Many Indians have bought into the noble savage/Avatar beautiful blue people myth -- because 1) they don't know their own history (this is a very sad state of affairs -- shows how much history can be twisted as well); 2) it makes them feel good about themselves.
Everybody wants to not be "the baddies".
I'm of mostly Italian extraction (the part that isn't has a sizeable contribution from a couple of tribes, heh, go figure!) -- I rather prefer Columbus, problematic as he is: I suppose some noble sounding mythical entity might sound better, but I prefer a "warts and all" person instead. Besides, Columbus Day tends to often fall on my birthday. It always made me feel very American.
Many Indians have bought into the noble savage/Avatar beautiful blue people myth -- because 1) they don't know their own history (this is a very sad state of affairs -- shows how much history can be twisted as well); 2) it makes them feel good about themselves.
Everybody wants to not be "the baddies".
I'm of mostly Italian extraction (the part that isn't has a sizeable contribution from a couple of tribes, heh, go figure!) -- I rather prefer Columbus, problematic as he is: I suppose some noble sounding mythical entity might sound better, but I prefer a "warts and all" person instead. Besides, Columbus Day tends to often fall on my birthday. It always made me feel very American.