Columbus Seen as Hero in Poll

The reputation of Christopher Columbus remains relatively untarnished 500 years after his arrival in the New World, according to an Associated Press poll showing that about two out of three Americans regard him as a hero.

The anniversary of the Italian navigator’s first voyage across the Atlantic has brought renewed scrutiny of the explorer’s effect on the natives of the land he mistook for “the Indies.”

Columbus robbed, brutalized and enslaved American Indians and started centuries of destruction of their cultures. But only 15% of those polled said they agreed with those who call Columbus a villain. Eighteen percent of men but only 12% of women considered Columbus a villain.

Sixty-four percent said he is a hero. Nine percent said he is both. The remainder said he is neither or were unsure.

A majority, 56%, said they would like to see Columbus Day observed as a celebration, while 32% wanted it to be a solemn day to reflect on the past. The rest were not sure or wanted it observed both ways.

The poll was taken Sept. 30 to Oct. 4 among a random sample of 1,001 adults by ICR Survey Research Group of Media, Pa., part of AUS Consultants. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus three percentage points.