Guy Gambill wrote: > I would like to respond to some historical > inaccuracies presented earlier, in the last > series of postings. > Anyone who has read--with anything approaching > objectivity--of the history of the European conquest > of the Americas must confess that the systematic > and wholesale destruction of a series of nations > has seldom approached the rapacity, brutality, or > greed of that conducted by the Spaniards, English, > French and Americans during the course of the 16th- > 19th centuries.
I would posit that the only difference in the systematic and wholesale destruction of the native civilizations of the Americas, compared to other conquests, was the level of technology available to the Europeans. There is nothing less brutal or greedy about the conquests of the Assyrian, Egyptian, Babylonian, Roman, Greek, Mongol, various Chinese, and Mesoamerican empires. Genocide, mass rape, slavery, and torture were practiced by most if not all. > Yes, Native Americans engaged in warfare...but within > the boundaries of North America, -particularly our > region-that combat was highly ritualized and conducted > with a degree of civility far above, morally, that of > the European powers who confronted them. Many other hunting and gathering cultures on other continents also engaged in ritualized and "civil" warfare. As Mr. Gambill points out, civility was somewhat particular to our region (and I would claim it was only due to the lower population density). You need only look to the east coast to see ritualized torture being practiced by many tribes, as well as less civil warfare. As to being limited to North America, I would also posit that the geographic constraint was due primary to the lack of development of more "advanced" cultures. You need only look to Mesoamerica for more sophisticated warfare, violence, and brutality. Why is it that we have to romanticize Native American cultures? Humans cultures are, for the most part, violent. Why are we in such denial? This is not to say that Europeans were more honorable than Native Americans, indeed I believe they were far less honorable and far more deceitful. If Andrew Jackson was alive today he'd be on trial for war crimes. For those not interested in reading about Native American history or literature, I'd suggest watching "Black Robe." Or to see that the problems of subjugated peoples are not local to North America try watching, "Once Were Warriors." Michael Atherton Prospect Park REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
