
The covers for the murals will be made soon.
3 comments
You should not be erasing history. Very sad day!
President Jenkins is so far left it’s ridiculous. Next he will want to cover up pictures of our lord Jesus.
Very sad that non historian Fr. Jenkins continues to embarrass himself. He merely had to consult a competent ND historian (if there are any left). But he will apparently continue to fold to the PC culture until ND becomes the laughing stock of serious scholars. ND used to be Catholic, but no more.