As a first generation Italian-American, to me and to many like me, Christopher Columbus represents the idea that you can voyage far away from home, and with a dream, and perseverance and sacrifice, and faith and hard work, you can find a better life and enjoy the freedom with which we are blessed to have in this awesome country we call the United States of America.

And so, in response to David R. Hoffman’s letter (Jan. 13) in which he attacks the idea of paying tribute to a single man, Columbus, I say his attack is misguided; it is based on a simplistic history which ignores the context of times so that you may justify passing judgment.