Posted by Heather on November 04, 1997 at 14:43:34:
In Reply to: Re: Thanks posted by Marcia on October 29, 1997 at 07:36:08:
: Petra wrote:
: But I guess I don't believe in the part "something greater than had ever been created before". Instead, I thought that at that time, the Native tribes still had the chance to defend their land, had they only not allied themselves with either European side, then maybe the extension of colonialism could still have been stopped and the U.S. in its ultimate form could have been prevented.
: Hi, Petra. Interesting point, but my own feeling has always been that, given the technological superiority of the Europeans as a whole, an outside power of some kind was bound to take over the continent. I don't believe (unfortunately, perhaps) the Native Americans ever had a chance to defend what's now America. When I said "something better than had ever been created before," I had in mind a country that really held true to the tenets of Democracy, a country that valued & cared for the land in a responsible manner, and most of all, a country that lived in peace and harmony with all American Indians, rather than subjugating them to assimilation in the European traditions/religions, driving them from their lands, and even pushing for (and often accomplishing) the complete annihilation of various tribes and cultures. It seems to me we would be a much richer people today if we had been able to accomplish some of that.
: Marcia
Hey you guys, there's a movie with Eric Schweig called THE BROKEN CHAIN which deals with the Six Nations who allied themselves with the French or the English,(which "broke the chain") and one character, ES, who studies the white way for a while and the toll that it took on his friendships and the way this particular tribe dealt with the White Man's invasion and eventual treaty-breaking action. It was really enlightening. You can rent it at BLOCKBUSTER (that I know of). If not, send me a video tape and I'll make anyone a copy:-)(hdauter@beta.loyno.edu)
:Heather