“Columbus: Discovery or Invasion” was the topic of a panel discussion where concerns were raised against the U.S. Government’s decision to celebrate the 500th year of Columbus’ coming to America.

The panel, which was made up of three speakers—each of a different cultural background—was coordinated by the DeKalb Interfaith Network for Peace and Justice.

“We knew the government was spending $100 million in celebration for the quincentenary and this is a disgrace,” said Cele Meyer, coordinator for the network.

“We destroyed their (Native Americans) people, culture and land,” she said. “This should be approached in a solemn way—not a celebration—we should respect the survivors.”

The panel discussed issues such as how the colonization programs in Spain and England were detrimental to the U.S. culture.

Mike Fraga, assistant director of the Center for Latino Students, was one of the speakers commenting on the aspect of racism.

Fraga said racism becomes prominent if Christopher Columbus is discussed in the discovery of America.

“If we look at 500 years and talk about discovery, then it is in a racist way because discovery denotes the Indians did not live here,” Fraga said.

It was 500 years of humiliation for Native Americans and the concept of discovery was detrimental to indigenous people, he said. “It is time for a healing process … time people reflect each other as human beings.”

Foreign Language Professor DePablo Virumbrales spoke of the 90 percent of the 15 million Indians who were wiped out through forced labor and disease brought by the Europeans when Hernando Cortez landed here.

The European invasion of this hemisphere was a disaster for the natives already living here, he said.

Another speaker, James Yellowbrook, Indian Treaty Rights director, was concerned with issues of the destruction of people and land.

Yellowbrook said it is time to get beyond the narrow viewpoints, blaming and guilt, and instead, start a healing process. Indians have left a treaty and we have to have the respect to honor it, Yellowbrook said.

“For 500 years our people have met with violence, hatred and anger, and we have responded with the same,” he said. “Now it is time for healing.”

More free events and discussions related to quincentennial issues will be presented by DeKalb Interfaith Network for Peace and Justice during the next year.

Some upcoming events will be:

“The Flight from Central America” which will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Holmes Student Center.

‘The current situation in El Salvador at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Wesley Foundation.

‘”The Reality Facing African Americans” at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Holmes Student Center.