Celebrate Columbus

1) I am sorry if my source was not clear enough, allow me to back this up. "It was the Genoese seaman, explorer and adventurer Christopher Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), who discovered the trade winds. These winds carried his three modest-size sailing vessels all across the Atlantic at its widest, from the Canary Islands to the Bahamas, a distance of 5400 miles, in 36 days, in 1492. " [1]As you can see from this source, which backs up my original claim, that Columbus did indeed discover the trade winds of the mid-Atlantic. While this may not have been intentional I do not appreciate you avoiding to refute a point in the second round because now you have a chance to refute an original point without allowing an opportunity for a counter statement. This discovery was an important and key discovery for the navigation of the Atlantic. 2) While there were explorers that came before Columbus, Columbus made the largest contribution to the movement and launched a series of subsequent explorations to the America's that never would have happened without Columbus. He contributed the largest discovery of the time which then launched a series of events leading to the founding of America. i. My opponent has chosen to focus on the negatives of the events of the Columbian Exchange but in this case the negatives do not outweigh the sheer weight of the event in question. "And yet the Columbian Exchange just may be the single most important event in the modern history of the world. " [2]It was one of the most important events in the history of the modern world, this is something that can't be ignored. Every event has negatives to it but that doesn't mean we shouldn't celebrate them. The American Revolution obviously had negatives that effected British Americans and loyalists yet we still celebrate that event. Can you provide documentation or a source that shows profound outrage by Native Americans in reaction to Columbus? "If you don't understand the Columbian Exchange, you cannot truly understand the forces that shape the world we live in today. You cannot understand why you speak the language you speak, why you live in the nation you live in, or even why you eat the food you eat. " [2]This event was simply too monument's to ignore. ii. My opponent has certainly pointed out a whole host of ingenious and adventurous people who do not have holiday's named after them. However, my opponent has failed to address the fact that Columbus was both adventurous and led the foundation of the United States through the events that Columbus set off. Columbus deserves to be celebrated in the United States because his contribution to exploration led to the United States being founded. Columbus should be celebrated because he made significant contributions to the Age of Discovery which led to the foundation of the United States while exhibiting the traits that Americans exemplify. This combination is more than enough evidence to justify acknowledging Columbus and his achievements on a day in October. I find myself a little insulted that my opponent has made the statement that I did not supply any valid arguments. Thank you, please take all these factors into consideration and vote Pro. [1] . http://earthguide.ucsd.edu...[2] . http://www.shmoop.com...