I. Premise

1. Most famous historic individuals are controversial. For example, Julius Caesar was murdered for having been too successful in his political and military careers. Jesus of Nazareth was crucified for inspiring hope of an everlasting soul salvation. We should not be surprised if Christopher Columbus arouses the same love-hate feelings and controversy.

2. The revision of history serves us to revisit our ancestors’ acts and behaviors. It serves us to compare their actions based upon our present moral values, hoping to learn something useful and accordingly modify our own behavior for the better. Those who read this type history with the purpose of condemning and destroying what they do not like, will only lead to a Talibanization-mentality that leads us to violence and destruction of human heritage. Why should we erase from memory acts of Europeans cruelties perpetrated against peoples throughout the world; or the practice of slavery or the actions of Pre-Colombian Native Americans of the Incas, the Mayas, and the Aztecs who perpetrated harsh human treatments, such as sexual mutilations and sacrificial decapitations of slaves and other violence against their own people?