Though many people are proud to be an American, we often forget all the bloodshed it took to get where we are. Something like this should not be overlooked or forgotten.
When we're younger, at least when I was, I always learned about Thanksgiving and how much the Pilgrims and the Native American Indians got along, or about all the indigenous tribes. The system fails to teach the difficult parts, the American Genocide as it is put here. It's like saying the World War II Holocaust did not happen.
Thanks for sharing all of this Camille. Definitely a really significant series of posts, and I hope to see more.
Thanks so much for educating me Camille. History is soooo important to me, especially since it includes you. I'm saddened by the fact the american indians had to suffer so much from our European brethren. I know i wouldn't be here without Europe seeking new establishments. I'm excited to see more about our country's heritage.
One thing that people repeatedly fail to grasp is that history is not about what happened in the past – it is what people SAY happened in the past.
The victors write history, so they ensure that it is their version of the past that is taught in schools. All nations have their own history. History is a means of creating a national identity, because of that certain inconvenient facts are left out which might taint that image.
For example British history as taught in schools does not mention the Black and Tans going on the rampage in Ireland in the 1920s, nor the fact that the British invented concentration camps to contain the Boers in South Africa.
Sometimes the gloss put upon history is understandable. American history not unnaturally likes to celebrate its struggle for Independence over the British. Years down the line even we British can admire that; however the fact that the struggle wasn’t really much of one, because the red-coats were very loathe to fight fellow English speaking kith and kin is an inconvenient fact which doesn’t make for a good story.
America was rightly at the forefront of insisting that the Germans faced up to their crimes in the Second World War. I guess one shouldn’t be too critical when we find it took a different attitude about its own crimes at home – all nations do it. It’s as much about recognising that what we are taught at school is often a proverbial load of bollocks and not solely because of omission.
I’m finding it very hard to read about the plight of The North American Indian, but I’m determined to do so and am eternally grateful to Camille for helping me be a wiser person. It is never too late to square up to the truth. We owe it to the North American Indians whose voices and cries of anguish can still be heard down the years as much as we try not to hear them.
I’m not ashamed to say that this series of posts is making me cry. Thank you Camille.
Thank you, Saffron. I truly appreciate everyone being supportive of this series, even if only viewing each part in silence. If it is any consolation at all, it is as heart wrenching for me to compile and post such. I’ve made a concerted effort to choose the least graphic material wherever possible and refrain from some altogether, specifically because it is so challenging to absorb.
In response to your reply, aside from the horrific ugly truth, what I find more difficult to swallow is the fact that these actions were, and in some cases still are, being used by others to emulate, such as Hitler did. I’m so sorry it made you cry. There are, however, other sections to come which do as much to honor and rejoice as feel the pain. Please bear with me, and them, as we proceed. There is much beauty to acknowledge as well. :)
6 comments:
Though many people are proud to be an American, we often forget all the bloodshed it took to get where we are. Something like this should not be overlooked or forgotten.
When we're younger, at least when I was, I always learned about Thanksgiving and how much the Pilgrims and the Native American Indians got along, or about all the indigenous tribes. The system fails to teach the difficult parts, the American Genocide as it is put here. It's like saying the World War II Holocaust did not happen.
Thanks for sharing all of this Camille. Definitely a really significant series of posts, and I hope to see more.
Thank you, Jasmin.
Thanks so much for educating me Camille. History is soooo important to me, especially since it includes you.
I'm saddened by the fact the american indians had to suffer so much from our European brethren. I know i wouldn't be here without Europe seeking new establishments.
I'm excited to see more about our country's heritage.
Thank you, Kimmie.
One thing that people repeatedly fail to grasp is that history is not about what happened in the past – it is what people SAY happened in the past.
The victors write history, so they ensure that it is their version of the past that is taught in schools. All nations have their own history. History is a means of creating a national identity, because of that certain inconvenient facts are left out which might taint that image.
For example British history as taught in schools does not mention the Black and Tans going on the rampage in Ireland in the 1920s, nor the fact that the British invented concentration camps to contain the Boers in South Africa.
Sometimes the gloss put upon history is understandable. American history not unnaturally likes to celebrate its struggle for Independence over the British. Years down the line even we British can admire that; however the fact that the struggle wasn’t really much of one, because the red-coats were very loathe to fight fellow English speaking kith and kin is an inconvenient fact which doesn’t make for a good story.
America was rightly at the forefront of insisting that the Germans faced up to their crimes in the Second World War. I guess one shouldn’t be too critical when we find it took a different attitude about its own crimes at home – all nations do it. It’s as much about recognising that what we are taught at school is often a proverbial load of bollocks and not solely because of omission.
I’m finding it very hard to read about the plight of The North American Indian, but I’m determined to do so and am eternally grateful to Camille for helping me be a wiser person. It is never too late to square up to the truth. We owe it to the North American Indians whose voices and cries of anguish can still be heard down the years as much as we try not to hear them.
I’m not ashamed to say that this series of posts is making me cry. Thank you Camille.
Thank you, Saffron. I truly appreciate everyone being supportive of this series, even if only viewing each part in silence. If it is any consolation at all, it is as heart wrenching for me to compile and post such. I’ve made a concerted effort to choose the least graphic material wherever possible and refrain from some altogether, specifically because it is so challenging to absorb.
In response to your reply, aside from the horrific ugly truth, what I find more difficult to swallow is the fact that these actions were, and in some cases still are, being used by others to emulate, such as Hitler did. I’m so sorry it made you cry. There are, however, other sections to come which do as much to honor and rejoice as feel the pain. Please bear with me, and them, as we proceed. There is much beauty to acknowledge as well. :)
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