What did Columbus find when he got here? Appalling atrocities of human sacrifice, cannibalism, child killing, rape, torture, tribal war, mass murder, rivers of blood and mountains of skulls! All caused by those pristine and pure "Indians". Let's at least get the facts straight!
You're thinking of the wrong natives, that was over in Mexico and Peru. Columbus landed on Hispaniola, which had fairly primitive agricultural and hunter tribes. He then proceded to murder thousands (especially if they didn't bring him the gold he thought was there) and ship untold many more off to be slaves although admitting they didn't do well as slaves (not able to do the hard field work like Africans) and most were dying during the trip anyway -- but he sent more.
It was so bad that the local priest sent with Columbus complained about the injustices, but he was ignored.
The saving grace for Columbus was that what he did was pretty standard fare for the time and generally considered to be moral and just, and his actions were supported by the crown. The Dutch explorers wiped out thriving kingdoms in East Africa for their gold too, but I don't hear anyone complaining about that.
To protest against Columbus' failings and not recognize his daring and important achievements is pure PC BS. Are we also to dismiss the achievements of the Founding Fathers because many owned slaves?