"Christopher Columbus was a truly evil man, as were his descendants. Columbus enslaved, abused and sent many native Arawak peoples to England for personal uses.

He tortured them in his hunt for gold and silver. They were infected with sexually transmitted diseases as well as old-world diseases to which the natives had no resistance. In effect, he destroyed an entire race of peaceful, helpful people.

Those people grew grew gardens. They were not warriors. Because of Columbus, the Arawaks are extinct.

The Carib tribe almost suffered the same fate. However a few escaped to St. Lucia in the Eastern Caribbean, an island with no safe landing for the boats. They were hunted down as if they were animals. They exist there still; I have met them and have listened to their oral history."

Get the Story:
Donald Kelly: Columbus' brutality documented, though he left few native survivors (The Stuart News Press 10/26)

Related Stories:
Letter: We all owe a debt of gratitude to Christopher Columbus (10/13)