I was not comparing the Native Americans to Sadam. I was comparing them to the Iraqi civilians. Times are different and America is not expanding its population to the Middle East, so there are not many similarities. I don't anticipate Americans handing out small pox infected blankets to the Iraqi's. Our beef is not with them - it's with their leader. Yes, in a war with Iraq some innocent civilians will die. But this is the fault of their leader not obeying International law and deliberately putting them in harm's way. The UN and the US are not to blame for enforcing law.
Rem, the leaders of the Five Nations where chosen by the 'clan' mothers not by their peers. The 'clan' mothers knew from childhood who would make good leaders. So, no leader took sole command of leadership. Women played an influential role in Native culture. Hillary Clinton visited the Senaca Nation a few years back and got a history lesson from the 'clan' mothers and the power they hold.
The strongest assets the natives had was SHARING! Now, isn't that suppose to be a Christian trait? As one outsider said, the Natives were more Christian in behavior than the Europeans. Native children were not neglected because one day a 'clan' mother will select the right person be a leader. So, no leader was ever like Saddam.
Maybe we're talking past each other. I'm not sure what your response has to do with my post. Maybe we are agreeing with each other? I can't tell. What I'm trying to say is that how we treated the Native Americans is immaterial in this situation. Different time and place. America is not expanding its population like it was back then. We are not planning on making Iraq a US state (are we?). We want the Iraqi people to be liberated and have their own government, preferably democratic, where they are not lorded over by a ruthless dictator, but rather by the US (just kidding ). This is nothing like the way the US dealt with the Native Americans.
When it comes to Native People, who were the attackers? This crap about it being history (who wrote the history?) and it's in the past holds no water with me. Am I to understand that there was justification in killing Native People? Under what grounds may I ask? This pattern of international killing and greed didn't start from the Indians. What LAND did the Pilgrims bring with them when they landed on the shores of North America? I suggest you once again view the many treaties the Europeans kept! Am I to conclude that you can make promises with me and not keep them?
I'm sorry, but you are not making a coherrent argument for your case (whatever it is). Yes the American people slaughtered many Native Americans many years ago. No one is disputing that. Has anyone on this thread disputed that and I didn't see it?
It's in the past. It was wrong, but we are no longer in the same situation. Every country or empire had done nasty things to people. How far back do you want to go? You can dig up dirt on any nation.
You are trying to draw parallels to the Native American situation when none exist. If you can define the parallels, please do, because you have not made a compelling case yet!
So, as an observer of this thread, I'm left to say, "so what?"
Rem, I don't expect you to understand. Native peoples still have problems with the government. its very simple. If you and I make agreements and it is signed, only YOU have the right to violate them? Are signed agreements a one way street? The white man creates this image that he is holier than thou. Am I wrong to assume that it's OK to kill the original inhabitants of this country just to STEAL their land? If so, your sanctioning killing! On what basis does anyone have the right to steal and kill? This excuse or argument that it happened in the past holds no water with me. Living conditions for most Native People is deplorable.
On your spare time, why not look up such books and writers. Robert M. Utley "Frontier Regulars The United states Army And The Indian, 1866-1890". "Examplar Of Liberty" Native American and the Evolution of Democracy by Donald A. Grinde, Jr and Bruce E. Johansen. "Black Hills White Justice" by Edward Lazarus. "The Oneida land Claims" A legal History George C. Shattuck. I have plenty more, but I doubt if you will even check one of these books out.
If your content with your way of life and strongly believe it, do your thing. I'm not here trying to convert or make people believe what I believe. Your not answerable to me and am I not answerable to you.
Rem, would you kindly start reading my original post and go from there. Do you believe in beginings? 1 comes before 2. Do you mind telling me your age?
Is this your usual reaction when you run out of arguments? I have read every post of yours on this thread. Somehow you went from Iraq to Native Americans with nary a bat of an eyelash. You still seem to be stuck on the Native American situation, but you still have not demonstrated how it is in any way related to the current situation. I'm just trying to understand where you are coming from and your posts on this thread do not illuminate at all.
