Tom Francis wrote:
On 12 Oct 2006 08:05:06 -0700, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:

Oh, and one final thing they got wrong about Columbus. His name. His
name wasn't really Christopher Columbus, but rather Cristobal Colon.

Now, thanks apparently to the New American Indian Movement, he was a
slaver, native abuser and a rapist.

~~ sigh ~~

Slaver? Yes, there is some evidence for that.
Native abuser and rapist? I think the jury is still out on that one.
Whether the native women had to be forced or whether they were
generally available on a "welcome to our village, here's a gift to
demonstrate how happy we are to see you" basis might to tough to
establish, especially since most of the first contact cultures were
wiped out by disease.

Among the more profound events that occured during the four voyages of
Cristobol Colon to the New World had to be the exchange of microbes.
Entire islands were depopulated as the natives fell victim to mumps,
measles, and other diseases that often were normally considered
survivable in Europe. Not to be outdone, however, the natives sent
Columbus' crews home with a bit of a departure present. Syphillis was
unkown in Europe until 1493.
Apparently the natives had developed an immunity to syphllis, but
virtually everybody was a "carrier".

So if the New American Indian Movement wants to be anti-Columbus, the
least they can do would be to "clap" politely in his honor. :-)