Re: Amerindian resistance mode (was: amerindian an offensive
Paula Sanch (Paula.Sanch@emich.edu)
Wed, 07 Aug 1996 14:31:47 GMT
uhendjx@racer (Jonathan W. Hendry) wrote:
>Stephen W. Russell (srussell@lonestar.jpl.utsa.edu) wrote:
>: Truthfully? I think we ARE going to die out. What do you do with people
>: who have no interest in pursuing wealth?
>We call them artists.
*We* call them everyday people. Those who are raised at all
traditionally know how to do a multiplicity of crafts. Although I was
raised "white", my Gramma taught me how to sew by hand before I can
even remember (my mother taught me how to use a sewing machine when I
was five). I also learned rug-making, crocheting, embroidery,
gardening (including how to prune fruit trees Indian fashion {quite
different from the white way, but as effective}) - all before the age
of nine. (And I am sure there are some things I'm not remembering at
just this moment.) I also began learning to cook (*not* play in the
kitchen) before age five because I remember scalding my hand helping
my mother dissolve cocoa for a cake (baked single-handed *my* first at
nine {yes, it was quite edible, thanks; the #1 maxim I heard from my
Gramma was "Waste not, want not."}) and her tremendous conscience
attack because she hadn't considered the possibility I could be hurt
in *previous episodes*. NA children in traditional settings of any
sort (i.e., not disrupted by alcohol or *extreme* poverty) learn
fairly comprehensive skill sets at far earlier ages than children from
homes with other traditional American cultures (to distinguish from
the children of recent immigrants).
The fact that we are not raised to value material wealth highly
doesn't mean we don't understand or can't appreciate the things it can
bring; it just means that there are other things we prize far more.
Those who do earn substantial sums in world culture almost invariably
redistribute all except what they need to preserve a minimally decent
lifestyle.
Paula.Sanch@emich.edu
-----------------------------
My object is to be perfectly frank, without hurting anyone's
feelings. My next impossible goal is . . . I dunno yet.
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