Reader 1: In 1992, North, Central and South Americans celebrated the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ “discovery” of America. Of course, we have been reminded that it can’t really be called a “discovery” when there were people already living here who knew this land existed all the time!

So what’s a better word? “Exploration?” Perhaps most fitting is the word “conquest.” After 1492, as the Spaniards established their American empire, 20,000,000 native Americans were killed. In some areas, like Cuba, all of the native people were destroyed. The conquistadors would surround a village, imprison all the inhabitants in a large house, then set fire to it. Or they would loose their ferocious dogs among the natives, and they would be mauled to death.

European diseases were also a factor in the death…