Posted by
Scotch Indian on Monday, June 23, 2008 6:17:03 PM
The“double standard” argument – The United States, capitalists, white males, Israel and Christians are judged by absolute moral standards. Then, in a slick pirouette, repellant practices by totalitarian regimes, socialists, people of color or Muslims are judged using a more nuanced, historical perspective.
No one would argue that Native Americans were mistreated during the 200+ years of the American republic. This is well documented and discussed endlessly. What is not discussed at all is the fact that Native Americans also mistreated each other long before the advent of the white men. Aztecs cut out the hearts of sacrificial victims; Mayan civilization was based on the domination of one group of dark skinned people by other dark skinned people; the Sioux were at constant war with the Cheyenne and other tribes and subjected captives to cruel punishments; the Yaqui Indians of the Southwest devised exquisite tortures for non Yaqui’s long before the white men; the Anasazi were driven from their homes by another more aggressive tribe.