Columbus did more than prove that earth was round

Columbus did more than prove that earth was round
EDITOR:
While honoring Christopher Columbus on this, the anniversary of his historic deed, we must accord him many deserved accolades for his supreme courage, determination and skilled seamanship in accomplishing a goal never attained by other seafaring mariners. Very few people in the history of the world made a real difference as did Christopher Columbus.
The discovery of America by Columbus on Oct. 12, 1492, opened the way for the flow of people, goods, plants, animals and ideas back and forth across the Atlantic. Prior to his epic voyages to the new world, there were two "Old Worlds" populated by diverse and ancient cultures. Columbus achieved his prodigious goal, bridged this division and created a "New World."
His goal was not to prove that the earth was round, but to establish seaworthy documented charts to the East Indies. The scientific community of his day had already correctly concluded that the earth was spherical. Columbus may not have been the first seafarer to cross the Atlantic: however, his remarkable accomplishment served to provide long-sought documentation for sea captains who followed Columbus, and who finally acknowledged Columbus' ability as a seaman.
Columbus took as from a world he left behind to our world of today, establishing a bridgehead between two sides of the Atlantic, effecting many global changes that have occurred since his historical achievement.
VINCENT J. DORIA
Boardman
War in Iraq? Simply put, it's the right thing to do
EDITOR:
Some people believe that Sen. John Kerry won the first debate held on Sept. 30.
I disagree. In reality, Kerry made a number of major mistakes defending his platform.
Kerry praised former President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his leadership in going to war with Nazi Germany during World War II. Kerry's praises, however, were severely contradicted by subsequent statements.
For example, Kerry denounced President Bush for going to war with Iraq since there is no evidence to prove that Iraq was involved with the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Neither did Germany on Dec. 7, 1941. It seems the senator has conveniently forgotten that Japan was the enemy that attacked Pearl Harbor and pulled the United States into World War II. Roosevelt did not seek immediate vengeance on Japan; he instead realized that Nazi Germany posed a bigger threat to our national security and sent troops to Europe first.
Does FDR's decisions of the past make him an unfit president in Kerry's eyes?
Would Kerry have told the American Zionist Movement and the millions of people dying in concentration camps that a war with Germany was a grave distraction or "the wrong war at the wrong time?"
Or would Kerry have told FDR that he did not exhaust his diplomatic options in getting Hitler to retreat into Germany and release the millions of people suffering from genocide in his work camps?
Yes, Hitler did kill many more people than Saddam and his band of thugs did, but the fact remains that Saddam's regime was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi citizens and he showed no signs of stopping.
As it was Roosevelt's job to stop Hitler, it is now the president's job to introduce Democracy and freedom to the Middle East. The president's tactics in Iraq reflect the same good judgment Roosevelt used during WWII.
Saddam may not have been our attacker on Sept. 11, but there are no facts to prove that he didn't harbor terrorists.
In this tense and troubling time, we as Americans need a president with the conviction to do what is right. Not because they are forced to, but because they believe in their heart that what they are doing is right.
ALAN ADAMS
Newton Falls