Americans have celebrated Columbus Day since 1937 and it has become a proud mark on the calendar. Some have argued that Columbus was the cause of the annihilation of the native population. However, it is important to remember that Columbus was a man of his time, he came to the New World with the intention of expanding his culture and obtaining resources. When the Spanish and the Indians met, the clash between the two cultures was confusing. However, Columbus Day should never be set aside, but celebrated, because Columbus' exploration shaped the future of the Americas and is part of our history. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In the words of the great Samuel Eliot Morison: "The entire history of the Americas originates from the four voyages of Columbus" (Doc 3) . North and South America were fields waiting to be plowed and harvested. The native population did not have the tools to adequately cultivate the land and exploit its potential. Columbus wrote in his travel diary: “All the weapons they have are canes cut at the time of sowing, at the end of which they fix a sharp stick”, this is just an example of their weapons, but in comparison to European cannons, the sharpened sticks were primitive. Columbus introduced modern technology to the Americas and ushered in a new era. With this technology, agriculture, the arts, armies thrived and flourished into rich cultures, expanding cultures. In People's History of the United States, left-wing radical Howard Zinn criticizes Columbus for being so violent. Zinn's anarchist tirade focused only on "exposing" Columbus as a cruel murderer. He highlights the negative aspects of his discovery: “When it was clear that there was no more gold, the Indians were welcomed as slaves” (Doc 2). Zinn is a known liberal and is hypocritical, believing he can judge the past in a modern context. The discovery of the New World, 600 years before The People's History, was not friendly at all. However, history is rarely friendly. History should not be judged as if people have the high morality of a modern man. Furthermore, Zinn never looks at the situation from the Spaniard's point of view. The first group of men left to settle in the Indies were killed by the natives. If the Spanish had simply acquiesced and never fought with the Indians, the Spaniard would have been killed. Furthermore, Columbus came to the New World with the intention of cultivating the land's resources, not cultivating good foreign relations. To believe otherwise would be foolish, Columbus was a conqueror as well as an explorer. Yet, Columbus' discovery changed the Americas and is forever part of our history. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conquerors should never be condemned, because ambition and conquest are part of the human condition. To deny the instinctive self is to deny all of humanity. What Columbus and his men did, trying to dominate the natives, may not really be worthy of celebration. However, Columbus should be a cultural staple because he was the cataclysm that changed the history of not only the Americas, but the world. A sail across the dark blue Atlantic has never been more influential. Christopher Columbus laid the foundation of the world we know today and Columbus Day should be celebrated so we can remember where we came from.