Records like the ones kept by Columbus and his fellow voyagers are now indispensable for meteorologists who depend on them to piece together part of the picture of weather history. Sailors kept great records, which is how they knew to plot their courses and the timing of their departure from safe harbor so that they avoided being in hurricane hot zones during the peak of the season.

A mind is a difficult thing to change: my change story
https://www.thenewneo.com/category/a-mind-is-a-difficult-thing-to-change/

You may well find the other parts of interest, too — they go back almost two decades, to 2005 for the first piece — I do recommend you consider going to the oldest, however, and read forwards, it’s an interesting set of pieces.

You can start at the bottom of this, if you’re so inclined:
https://www.thenewneo.com/category/a-mind-is-a-difficult-thing-to-change/page/2/

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS ACTUALLY WAS A GREAT MAN
Michael Knowles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MshsZPD2aNs

In Defense of Columbus: An Exaggerated Evil
Knowing Better
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEw8c6TmzGg

I have nothing against “Indigenous Peoples”. Hell, some of my grandkids and great grandkids are part “Indigenous “. I’m all for an Indigenous Peoples Day, but not as part of trying to erase the accomplishments of those who followed Columbus. Placing it on, and in some cases over, Columbus Day is just another woke attempt to denigrate and shame a great nation.

I celebrate Columbus Day, and (as far as I know) I’m not even part Italian. 🙂

That said, my understanding of the American celebration of Columbus is it was culturally driven. 18th century Americans desired to separate the new country from its British ties. They wanted a non-English hero. Columbus fit the bill.

The story of Columbus took on a mythic ideal and the ideal was attached to America. The ideal is adventurous and heroic. It is brave and independent. “Oh Columbia! The Gem of the Ocean!” is as majestic a declaration of the beauty and brilliance of America that can be made.

The shame of making Columbus the myth of America is there are actual early American settlers who are worthy of celebration. These settlers possessed a vision of freedom and liberty and set about on American soul to realize that goal.

I have no beef with Columbus. He was an intepid explorer. But his contribution to America is that he sailed ships and English settlers of America arrived on ships. Americans ought to celebrate more its actually founders, not the myth of the first documented European explorer.

I attended my first college as a Florida state resident. Many of my classmates were from elsewhere.

I styled myself as a “Noble Floridian” and spoke glowingly of my tribe.