Columbus' swordsmanship

I was somewhat taken back at how good a swordsman they made Columbus out to be when I first saw this movie. I mean, it should have seemed natural that a professional navigator and sailor would have gathered some defensive skills for a career that was a serious, if not all-encompassing, part of his existence. I just had never thought of Columbus as the warrior, when it came to that, but rather as the idealistic sailor always looking beyond the next horizon. Guess as a kid, never quite realize with being a trailblazer and adventurer entails. Silly kid, eh? Too much MTV and cartoons for me then, eh? Anyway, now that I read about his life before and during his explorations, it only makes sense that he would build some swordfighting skills. I mean, he isn't Basil Rathbone or Errol Flynn in the movie, but he can hold his own when he needs to. I mean, he's working in a job that has considerable human threats, not to mention biological and environmental threats (sicknesses or bad weather). There have been pirates since the time the Vikings ruled the seas and apparently are several still out there. They've traded swords and flintlocks for pistols and machine guns, of course. Doubtless, a professional sailor would want to be prepared to defend himself against a pirate, if he couldn't out run or evade him. Also, there is always the dangers of a mutiny aboard a ship. Don't always have to fight out a mutiny, you can circumvent it with persuasion and diplomacy. Still, you got to have that big stick ready in case speaking softly doesn't work.

"Religion and Politics: like a divorced couple who still enjoy occasional, casual sex."--Anonymous