"The "genocide" myth" Topic

"On September 21, the National Museum of the American Indian will open its doors. In an interview early this year, the museum's founding director, W. Richard West, declared that the new institution would not shy away from such difficult subjects as the effort to eradicate American Indian culture in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is a safe bet that someone will also, inevitably, raise the issue of genocide.

The story of the encounter between European settlers and America's native population does not make for pleasant reading. Among early accounts, perhaps the most famous is Helen Hunt Jackson's A Century of Dishonor (1888), a doleful recitation of forced removals, killings, and callous disregard. Jackson's book, which clearly captured some essential elements of what happened, also set a pattern of exaggeration and one-sided indictment that has persisted to this day…"
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Amicalement
Armand

A good summary. Thanks you Armand.

I wonder if they will have the courage to address native vs native genocide and the effort to eradicate rival Indian tribal culture.

I was wondering that, too, mrwigglesworth.

A votre service mon ami!. (smile)

Amimcalement
Armand

Read "Counting Coup and Cutting Horses," by Ted McGinnis. It recounts a myriad of stories of war parties attacking one another as it was the only way for young men to gain social status and eventually, marriage. The U.S. Department of Interior made several attempts from 1841-1881 to put a stop to the inter-tribal conflicts as it impeded trade, etc. Eventually all to no avail. There were many officers within the U.S. Army (Wynkoop, Sully, Grierson to name but a few) who respected the plight of all Indians, and if there was an official genocide policy then somebody forgot to tell them.

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand

I know he's probably misquoted but maybe Phil Sheridan got the memo?

Memo: Basha Felika,

You need to read read "Phil Sheridan and His Army" by Paul Andrew Hutton (1973) University of Nebraska Press. PP 16-17. "…and did we not hesitate to shell Vicksburg or Atlanta when we knew there were women and children present? The key to success in war is in ravaging the enemy homeland and destroying his will for the loss of property weighs heavy with the most of mankind; heavier often, than the sacrifices made on the field of battle."