That number 200 million is very debatable. (especially when there were only 30 million indigenous population in 1492.) 80% of all the indigenous population died of disease, so I think its unfair that just because a human being came in contact with another one and the other one died that its their fault. If you had the flu and went to the mall and some child or old man caught it from you does that mean you killed them and if so and you are an atheist, does that mean atheism caused another death of some poor innocent old man or child? And lets not forget, that most of the violence in the new world was started by the indigenous populations. The europeans would go to the chiefs and offer them items for the land they lived on. The chiefs had no concept of ownership of land and thought they were pulling a fast one on the white man. Then they found out the white man put up fences around that land and denied them access, so the indians got mad and started attacking and claiming "we stole their land" even though we paid for it fair and square. Its like if you bought a house and then the previous owner wanted to keep using the pool and have family gatherings in your backyard, you telling him no and then he starts attacking you and your family because you wont let him use it. Don't you have the right to defend your property that you PAID for? (yeah, they dont like to teach that inconvenient fact in high school history, do they?)
Why don't we ask Obama? He attended Rev Wrights chruch for 20 years and he also helped organize The Million Man March. He knows both sides.
A string of beads is hardly fair and square. You know damn well the early Europeans took advantage. Let's see, educated, sophisticated white man, fully averse in landownership and capable of valuation of property, believes he paid "fair and square" for thousands of acres of land to indigenous tribal elders for the price of a few glass beads.
"When the missionaries came to Africa They had the Bible and we had the land. They said "Let us pray." We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land." Bishop Desmond Tutu.
There are no certain numbers about the south american indigenous population before 1492, but the estimates are normally between 50 and 100 million. The quoted 200 million is an estimate how many deaths were directly or indirectly caused by the conquerors. Indeed, a large number died from diseases. The rest, maybe 80 million, were either directly killed, or died from slave labour in the mines from the 16th to the 18th century. The Christian belief at that time played a major role in the massacres, as it legalized killing and enslavement of heathens. Any irrational belief, such as any missionary religion, tends to fanatism and violence if uncontrolled. That's why separation of church and state is so important in history. This separation is in the US more pronounced than in Europe, and rightfully so, because Christianity in the US is more backwards oriented and irrational than in most other industrial countries.
I'm sorry. I believe I have offended retards by asking these questions. The answer is the American? Atheist's are just annoying little children who like to act like brats.
So I expect these same atheists to put up billboards around st Patrick's day denouncing leprechauns and the whole christmas season can be dedicated to Santa. New years can be dedicated to the flying spaghetti monster.