As America prepares for the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the New World, Kirkpatrick Sale asks us to reconsider the common myths surrounding Christopher Columbus. 重新审视美国的起源：哥伦布。

In his most recent book, The Conquest of Paradise: Christopher Columbus and the Columbian Legacy (1991), Mr. Sale presents a revised version of the storied seaman, describing him as "unstable, rootless, avaricious, and deceptive." According to Mr. Sale, Europe's "encounter" with the New World is responsible for many of the political and environmental problems of our time.

The Indians lived in peace and harmony with nature, while the Europeans were more concerned with the domination of the world around them.This focus on dominance, over nature as well as over the Indians, eventually spread throughout the world.Mr. Sale holds the Europeans accountable for nations warring over land and for the world-wide pollution of our air and water. Please join us in welcoming Mr. Sale as part of the Athenaeum's "499 Years Ago" series.

Be prepared to reevaluate your impressions of the "discovery" of the New World.

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