Reflection Week 13

Wednesday's lab visit to the National Museum of the American Indian was fascinating in that it almost seemed to glorify the American Indian history and culture. However, the interesting thing was how violence was downplayed when portraying the history of American Indians. Perhaps it is the issue of guilt and responsibility that Caucasians have towards American Indnans these day as it was mentioned during class discussion, or perhaps it is simply undesirable to portray much violence that is really behind all the history. However, the interesting thing, in conjunction with Todorov's reading, that stood out to me was how "weak" these people were.

Perhaps weak is not a word that clearly depicts the meaning I wish to articulate, but it is the best word available from my limited brain. What I mean to say is that, after all, they were conquered, and by they, I refer to American Indians and Meso-Americans in Todorov's book. Whatever the culture may have been, and whatever the situation may have been, these people have been conquered and subdued, their sovereignty violated and taken over, and their autonomy taken away. Despite continuous portrayal as empires and tribes, the Native Americans (which includes both American Indians and Meso-Americans) were an entity, just like state, and it was the ruling entity, such as the emperor's role, to protect its people. However, they utterly failed at that and the fact that America is not a nation led by American Indian proves the entire thing. Todorov argues that it was the different understanding of sign and communication that led to the initial conquest of America, and perhaps he implicitly argues that the Spanish may have been brutal with their manipulation of signs and consequent subjugation; however, the important thing is that something that destroying one's country must be fought against regardless of whether they are god or not. This is exactly what the Montezuma failed to do, and to be very brutal, the conquest of Meso-America can only be attributed to the failure of Montezuma.

What about the American Indians? They did put up some fight against European settlers, and I believe that was the right action to take in order to protect themselves; however, once again they were subjugated by the colonists. On the debate of who is to be blamed, there is no one to blame for the subjugation but the subjugated themselves. They fought for their own rights and lost, and the only reason is that they lacked the capacity to put up a real fight.

Thus, it seems that the entire conquest and settling of America is a true depiction of international relations; power is all. If we do not have power, you will be subjugated. If you cannot protect yourself, then there is no one who is going to help you. Perhaps people will object to this hardcore realist notion by saying that the time has changed, and no one is likely to march into another country and begin claiming it as their own land; however, the core idea of power struggle has not changed. Maybe we are not going to take over the "weak" states, but more powerful nations will continually exercise their power to limit others ability to challenge their power. Thus, in the past or in the present, nothing has changed in regards to different entities interaction with each other; everything is about power.