European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 13, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Christopher Columbu exploring Columbus from the cover Columbus landfall approaches. For some celebrating the Columbus Quincen Tennial next year ranks As a memorial must. Spain for one has called Columbus voyage the most significant event in its history a while saying it regrets a the extinction of cultures and civilizations that took  Italy the United states the Bahamas and a handful of latin american countries Are also planning events to Mark the Date. But critics say such celebrations ignore Columbus bloody record glorify colonization and give the credit to a Man who was almost certainly beaten to the americas by at least a half dozen other explorers Leif Ericson Foremost among them. American indians in particular have been critical of marking the anniversary noting that Columbus did not discover them they discovered him. They knew where they were Columbus did not. Where those first americans actually cant from remains in As heated a debate. Inscriptions on stones in the South for instance May have been made by ancient jews. Artefacts in Brazil suggest roman influence and mexican Art supports some sort of Contact with Japan or China. Building and farming techniques language and religious beliefs among the native american tribes suggest Welsh swedish norwegian polish libyan and egyptian influence among others. Little wonder then that the United nations has showed out of plans to celebrate Columbus role in discovering the americas. For All the conflicting accounts surrounding the 1402 voyage it is certain Columbus did not originate the idea that the Earth was round. Ptolemy an egyptian astronomer had suggested that the Earth was a Globe As Early As the second Century and a the science of his time considered a had come close to gauging its actual dimensions. Sailing West to reach the exotic lands written about by Marco Polo two centuries before was also a matter of general discussion in the ports and shipyards of Columbus Day historians maintain. Hans Koning the author of Columbus his Enterprise notes that portuguese mariners reached Brazil More or less accidentally a Short eight years after Columbus landed in the Bahamas. Rather than making history Columbus was Quot caught up in the flow of history a Koning said in an interview. Quot Columbus happened to get there to the americas first but the world was already heading in that  Columbus can be Given credit for having the sense of purpose to mount the expedition and for overcoming the obstacles that stood in his Way a his Low birth and Lack of financing Paramount among them. A the was not a Nice Man Quot Koning added. Quot he was Petty and no one liked him. But he had this enormous ability to get people to do what he  born in Genoa Italy in 14? 1 a the same year As Leonardo a Vinci and Amerigo Vespucci a Columbus was one of five children of a Wool Weaver although he abandoned the family profession and took to the sea As a Young Man. From the writings of his Bastard son Fernando we know that Columbus was a tall Ruddy faced Man with Gray eyes and hair that turned while by the age of 31. Some historians believe he was born a jew and later converted to christianity to avoid the Wrath of the Spanish inquisitors. Others suggest he took up piracy to offset the boredom of vagrancy. He Likely sailed along the shores of much of Europe perhaps As far North As Iceland and is believed to have made at least one trip along africans West coast. Details remain sketchy until Columbus emerges in Lisbon in about 1480. Using the connections of his wife a Distant relative of the portuguese Royal family Columbus eventually landed an audience with King John ii. The Pilch was simple. Columbus would sail West to Chipang what is now Japan where according to Marco Polo there was Quot Gold in extreme abundance if is to he found  moving on to Cathay Columbus would find the grand Khan of Polo a travels convert him to christianity then pick up More Gold. Science soul and the secular All served Columbus would then hurry Home with the treasure. As Spanish historian Joam de Barras put it the portuguese King gave Columbus ideas Quot Small  the italians demands a that he be made an Admiral Viceroy and governor of All new lands plus get a tenth of All discovered treasure and a pair of Golden spurs a could Noi have improved his chances. Fast Forward to i486. Penniless and his wife dead Columbus had been forced to put their son Diego in a monastery while he wangled a Royal audience with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. His timing was less than provident the monarchs were winding Down an 800-year War w Ith the moors part of the kingdom was being ravaged by a plague and worse from col Page 4 a sunday october 13, 1991