History from Red Eyes

Native American history is often fabricated and told from "white eyes." Loewen suggests that we should tell it from "red eyes" to provide true insight into the formation of our country.  Textbooks write to comfort the majority of readers that are descendants of the "settlers;" however, if one truly looks at accounts of Native Americans' history, they would be the ones with "red eyes."  Textbook authors like to present material in an authoritative, definite tone; however, history is not always definite; there are new discoveries found that bring new light to issues.

Textbooks feel the need to perpetuate the anthropology concept of 1875 that people started off as savages, then become barbaric, and finally become civilized people.  Who is to classify people under these terms?  Everyone has a different way of living that might be more favorable to them as opposed to the current way that you are living. For example, the Native Americans saw their lifestyle as civilized and enjoyable, but some of the Europeans and historians have classified them as savages.  The diversity and number of cultures of Native Americans leaves it difficult to thoroughly discuss each, so textbooks choose one that stands out and is unusual, thus making Native Americans not relatable to most readers.

With the exploration and settling of Europeans, Native Americans began friendly relationships.  They traded goods and became part of the world economy.  This event is a crucial point in Europeans being able to take over America.  At first, all of these changes greatly improved the standard of living due to their ability to still control their culture, choose what European aspects to incorporate, which to adapt, and which to omit.  However, Indian warfare increased due to higher military advantages that were placed in selective native nations by the Europeans. The key term here is Europeans.  Europeans began working against them to obtain their own goals.

Little was ever mentioned in textbooks that I read in school about Europeans leaving their colonies to join the Native Americans.  Many were enticed with the enjoyment of individual freedom.  The Iroquois League stood as an example of groups working together democratically and was cited at the Constitutional Convention.  However, even with Americans taking the democratic ideals from the Native Americans, Americans began to state their "primitive" culture was due to a lack of intelligence.

Native Americans' religion is portrayed in a mystical manner that makes it seem laughable and devalues their symbolic meanings.  The author gives a parallel to describing the Christian religion in the same way.  It is very offensive; therefore, I can see the struggle that Native Americans feel with the way their beliefs are portrayed.

All of this plays back to the American's new stance on Native Americans' lack of intelligence.  It became a way to justify settlers' upcoming wrongdoings.  The "peaceful white settlers" and attacking "savages" make it easy to justify the removal of the Native Americans.  However, Native Americans did fight back at times; they mostly tried to help the settlers and live harmoniously.  The settlers were not willing to share "their" land; they did not allow Native Americans to voluntarily assimilate into European culture.  Textbooks do not say that; instead, they say that they "stood in the way of progress."  How can one stand in the way of progress if you will not allow them to acculturate? The settlers viewed the Native Americans as roaming people, but in reality, the Native Americans thought of the settlers as roaming people because the settlers had left their home to come to America, when the Native Americans just moved from a summer home to a winter home.

Textbooks leave out that groups including the Whigs did not support the removal of Native American groups.  Other authors and public figures wrote about the qualms of the policies against Native Americans.  However, this information is often left out of textbooks to not impose a burden on readers.

Downplaying the role of Native Americans, not only is offensive to them, but it should also be to the settlers and their descendants.  So much of our culture comes from the Native Americans, from our food to names of locations and objects, to our housing, and survival skills.  Why not pay thanks and tribute to what Native Americans provided the United States with; after all, it was theres to begin with.

I will end this summary with a quote from Loewen, "Indian history reveals that the United states and its predecessor British colonies have wrought great harm in the world.  We must not forget this-notto wallow in our wrongdoing, but to understand and to learn, that we might not wreak harm again."