Voices of History 2

[@joelkazoo]

Ah, I see! Thanks for the clear-up! Love your vids, keep 'em up!

[@videocomicsonline]

Unlike Mel Gibson's portrayal, the Maya gave their blood willingly because it was a sacred honor. Skulls are an important motif for them as well, so drinking the blood out of a skull is symbolic of something holy and good, not cruelty. Cultural ideas are not universal, they evolve separately. That is why we can point our fingers and say "they're not so innocent, they're worse than us". Our misjudgments make us ignorant of the truth.

[@Herpkid56]

and while he was at it, saved america

[@jbranstetter04]

Andrew Jackson was an good President. He was good for America that's all that needs to be said.

[@videocomicsonline]

Those are all good points, and it would be hard to argue them. I'm glad you brought up the principle of CAPITAL though, because the pursuit of capital, who controls capital and has access to it, is the very thing which helps corrupt LIFE and LIBERTY. I think this is what motivated our leaders to exploit others through war, invasion and slavery. If you dispel your feelings of nationalism, and I think this becomes apparent.

[@videocomicsonline]

Gotcha. From the bit of research I've been doing, you were certainly right about the various tribes fighting one another. Many tribes displaced by British and French intrusion found only enemies in the new areas they tried to call home. Worse, modern weapons and hunting implements helped the natives decimate animal populations for the europeans insatiable desire for furs. It's all very, very sad. There's rarely a simple solution.

[@JARRETT7121]

THAT'S RIGHT!! We Won > They Lost!

[@videocomicsonline]

The Seminoles were a broken and mixed people by the time the 13 colonies were expanding, but this only happened after the Spaniards invaded (Florida was Spanish territory). Prior to that, they were a complete and unique tribe.

[@GH-oi2jf]

The southeastern Amerinds would probably have disappeared altogether had they not been relocated.

[@videocomicsonline]

It is the government's responsibility. "We the people" is not supposed to include corporations. Our leaders should worry about all of it's citizens, not just the few who fill their bank accounts. I can't compete with EXXON or GM or DUPONT. Working 70-80 hours a week won't get me to their level either. We are, and have been, ruled by the influence of the people with money. Less than 10 percent decide what direction this country takes. That is not a democracy.

[@videocomicsonline]

Yes, I know many native groups took sides trying to figure out who would benefit them the most, and consistently saw each other as enemies. But their land had changed so drastically from when the europeans arrived, you have to imagine that they were quite confused as to what their futures would be among the whites. As for our founding fathers, they only thought of themselves and how to protect their personal interests.

[@videocomicsonline]

I don't think the natives siding with the French was the reason for war. The French and British created their own disputes over land claims and fur trading. The various tribes sometimes changed their favor between the two based on who gave them better gifts and arms frequently. I think its widely accepted that the natives were caught in the middle and used by either side when it suited them.

[@ORACLE063]

he also ended the fiat monetary system. so u take the good with the bad with him lol

[@videocomicsonline]

Even though I participate in this capitalist society, I believe it warrants scrutiny and criticism. Capitalism and consumerism blind you and me from the pain that less fortunate people go through, all because a small portion of the population are greedy beyond comprehension. Who in their right mind would pay themselves $200 million a year? How many children are without healthcare? Shouldn't we balance this situation out?

[@videocomicsonline]

Some leaders saw the future of their people, and it was dire unless they could stop the spread of whites across their lands. Some sought this through peace, others through war. Tecumseh fought for his reasons, and Pontiac his. Although most groups sought a peaceful solution, every single Native American had to submit to the will of the U.S., and it was an unfair and destructive compromise. That is an accurate, acknowledged historical truth, and I am far from being ignorant of that fact.

[@germany10]

That's not true, controlling the settlers is a difficult matter, due to a lack of a large bureaucracy, fact is, the president lacked the ability to do so and wanted settlers to spread, in order to make a stronger claim for the territory.

[@videocomicsonline]

They did not believe in ownership of land, but they did fight each other consistently over the resources of the land. Total warfare rarely happened, and almost every inhumane and cruel practice they performed was adopted from the Spaniards and other Europeans. Because violence against them was committed in the name of God, they thought it held some spiritual significance. How can we judge cruelty and violence when we kill innocent women and children in Iraq?

[@videocomicsonline]

I read about him adopting a native boy, but I'm sure he tried to raise him as a white american. As for the Creek Civil War, his decision was based on selfish desires. He would have killed any Native American group who threatened U.S. expansion.

[@videocomicsonline]

Okay, I get your point. The Mongols committed a high degree of destruction in their campaign across Asia and into Europe. So if Ghengis Kahn had colonized the Americas first and killed millions upon millions of Native Americans, I'd be calling the Mongols the most awesome destructive force the world ever saw, despite the facts. Well, people will need to use their own judgement to see if my points are valid or exaggerated.

[@cheeryvibez]

so the u.s doesnt seek global ownership of assetts?

[@marionerickson69]

I find that our people are livings in exponential times we shouldn't have to over come genoside and the hurts inflicted on our peoples through-out history.Many native people"struggle".I know I do.Some are just flat out lazy. Ithink people back then were stupider then natives.SOmebody wanted to change that. In many ways they did.

[@videocomicsonline]

Westerners are historically the most violent groups of people that ever existed. From the Romans on, they've spread brutality and destruction all across Europe. So when they arrive at the Americas and become victims of small-scale Native attacks, suddenly violence against innocents is an issue?

[@videocomicsonline]

I meant slavery as past tense. Owning land virtually destroyed the way of life of the Native Americans. Money can be used by owners of corporations to control workers. Our society is one large superficial cycle which ignores the basic tenants of a successful society: provide for everyone, especially the less fortunate, so that everyone is comfortable. This is not such a far-fetched idea. We have proof it works: the Lakota lived that way for much longer than the Roman and Chinese empires lasted.

[@videocomicsonline]

Jackson wasn't a liar, but his lack of scope of human rights allowed him to hurt people. This should disqualify him as a positive national figure. We'll have to agree to disagree about Manifest Destiny. People who didn't believe in the white man's God suffered from this nation's expansion.

[@videocomicsonline]

The history of colonial america is very complex, and I know I'm not knowledgeable of all of the circumstances which caused various groups (Native Americans, British, French, Spanish, Dutch) to fight one another. I'd be suspicious of the history I did read though. To what extent did the British exaggerate Native brutality to further their cause? Who recorded the Native Americans point of view? History is written by the winners.

[@videocomicsonline]

That great president was pro-slavery, and broke apart Seminole families who had half-african children, claiming the african blood in them made them property. Manifest Destiny was an inhumane imperialist movement to steal land. Are you for all that?