The atrocities of early European colonization are documented and indisputable. Many different peoples were oppressed, degraded, taken as slaves or murdered, all in the name of nothing that is justifiable. Greed, personal superiority, and religious superiority were often used as reasons for the heartless treatment and mindless genocide of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Columbus's own logbook details his initial description of the native population in saying, "They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance... They would make fine servants... With 50 men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want."
Columbus should not be celebrated. The indigenous people of this land should.