Columbus Day: Imperialism or Cultural Heritage?

Today is Columbus Day.  Like any student of history, Columbus Day represents the mixed legacy of this important day within the western world.  On the positive side, Columbus opened the New World to colonizing by Spain, France, England, Netherlands and Sweden.  These colonies would become the United States, Canada and the many nations of South and Central America.  On the negative side, whole tribes and civilization of natives and "Indians" were either destroyed by sickness, subjugated into hard labor or lost their land by the eventual growth of European colonists.  Online, there are many opinions about this important day.  These are all around the political spectrum, from the traditional Conservative to the far left zealot.

The following links represent differing views on this important holiday.  These are some of many reflections upon this important national holiday.

http://www.educationforjustice.org/resources/seeing-history-anewa-reflection-columbus-day

http://blog.yjhm.org/2009/10/columbus-day-reflections-world-is-not.html

http://www.faithandpolitics.org/past_reflection?q=node/757

http://www.progressive.org/media_mprollo100505