Elias Puentes
In reading the letter of Thomas Harriot, Alvarez Nunes Caveza de Vaca, Bartolome De Las Casas, and Christopher Columbus, I come to understand the confusion and ignorance that Native Americans and European explores had of each other's cultures. These letters give a broad perspective because of the different interest of the explorers and the different regions they explored. Some described the richness of the land or the harsh environment, others focused on cultural and religious values. De Las Casas takes a social justice view. Each one views this new world through their personal interests. Nevertheless, they offer an overview of clashing cultures.
Some opinions are worth noticing. One of them is a total and shared ignorance and confusion among both the Natives and the Europeans. Harriot's letters reveals this exaggerated confusion when he points to the people getting sick and dying. The Natives associated this to an offence done to the god of the Europeans, and Harriot seems to believe this as well. I understand that people did not know much about disease, but I also find an ignorance blinded by confusion.
After reading all the other letters, De Las Casas surprises us with his social justice view. This view seems to be very advanced for his time. He is not only writing as a way of reporting, but he pressures the authorities to enact laws against the injustices. De Las Casas seems to have had a conversion of heart.
Another fact that seems to be over look when discussing history is the suffering that the early explores went through. I just stopped to think about this and imagined all the physical and emotional harshness they endured. I believe that the interest of the first explorers was more of a visionary bent than a motivation of wealth.
I see how America is like a quilt woven by the Natives and by the different European groups that came to settle five hundred years ago. What I find fascinating is that this "quilt" continues to be woven by the most resent immigrant groups, and we face some of the same conflicts and difficulties that the early settles and Natives had because we are confused by new immigrants, and they are confused by us. We all come from different parts of the world speaking different languages and having different cultures. I am positive that some of the letters that immigrants send back to their countries of origin have narratives similar to the ones the explores wrote.
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4 comments:
I agree with you about the absolute ignorance both groups had for each other. They had no idea how other other group had evolved and adapted. The Europeans had no idea what affect alcohol had on them for example. This set the Indians on a bad path.
One might also say that they didn't think very hard about how anything would affect native populations...it really wasn't on the radar. Each group had its own interests and goals, and neither thought much about the effect the other would have on them until it was already far-gone. Do you think this says something about human nature, or is this clash endemic only to American exploration?
These letters give a broad perspective because of the different interest of the explorers and the different regions they explored. Some described the richness of the land or the harsh environment, others focused on cultural and religious values. De Las Casas takes a social justice view. Each one views this new world through their personal interests. Nevertheless, they offer an overview of clashing cultures.
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jnny
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When you mention that De Las Casas seems to undergo a conversion of the heart, I think that is a perfect description. His concern for the treatment of the Native Americans is inspiring. Also, I like how you compare America to a quilt, it embodies the essence of our nation.
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