Talk:Christopher Columbus/@comment-92.15.135.189-20140429172950/@comment-92.15.135.189-20140429182938

It is a very dangerous game to judge historical characters by today's acceptability standards. As hard as it was, I found that I could not ignore Columbus's heroic qualities. I may have to constantly balance these against his views and acts against people, but he undoubtedly deserves to be held in high esteem for his service. Where will our condemnation end? Will we rename all the monuments and institutions named after Columbus? We simply cannot play this game with history.

Just as his discovery came, so too was Thomas Jefferson's in the founding of a new nation. And had it not been for the likes of Jefferson, who stood up bravely against a mighty king and empire, there may not have been an America for us be so free in today.

Paradoxical as this is, his critics would do well to remember it. Or perhaps, as Thomas Jefferson said himself, ““None of us, no, not one, is perfect. And were we to love none who had imperfections, this world would be a desert for our love.””