In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail for a long adventurous journey that resulted in the discovery of America. The one question is, was Columbus truly a hero for this unearthing that people thought was magnificent? The answer is certainly not. What Columbus should be famous for is death, slaughter, and taking over a land that was not his. Columbus is really a villain who killed, enslaved, and raped the innocent Indians. Christopher Columbus turned a discovery into a takeover that lead to death and slaughter. In January, we honor a true hero, Martin Luther King. This man fought for the rights of the black people. Columbus unstoppably ordered his men to kill and torture Native Americans. Your honor, the facts of this case will show that Columbus really wasn't everything that he is taught and brought up to be. Columbus should not be seen as a hero because of his cruelty, egotistic attitude, and greediness as shown through his encounters with the Native Americans.
             First of all, this cruel, malicious man brutally enslaved and attacked the Native Americans found on the new land. Columbus set sail on a good note in the intent to find a shorter route to Asia by sailing west to get east. Upon the arrival of the new land, he met up with a Native American Tribe called the Taino. These were placid, peaceful Indians whom merely welcomed and traded with the newcomers. This is something Columbus wrote upon arriving to the new land, "I showed them a sword, they took it by edge and cut themselves out of ignorance...They would make fine servants...With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want."(Berliner) During the time, Columbus and his men hunted these blameless Indians for beating, raping, torture, sport and killing using them as food for their hunting dogs. He not only killed these Native Americans, but he also tortured them in the process. What seemed to be the sharing of land turned into a rampage...