Christopher Columbus American Hero or Portuguese Idiot

As the vessel bounces lazily across the waves, a man sitting amidships on the crow's nest cries out. "Land, Ho!" he says in a state of dumbfounded excitement. After almost a year at sea, their fateful voyage was reaching a conclusion. A stately man walks out of the cabin and surveys the situation. He is Christopher Columbus, Portuguese explorer. Some say he was one of the greatest men that ever lived. He discovered the "New …

…it is easily determinable that Columbus was not a bright man. Give him credit for discovering the New World. Give him credit for proving the world was not flat, and that circumnavigation was quite possible. He was a great man. But the fact remains. Only an idiot would ignore all the identifying factors, the overwhelming evidence and call the Americas India. Give credit where credit is due, and place a blame of stupidity where deserved.