Columbus revealed

On the subject of Christopher Columbus, it is said, “In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue…” to “discover” America. News flash! Bjarni Herjulfsson was the first European to stop by the great country, and Leif Ericsson was the first European to settle down. He was driven away by the previous owners, the Native Americans.

So why is all the credit going to Columbus? The only thing he did was torture, mutilate and murder thousands of Native Americans for no good reason. In truth, this guy didn’t do much of anything to brag about. Some say because of him the Americas were populated. Wrong again!

The Americas were fully populated by their natives, the people who took care of the land and its resources; they were also the people Columbus made a point of destroying, long before Ericsson, or even Bjarnigot, was there. So can you please explain to me why we celebrate Columbus? Leah Grant, student Garland Street Middle School Bangor