Rereading the topic, I realize I never addressed this.
You are correct sir, my fear is that the American people no longer identify with Columbus, the conquistadores, or potentially the British, French, and Dutch forces that subjugated indigenous peoples in the early chapters of our history. I do think Columbus the individual will fall out of our collective memory as someone to be identified with, and I think identifying with Columbus and the Europeans who followed in his mold - the good and the bad - is a core part of the national identity.
~Max