1492: As children, we were taught to memorize this year with pride and joy as the year people began living full and imaginative lives on the continent of North America.
Actually, people had been living full and imaginative lives on the continent of North America for hundreds of years before that. 1492 was simply the year sea pirates began to rob, cheat and kill them.
-Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse Five
Christopher Colombus, seen here in his true form.
Please Kill the Messenger 
That Colombus picture, though. I actually just recently saw an episode of The Sopranos focused on the perception of the dudes role in history. Fascinating what a little bit of history lesson and critical thinking can do.
– Lashaan