Columbus reveled in making distinctions between his own culture and 'the other,' in a way that prioritized his own culture, even though ironically he went in search of a non-Western civilization's Indian bounty of spices. Columbus' eradication of another civilization is the most extreme form of Western civilization's prioritization of distinction, in contrast to Buddhism's stress upon the collapse of such distinction. The most obvious negative legacy of Columbus, for all of his striving and inquiry, is the current racial divisions of our own society and the damaged material and cultural state of Native Americans. Although a change of attitude cannot heal these distinctions alone, adopting at least some of the Buddhist spirit of the acceptance of the 'Other' as one with the self or 'non-self' might be an important first step in creating common ground in our nation. Our nation was founded not simply in democracy, but upon European colonialization and superiority, far before...

The legacy of China also reminds us that all civilizations have regarded themselves as 'special,' not just our own, no matter how great our democratic legacy.
Works Cited

Ancient Chinese Explorers: Part 2." NOVA. PBS.org. Jan 2001. 14 Dec 2007. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sultan/explorers2.html

Butler, Mike. Basic Buddhism Guide. Buddhanet. 2007. 14 Dec 2007. http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/intro_bud.htm

Columbus, Christopher. The Journal of Christopher Columbus. Translated by Clements

R. Markham. World History. 2007. 14 Dec 2007. http://www.wadsworth.com/history_d/special_features/ext/world_hist/WorldCiv-ch15.html

The Hear Sutra." Buddhanet. 2007. 14 Dec 2007. http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/heartstr.htm

Tzu, Lao. "Chapter 1: What is the Tao?" Tao Te Ching. 2007. 14 Dec 2007. http://www.thetao.info/english/page1.htm