Op-Ed: Columbus’ fear of Islam, rooted in Europe’s Crusades, shaped his view of Native Americans

BY ALAN MIKHAIL

(LA TIMES) In all that has been written about Columbus — from his being the first Italian American to the progenitor of a continental genocide — one of the most crucial aspects of his biography is missing: A primary force behind Columbus’ Atlantic crossings was a fear and hatred of Islam.

This shaped how white Europeans engaged with the “New World” and its native peoples for centuries, and how today’s Americans understand the world. It should influence how we think about the second Monday in October — whether you call it Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day or Italian Heritage Day.