I don't think anyone questions his tenacity as an explorer. I always thought calling what he did the "reunification" of the old and new world was about right. I

I don't think anyone questions his tenacity as an explorer. I always thought calling what he did the "reunification" of the old and new world was about right. It's more the plunder and enslavement of the native people that people have a problem with I'd guess. I'm also under the impression that a lot of the positive Columbus marketing was a 19th/20th Century US thing to help boost the social status of Italian immigrants; I don't really know his approval rating throughout the centuries, but I think you've right that it's down as of late.