Christopher Columbus

There is some controversy in American schools today in how to celebrate or mark Columbus Day. Teachers with politically correct inclinations will spend this day telling their students to all but hate the white man from Italy who oppressed minorities so.

So be it. Was Columbus a great racial equality leader? No. So, if your view of the world has to be through that prism, Columbus is not someone who you want to celebrate.

However, if you want to celebrate someone who had guts and a vision, well, it is hard to argue against Columbus. In Italy, his political leadership laughed at him for his planned trip to the so called "New World." So, Columbus went to Spain's royal court and got his ships to explore.

Let's take a moment to think about those ships he sailed. They were wooden, and were not tested against great seas. Think on it. Columbus took three rickety ships, loaded with what supplies he could, and set sail on a dream. Columbus dared to go in waters and to lands uncharted. While so many, even today, talk and talk about what they want to do, Columbus went out and lived his vision.

As such, Columbus was one of those human beings who had a spirit that went beyond the boundaries set by society. Columbus dared to achieve and dared to face the great human fear of the unknown and the untested.

As such, it is fitting that the United States honors Columbus with a holiday. While it is not politically correct to some, Columbus was the first of those who dared to dream in this New World. Columbus was followed with the likes of Edison, with his light bulb, Ford with his car, and Gates with his personal computer. And, yes, even the likes of Jefferson and Lincoln with their political ideals.

When those who claim to be politically correct tear down a man like Columbus, they miss the genius of the man to go beyond the horizons set by people of his time. Those narrow minded souls look only to their narrow agendas and miss out on celebrating the spirit of human beings to be better and go beyond expectations.

It is perhaps a blessing and a curse that some human beings are born with the drive and determination to make their visions come true. But, it is that drive and vision that makes us progress and achieve. That is why VUI says, without apology, "Happy Columbus Day," and honors the drive and vision of the man whose human spirit to achieve forever changed history.