[Jeff Head]

IMHO, it had nothing to do with who discovered it first...it was about who, upon finding out about it, was able to get their culture firmly rooted here. Columbus' arrival and the subsequent European and then ultimate American governmental system that developed have provided the greatest prosperity, the highest standard of living, the most liberty, and ultimately the most peace and freeing of people's the world has ever known...without building an empire to do it.

The very condition and environment that allows these people to protest is precisely a result of the chain of eventss that got started with such voyages as Columbus.

[tranzorZ]

Very, very, very, well said. I think if you really want to put down Columbus as the bringer of evil conquest and bloodshed; you have to be intellectually hones and say you hate American culture and our collection of different people from around the world.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Yup. Like Henry Ford, who neither invented the auto nor mass production, Columbus got there "firstest with the mostest" so to speak.