http://www.tfaoi.com/am/8am/8am203.jpg The Political Dr. Seuss Springfield Library and Museums Association
Hatred a Disease of the Mind and Soul.
Before the first Europeans visited the continents that we now call North and South America, Scholars believe that the indigenous people that lived on both continents numbered, from 35 to over 100 million people. Within 100 years of the discovery of the Americas, it is estimated that 90% of the native population in some areas had died. The majority died directly from the infectious diseases that the European explorers and settlers brought with them.
Not all diseases are of the body, some of the most devasting to a human being are of the mind and soul. Hatred is such a disease. The indigenous people that survived the infectious diseases of the invaders, had to deal with the diseases of Hatred, that would influence every aspect of their contact with the occupiers of America for the next 600 years.
Hatred based on Racism in the New World has been a key factor of how the Europeans “discovering the empty lands” treated the indigenous people that occupied the Americas. The first contact with the indigenous people of the New World, began with the biases that the Europeans brought with them. Because the people they discovered were dark skinned, wore little on no clothing, had no churchs, and did not seem to have any civilized pratices, they were deemed to be heathens and pagans.
Hatred is a basic human emoition used to describe extreme dislike, bigotry, and prejudice based on ignorance and fear. Hatred as Racism is the condemnation of a person or group of person based on their color or ethnic background.
Through the writings of the legenday men like the soldier, explorer and colonist Captain John Smith, many Europeans developed beliefs the indigenous people of America were devils, savages and barbarians. The famous myth about Pocahontas the daughter of the chief of the Powhatans saving Captain Smith’s life is an example the illistrates the difference between fact and ficton. In Captain Smiths account the young Pocahontas saves his life from her barbaric father as he
was about to be killed, by throwing her body across to prevent his death. If in fact the incident is true, it was a symbolic ceremony to a public acknowledgement that the chief thru his daughter was adopting Captain Smith into the tribe.
In the Disney cartoon move “Pocahontas” the Captain John Smith and Pocahontas relationship is used to provide a "politically correct, historically incorrect version of the interaction between the Native Americans and the settlers of Jamestown. That movie does
provide a great song the, “Colors of the Wind” that does a good job of challengeing racism, and also humanism." (Strong)
"Color of the Wind" from "Pocahontas"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkV-of_eN2w
Disney Movie Pocahontas
After listening to the message in "Color of the Wind", listen to the alternate message in "Savages" to get understand the reversal of roles normal associated with the savage Native Americans and the noble English colonist.
"Savages" from "Pocahontas"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSu4hOLYrXk
Disney Movie Pocahontas
America was discovered and settled by people that used their racial biases to subjagate an entire race of people under the excuse that they were different. America was created so that all men could be free and there would be equlity and liberty for all, but that is a mission that has yet to be fully achieved.
Strong, Pauline Turner, Review of , Pocahontas. H-Women, H-Net Reviews. July, 1995.
URL:
http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=14848 (accessed 12/07/09)
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