Re: Amerindian resistance mode (was: amerindian an offensive
Mark K. Bilbo (102217.121@compuserve.com)
Sun, 18 Aug 1996 08:42:50 -0600
In article <4uo3ab$ggd@news.sdd.hp.com>,
geroldf@sdd.hp.com (Gerold Firl) wrote:
>That is one of
>the reasons why mainstream american culture has embraced pluralism and
>civil rights so wholeheartedly. There are residual bigots, of course,
>but they are pretty marginal. US culture is pretty firmly committed to
>egalitarianism (or at least to meritocracy).
And if you're a good boy, Santa Claus will bring you lots and lots of
presents!
>What most americans are unwilling to go along with is your idea of
>karmic retribution. I think that most americans believe that indians
>have had a raw deal, and deserve better. what they don't believe is
>that they deserve to be punished for the actions of their "spiritual
>ancestors".
I believe Paula was expressing a belief on how the world works. Which one
can disagree with of course but if she's right (and I think she is) then it
doesn't *matter what "most Americans are willing to go along with." It *is
a US Americanism to think that reality is up for popular vote but I'm going
to remain unconvinced until I see legislation successfully repeal gravity
or some similar hard reality.
>In china there is a tradition of punishing entire families for the
>crime of one person. I believe that the practise spread as far west as
>the roman empire, during the years of rot. But such a practice is
>foreign to the west, where each individual is accorded responsibility
>in measure to their freedom. Personally, I don't expect anyone to
>"reap" what someone else has sown, unless it be by free and mutual
>consent.
Well, I don't see where this applies. Indians aren't in the political
position to hold anybody responsible for anything.
And whether you "expect" to reap what someone else is sown is not the
point. It's whether it happens or not.
Also, I notice you actually *do expect to reap what someone else has sown.
Or were you present during the American Revolution and, hence, can claim
personal responsibility for the US Constitution?
Mark
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