even the American Indians committed similar acts against other tribes.
When war was made against another tribe there were reasons for it. Some of those reasons may sound barbaric by today's standards but it was part of existence at that time. Raids could have been called in order to find goods, materials, weapons, food supplies, or even people. Yes...people. There is no comparison what the British, French, Dutch, Spanish, and Nordic colonies, as well as the United States government did to the aboriginal people here. People were wiped out because simply, they were in the way. That's basically the end all be all result. We were in the way and we either had to adapt and conform or die. When you are basically given no choice today's situation amongst the strong majority of reservation Indians is the result.
Now don't get me wrong. I understand your point and value the time you've put into this thread--thank you for your comments--but I disagree. Recently I have spoken with numerous non-native peoples (whites I guess is the term to use, although as an Indian myself I find that term to be offensive) that there has been a modern saying and that saying is: "My ancestor’s didn't have anything to do with what happen to your people." I say "I know some didn't and some did but that’s not the point." The point is they came to a land to better their lives but the very rulers they came over under were running a campaign, at times without their direct knowledge, of terror, to ensure a life of unsecurity against the aboriginal people's who the land already belonged to. It's a total misnomer that Indian peoples didn't know the value or understand the concept of ownership or boundaries. They did. They knew what they owned and what was theirs. They knew what lands they could cross and what lands couldn't. They weren't dummies. When the land was negotiated for (or in most cases cheated to obtain) the Indian people were well aware of the price to be paid by them and had expectations of payment. When those payments were never received or out right taken by corrupt people innocent whites and other Indians suffered greatly. The prime example of this is the 1862 Minnesota Uprising.
I guess what I am trying to get at is, without writing a novel and sounding like some whacko AIM activist, is America is not without culpability and the Aboriginals of this Continent aren't forgetful. The time to heal is now while we still have a generation that was firsthand to the abuses, that took place still living. Those born in the early 20th century are witnesses to the great expanse that America became and the injustices in which their parents and grand parents suffered. Justice still can be accomplished and unity can be achieved--through learning, cultural awareness of both white and Indian peoples, fellowship, and understanding.
In the quiet words of the Virgin Mary: "Come again?" -
Brick Top, Snatch
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