[Bringbackthedraft]

Screw Columbus, he stole the title from Lief Ericson. The Norse were here before him but there was nothing worth stealing to make them stay. Columbus never discovered America 1st because it was occupied when he landed here. I've always favored a Crazy Horse Day in lieu of Columbus Day.

[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]

In defense of Columbus, he is the guy that got the word going to the rest of Europe. He might not get the title of first guy, but he does deserve recognition.

Oh, and what is the latest on China getting here before Columbus? I remember a guy writing a book on how that subject a few years back.

[muawiyah]

Screw Lief Erickson, the Sa'ami were here before the Norse, and certainly before the Asiatics who crossed over on the Bering landbridge.

[Gop1040]

"Screw Columbus, he stole the title from Lief Ericson....."

I believe the discovery part has to do with discovering the new world (America) for the Europeans for shorter trade routes to the Orient. He was a little off on his calculations, but he did have a goal he did sail into the great unknown at great risk. The flat earth concept was popular back so in many ways it was heroic.

[shove_it]

Fongu! Spoken by a Viking who made something of it after Columbus arrived.

[chalkfarmer]

Crazy Horse was one cool dude.

[Jason_b]

"Columbus never discovered America 1st because it was occupied when he landed here."

There's this little thing called context.

I've heard this argument before. It's silly. No one ever claimed he discovered it for the people who were already here, that wouldn't make sense. Nor does it make sense to say the continent was discovered by the indians other than to say the indians saw the obvious, they were here. Discovery is about getting new information to to people who don't have it by someone who discovers it. He discovered America and the West Indies for the Europeans who didn't know there was a landmass (or people) between Europe and Asia. Initially, they thought this was Asia and later figured out that they had farther to go. But as the Europeans were concerned, he did discover it, the natives who lived here included.

Context.