Zinn

In chapter 1 of Howard Zinn’s book, A People’s History of the United States, he discusses the real history of Columbus and the current problem within the United States. For years, the story of Columbus has been taught to many as a pleasant story of the discovery of America in the year 1492. This is true but there is more to the story of Columbus. Columbus and his successors created a genocide after the discovery. Within this chapter, Zinn is questioning why the story of Columbus was changed in the beginning and why all the murders that occurred during the time were hidden and made into something it wasn’t. He states that he is not trying to condemn Columbus for his actions in the past because it is too late for that. He wants the truth to come out to those who see Columbus as a hero. However, it is too late now to tell the truth and change the false, well know story of Columbus.
One thing that confuses me about the Columbus controversy is why was the real story of Columbus changed in the beginning and what were they trying to hide? I agree with Zinn and feel that the truth about Columbus should be known instead of the make-believe story that many people are familiar with. One reason the story of Columbus came to what is it today is because at the time perhaps people were horrified as to the murders that were occurring and were too scared to spread the true story of Columbus because of the authority he held at the time. Another reason could be that those who where aware of what was going on may have died leaving only a few left that were aware of the truth.
After having read this chapter on Columbus I was bewildered. Personally, I was not aware of the genocide that occurred during the time of Columbus and that he was the leader of it. Everything I have learned about Columbus throughout my life was a lie. Like most people, I saw Columbus as some kind of a hero. To learn that he killed thousands of people along with his discovery of America is shocking.