I’m surprised it caused that much controversy. I was expecting people to go off on the Hitler part instead. But, hey, if that’s what people want to discuss...
I’m dismayed that anyone would feel the need to defend the European colonizers as a group (apart from the many individuals who undoubtedly dealt honorably). I’m especially surprised that anyone would suggest that the genocide was okay because the various Native American tribes undoubtedly got the land in the first place by genociding the tribe that genocided the tribe that genocided the tribe… back through a few dozen genocides to whoever came over the land bridge, who probably wiped out a tribe or two on their way over. Have we forgotten that two wrongs don’t make a right?
Be it far from me to spoil a holiday. Being gloomy all the time won’t help anything. But I celebrate Newtonmas, not Christmas (since Newton actually was born on Dec 25th) - celebrating a holiday is one thing, celebrating a lie is another. And if there’s anything to Give Thanks for, it’s that in modern America, land transfers are done by contract.
I’m amazed that people want their stories to be so one-sided. If the Native Americans were bad people, it follows that the Europeans must be good? If the Europeans were bad, it follows that the Native Americans must be good? Who says the story must have heroes? There were a few good people, I’m sure. There usually are. But a team worthy of rooting for? Why would you expect any group, of a few centuries past, to live up to your own morals? Wouldn’t the whole story look different if that had been true?
Let’s just all agree that we won’t commit genocide, and we’ll have learned whatever there was to learn.
I’m surprised it caused that much controversy. I was expecting people to go off on the Hitler part instead. But, hey, if that’s what people want to discuss...
I’m dismayed that anyone would feel the need to defend the European colonizers as a group (apart from the many individuals who undoubtedly dealt honorably). I’m especially surprised that anyone would suggest that the genocide was okay because the various Native American tribes undoubtedly got the land in the first place by genociding the tribe that genocided the tribe that genocided the tribe… back through a few dozen genocides to whoever came over the land bridge, who probably wiped out a tribe or two on their way over. Have we forgotten that two wrongs don’t make a right?
Be it far from me to spoil a holiday. Being gloomy all the time won’t help anything. But I celebrate Newtonmas, not Christmas (since Newton actually was born on Dec 25th) - celebrating a holiday is one thing, celebrating a lie is another. And if there’s anything to Give Thanks for, it’s that in modern America, land transfers are done by contract.
I’m amazed that people want their stories to be so one-sided. If the Native Americans were bad people, it follows that the Europeans must be good? If the Europeans were bad, it follows that the Native Americans must be good? Who says the story must have heroes? There were a few good people, I’m sure. There usually are. But a team worthy of rooting for? Why would you expect any group, of a few centuries past, to live up to your own morals? Wouldn’t the whole story look different if that had been true?
Let’s just all agree that we won’t commit genocide, and we’ll have learned whatever there was to learn.
Is it really meaningful to say Newton was born on Dec 25th when he was born a fortnight after the solstice?