July 31st: On This Day In History

On July 31, 1498, Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus, on his third voyage to the new world, discovered the island of Trinidad. Comumbus, with what seems to be a bit of a cavalier attitude, swore to name the next land he discovered after the holy trinity. He believed it providential when the first thing he saw was the three peaks of the Trinity Hills rising up over the horizon. It was anything but providential for the natives of the island, for less that fifteen years later their island would be subjected to heavy slave raids to provide labour for the pearl fisheries on the nearby isla margarita. By the late 1700s, after numerous failed attempts at colonization and conversion, the once populous island's population would be only three thousand. A sad fate for any who rely on divine will if this is providence. Bright rays did not come until 1797, when the British gained control of the island. Ten years later slavery would be abolished throughout the British empire. Thus began the slow move to a better life for the victims of the colonial period of history. It still continues today. We should look back and think how much of the modern world's troubles are caused by what was done so many centuries ago? How much of what we do now will still have an impact in 600 years?