Columbus, the Indians, and the Human Progress; Zinn

In the book “A People’s History of the United States,” by Howard
Zinn, I believe is thesis statement is, “When he arrived on
Hispaniola in 1508, Las Casas says, “there were 60,000 people
living on this island, including the Indians; so that from 1494
to 1508, over three million people had perished from war,
slavery, and mines. Who in future generations is going to believe
this?”
I chose this selection because he is saying that the past is
being told from a certain point of view and that view is usually
from the more powerful side of two things. Columbus told the
side of him finding this new world but never of the terrible acts
he had committed in conquering these lands and now has a holiday
named after him. Columbus in his log wrote about how giving and
welcoming the Arawak tribe are. He only sees them for what they
can give to him in benefits for himself. For example the gold
the Arawaks makes for their jewelry, Columbus wants the Arawaks
to lead him straight to the gold imagining huge field of gold.
After finding out there is not that much gold he then starts to
kill the Arawaks for not fulfilling their duties. Today Columbus
is known as a great seaman who found the Americas and not known
for this murdering.
Why was there never evidence about this murdering earlier? Since
he is making this big case about the world never knowing of
Columbus’s rampage on the Arawaks, why did he not bring this
information up to others before this. I think he has a good
point but the world is not always peaceful and war is apart of life.
I felt disgusted while I was reading this. I think that children
should know about the cruelity that the Spartans had on the
different tribes. With the welcoming that the Arawaks gave them
and then being slaved for their resources without peace was
wrong. I also did not like how he lied when he returned back to
Europe and told his king false facts about his findings then had
numerous Indians become slaves for the lack of gold there
actually was. I am great full that Columbus did find the
Americas but did it the wrong way.