Opinion

Pride on Columbus Day

Posted October 17, 2017 1:00 am

Is anyone a proud American anymore? I was stunned when my seventh-grade grandson came home from school saying we should not celebrate Columbus Day anymore. I asked, "Why not?" He said that Columbus was a bad man. He had slaves and mistreated them.

I told him that we don't celebrate Columbus the man, but his accomplishment of discovering the New World for Europe (and Spain in particular) that made America possible. Sometimes God uses bad people for good in the world (I'm not saying Columbus was bad). I celebrate Columbus Day because I, for one, am glad he "discovered" America - the only country in the entire history of mankind that has accomplished so much, helped more people around the globe and has the most freedom for its citizens.

John Zitkus.

Mundelein

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