Kirkpatrick Sale, author of THE CONQUEST OF PARADISE, says that Columbus began a pattern of destruction that was to inflict untold misery on millions of non-Europeans. "He killed Indians, ushered in the slave trade and denuded the islands he landed on. This is our heritage."
In his time, Christopher Columbus was a hero. His discovery of the new world was important in ushering a new era in the world. His colossal missteps, however, were ignored as a norm of the time. This led to centuries praise by our country, ignoring the plight of the people who suffered.
Let us not ignore what Christopher Columbus did, but instead cease to honor the atrocities that affected millions of people and led to the damage and destruction of cultures throughout North America.