3/15 1:31 PM "1. The US didn't buy land from France, but France's claim to land that had always been inhabited by native tribes. 2. The theme of indians attacking settlers has been seen significant attention throughout our nations history from our educational and cultural institutions. 3. Columbus had a significant role in the genocide of native peoples on the islands that he explored, a fact illustrated in his written accounts complete with a reversal of his earliest observations of the natives to rationalize what he and the Spanish were doing."
The thread was locked, so I will respond in here. First off, as I said I am part "native" American, so I have no stake in perpetuating anything that is inaccurate. Both the Europeans and the "native" Americans had their share of atrocities. Neither was particularly "peaceloving", and both were looking out for their own interests. One side won. WRT your points:
1. The US did most certainly buy land from France. You can reject the "legitimacy" of either claim. The transaction occurred, and that land is currently officially part of the US. Whether it was "right" is a separate issue. But I will add that EVERY nation was formed at some point when one stronger group forced at least one weaker group to accept new terms. You can criticize the US for this, but also do so for the rest of the globe, and don't act like the US was "more evil" in the way it acted.
2. Like another poster said, in MY history classes it was fairly balanced. Some attacks were commenced by one side, some by the other. Some were "provoked", some were not. Again, as someone of mixed ancestry, I have no compelling reason to "favor" one account over another.
3. Columbus's role was NOTHING like Hitler's, but the Khans WERE like Hitler. I wasn't attempting to paint Marco Polo as analogous to either, but to note that explorers and leaders have separate "roles". In how much genocide did Columbus ACTIVELY participate?
4/26 7:04 PM I went to Booker T Washington high school. Guess how many people in the school were white. Guess how many people liked to pick fights with me for being white. It's just been my experience that everybody hates everybody else.
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