by Bob Swanson

Created on: October 10, 2008

The United States should continue to honor Columbus Day. However, it should be thought of more as the "formal discovery of America day." If you put in the proper research you will find that in Columbus' journey to the America's he did unthinkable things that do not warrant any man a holiday.

Christopher Columbus was a great explorer that found his way to America. He is credited with the discovery of it. This goes without saying that many before him traveled there. Columbus didn't "discover" America. He stumbled upon it hundreds of years after it was actually discovered. It is hard to tell who actually discovered America but it was in no way shape or form Christopher Columbus.

Many believe that Columbus was just an ordinary explorer that stumbled upon America and everyone got along just fine. Did you know about how he killed millions of Native Americans and sold the remaining into slavery and forced Christianity upon them? While on his way to America Columbus killed almost anything and everything in his path. Unfortunately the Tiano Indians of Hispaniola were in his path. Within 50 years of his arrival their population of 8 million was almost gone.

Columbus brought disease and terror with him. European diseases destroyed villages with ease. Columbus forced the Native Americans he didn't kill to adopt Christianity over their beliefs. We criticize the Roman Catholic Church for pushing Catholicism on Europe, what's the difference? There is none. Columbus murdered and tortured millions of Native Americans because he could. What is the difference between him and Hitler? Once again, there is none. If we can condemn one mans life (Hitler), why should we praise another when he did nearly the same thing.

Many argue Columbus did great things for civilization and trade. Hitler created the Autobahn and saved Germany's economy. If Columbus is a hero, so is Hitler. Without Adolf Hitler Germany would not be what it is today, which is one of the most important economic countries in Europe.

Many will argue that Columbus brought the Indians new technologies. The Indians were actually just as advanced if not more than the Europeans. Aztec and Incan cities dwarfed Europe's largest. The Indians had a great sense of geography and were quite advanced. The Europeans had guns, that is their only advantage. It has actually been proven that the Native Americans had traveled to Africa before Columbus came to America. We do not give the Native Americans the credit they deserve.

Columbus not only did things himself, he led to others following in his footsteps. Twenty-seven years after his arrival Hernan Cortes came. Cortes used force to bring the mighty Aztec Empire to its knees. This defeat led to the Spanish colony of Mexico.

Columbus publicly humiliated the Native Americans by parading them through the streets naked before being sold into slavery. He even used the dead bodies as dog food. Is he really such a great person now? A little research can bring this subject to light and prove that Christopher Columbus is not the man many believe him to be. He was a great explorer, but by no means a great human being. We should honor the day, just not as Columbus day.

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