History wasn't ol' Bill's strong suit, was it? Settlers were slaughtered by Native Americans simply for existing. They fought each other for territorial dominance before white people ever showed up. That's why the government started sending in federal enforcement and negotiating all those policies/treaties in the first place, to open up the territories for settlement.
We can argue that the Indians had a right to defend their turf and run off intruders. But we cannot realistically pretend that they were all peaceful and chit, not bothering anyone, until white devils showed up. That's simply not the way it was by any historical account, and you've been watching too many Billy Jack movies if you think so.
lol!
History wasn't ol' Bill's strong suit, was it? Settlers were slaughtered by Native Americans simply for existing. .
I would think the Slaugher-o-meter is a bit weighed in our favor, wouldn't you?
Of course, but that wasn't the subject. The original statement by Buffalo Bill inferred that the government caused every case of Indian violence, and I submit that that is not true.
I also said that we can indeed debate whether the Injuns were right to defend their land - and I'm sure most of us would agree that they were. However throughout history, "to the victor go the spoils". In this particular conflict, whitey was the victor and got the spoils. "We" aren't original in that aspect - it's been done since the beginning of time and still happens to this day.
Injuns and whitey in your words. No respect there. You think you are above all that happens. No surprise there. And, I think you missed the true meaning of his words. And, he was a hypocrite. Go figure.
I think this might be the first time I have liked your post. Buffalo Bill got it a long time ago. Despite the good intentions of our Founding Fathers, I think many great men have seen the writing on the wall for a long time. All Americans are now victims of our government, no matter which side;, work or not, on welfare or not, corporate or not, Dem/Repub or not, occupy Wall Street or not, illegal alien or not, black/white, or not, etc. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Abraham Lincoln was right all those years ago; he just didn't know how right he was. I am sure he would be very inconsolable at this point, if he knew; just like Mary was when he was assassinated. It changed her whole existence, as ours is being changed now. This is for you TJ...JMO!
When all said and done, Buffalo Bill exploited Native Americans, too with his shows. He, also, contributed, greatly to the almost demise of the buffalo. He was a truther, but, also, a hypocrite. He probably would have fit right in to our current existence.
Settlers were slaughtered by Native Americans simply for existing. They fought each other for territorial dominance before white people ever showed up.
Of course, but that wasn't the subject. The original statement by Buffalo Bill inferred that the government caused every case of Indian violence, and I submit that that is not true.
I also said that we can indeed debate whether the Injuns were right to defend their land - and I'm sure most of us would agree that they were. However throughout history, "to the victor go the spoils". In this particular conflict, whitey was the victor and got the spoils. "We" aren't original in that aspect - it's been done since the beginning of time and still happens to this day.
What this has to do with 'American Exceptional-ism" is beyond me.
it was a dig at America of course ..
... insert 'America is Sooooo Exceptional, look at how they treated Native Americans'
would it be a moral equivalency argument to point out this was a European thing going on for 100's or yrs .... look at the Colonial period in Africa or the Boxer Rebellion in China
If meant to be it sorta leaves out that 'Indians' were Americans, too. And first.
We have this odd understanding that Native American's were, somehow, the pure people who never lied, stole or cheated nor took anything that didn't belong to them. Of course, the idea of 'American Exceptional-ism' is absurd to begin with.
..... the idea of 'American Exceptional-ism' is absurd to begin with.
Of course, the idea of 'American Exceptional-ism' is absurd to begin with.
We not only keep each other for pets, we keep other countries as pets. THAT, my friend, is exceptional.
We have built a nation the founders envisioned and did everything they could to hand us the tools to avoid it.
But you can't stop humans from being human. It's what we do.