Howard Zinn and Christopher Columbus.

“When Columbus and his men came ashore in the Bahama Islands and were met by the Arawak people he was to later write in his journal: “They brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawks’ bells. They willingly traded everything they owned. They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features . . .They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane . They would make fine servants . With fifty men we couldsubjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.” p. 1 This chilling and foreboding statement achieves even an even darker tone when considering the fate of the Arawak people. “In two years, through murder, mutilation or suicide, half of the 250,000 Indians on Haiti were dead. By the year 151, there were perhaps 50,000 Indians left. By 1550, there were 500. A report of the year 1650 shows none of the original Arawaks or their descendants left on the island.” p. 4-5 “The treatment of heroes (Columbus) and their victims (the Arawaks) - the quiet acceptance of conquest and murder in the name of progress - is only one aspect of a certain approach to history, in which the past is told from the point of view of governments, conquerors, diplomats, leaders.” p.9 Quotes taken from: A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn. And now, listen to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwq_jiTjAuY And you can also read this: http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Zinn/Columbus_PeoplesHx.html