[maine-iac7]

And, like it or not, Columbus's discovery remains one of the most important achievements--arguably the most important achievement--by any individual in any possible history of the world, regardless of what kind of person he was, and regardless of whether you like any particular result of that achievement.

I don't know whether to laugh or puke. Truly astounding postulation

[Physicist]

Truly astounding postulation

Not in the least. In fact, I don't see how any rational person could assert otherwise. Name a more fundamentally important individual achievement than causing the populations of the Earth's two hemispheres to become aware of each other.

Possibly the invention of the printing press was more important; I'll grant that. Probably the teachings of Jesus or Mohammed. Maybe the writings of Marx. There might be one or two other accomplishments that changed the world at that level, but there can't be many.

(But of course, what you really mean is not that it wasn't important, but that you don't like it. To each his own. If it makes you feel better, there's a lot of really important stuff that I just hate.)