Reading a book called "Land of Giants" about the settling of the Pacific Northwest. It had a strange vibe that I couldn't quite get a handle on. When the author talked about the "red man" one too many times, I finally turned the the frontspiece and found out it was published in 1956!
Actually, it was fairly enlightened about Native Americans, showing that they were most often the victims of white violence and that their violence was almost always sparked by outrages. But there was a strange sort of "both sides" are bad vibe that didn't quite ring true.
The Indians most often would so some petty thievery, which was then punished by over the top means: hangings in mass, slaughter of men, women, and children. Once the wave of immigrants started showing up, they didn't stand a chance.
I had read a book about "Stalingrad" just before this book, and what I took away from both books was this: most people are feckless, unaware of their actions and the nature of their circumstances. Most are ineffective or worse.
The only excuse is that none of them know what's going on around them in full, none of them know what history would say.
This is a new understanding of history for me. Most people make stupid decisions with too little information. And millions die.
There is one stand out character in "Land of the Giants." John McLoughlin,of the Hudson Bay Company. He comes across as steady, competent, and generous, at least compared to almost everyone else, who come across as ignorant, impulsive, violent, and vainglorious.
No such heroes in Stalingrad.
1 comment:
In all my lifetime reading in different genres, McLoughlin always came across as reasonable, visited Fort Vancouver and the McLoughlin House in Oregon city, think End of the Trail Museum has some info on him too. (been so long, hard to remember) but remember the docents at both places were very knowledgeable, especially the McLoughlin House, remember her speaking as if he was a treasured friend. :)
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