Earlier today I reported New York critic Howard Halle's comment re Palestinian-American Emily Jacir's show: "It’s also worth noting that when, for example, Andrew Jackson evicted the Cherokee from Georgia, there was no CNN or BBC to report the fact, no horde of indignant university students to condemn his actions. Israel enjoys no such refuge from international opprobrium."
It's always a mistake to be glib on the internet.
Even though that ethnic cleansing took place 170 years ago, good people opposed it. A friend sent along the following link. In 1838 Ralph Waldo Emerson was appalled to learn that the US was planning to remove the Cherokees from Georgia and, with the hope that the Indians "shall taste justice and love from all to whom we have delegated the office of dealing with them," wrote this letter to President Martin Van Buren:
The newspapers now inform us that, in December, 1835, a treaty
contracting for the exchange of all the Cherokee territory was
pre-tended to be made by an agent on the part of the United States with
some persons appearing on the part of the Cherokees; that the fact
afterwards transpired that these deputies did by no means represent the
will of the nation; and that, out of eighteen thousand souls composing
the nation, fifteen thousand six hundred and sixty-eight have protested
against the so-called treaty. It now appears that the government of the
United States choose to hold the Cherokees to this sham treaty, and are
proceeding to execute the same. Almost the entire Cherokee Nation stand
up and say, " This is not our act. Behold us. Here are we. Do not
mistake that handful of deserters for us ; " and the American President
and the Cabinet, the Senate and the House of Representatives, neither
hear these men nor see them, and are contracting to put this active
nation into carts and boats, and to drag them over mountains and rivers
to a wilderness at a vast distance beyond the Mississippi. And a paper
purporting to be an army order fixes a month from this day as the hour
for this doleful removal.
In the name of God, sir, we ask you if this be so. Do the newspapers
rightly inform us? Men and women with pale and perplexed faces meet one
another in the streets and churches here, and ask if this be so. We
have inquired if this be a gross misrepresentation from the party
opposed to the government and anxious to blacken it with the people. We
have looked in the newspapers of different parties and find a horrid
confirmation of the tale. We are slow to believe it. We hoped the
Indians were misinformed, and that their remonstrance was pre-mature,
and will turn out to be a needless act of terror.
Lets be like Emerson. Thoughtful, compassionate, articulate, clear, principled.
Lets be like Emerson. Thoughtful, compassionate, articulate, clear, principled.
Posted by: Richard Witty
you forgot the most important part, unsuccessful in stopping the ethnic cleansing. Just like your ideas for dealing with the colonization of the Westbank have worked out.
Good thing that ethnic cleansing was successful–otherwise Phil wouldn't have a house.
Emerson, even with his letter to the president, could not help the Cherokee. President Carter has written eloquently about Palestinian distress, with results similar to Emerson's. More needs to be done to end US aid to Israel.
why can't suzanne, berel, ai, et al, hear themselves? why aren't they ashamed of their own thoughts? like "good thing that ethnic cleansing was successful"? the beauty of emerson's letter contrasts starkly.
The only hope for all of us is that someone find the way through after the harm's been done.
Redress isn't about money, or even retributive justice, as much as humility and remorse.
Catharsis and show won't do it.
The Australian apology to the Aborigines of last year was deeply cathartic, but it's looking more superficial than deeply felt today.
The tension's in the ease of slipping into ungoverned selfishness against the moral discipline from which Emerson spoke. Force against force and no moral imperative but dominance.
We need an Emerson to tell us how to be after, now. All these years afer the Trail of Tears. Casinos to the contrary, Native Americans are still suffering – deepest poverty, highest young suicide rate, alcoholism…
And Israel needs that desperately as well, before they fall completely into moral solipsism.
There is one Cherokee female in my family back before the 'Trail of Tears'. The Cherokees were dispossessed because gold was discovered on their tribal lands in northern Georgia. I am no fan of Andrew Jackson.
SEE –
Yet Jackson is consistantly graded far higher than Jimmy Carter by every historian. Why would that be?
Regardless, the American inspired genocide of the native americans has no correlation to the Israeli defence against the Genocidal minded palestinians.
With the reconstruction of Gaza reported to cost around $2 billion, this money should be deducted from the billions of US aid that flow to the terrorist Israeli state every year.
Talk about dumb goy! US taxpayers help arm Israel, Israel uses these weapons to commit brutal atrocities and then US and other western taxpayers are "asked" to pay for rebuilding what Israel has destroyed.
This would be funny if were not so tragic.
"There is one Cherokee female in my family back before the 'Trail of Tears'. The Cherokees were dispossessed because gold was discovered on their tribal lands in northern Georgia."
Yes, near the town of Dahlonega. Prior to their removal, the Cherokees had a relatively high level of development with a written language, newspapers, council houses, schools and self-government at their capitol, New Echota, and many were living pretty much as their white neighbors. Some were actively seeking assimilation (which also meant owning slaves, as well) until gold was discovered.
I've read cases where there was some sympathy among whites for the plight of the Cherokees–who ironically fought with Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812 against the British and Creeks–but the land and gold were apparently too much to resist.
I don't know how sorry one should feel for the Cherokee, since the land was once Creek land, and had changed hands many times before Europeans arrived. There are actually quite a few interesting sites in the area. You may be from the area and know these things already.
"Regardless, the American inspired genocide of the native americans has no correlation to the Israeli defence against the Genocidal minded palestinians."
Sure, Chris, no conquest or genocide is as morally and intellectually pure as that carried out by the Zionist Jews in Palestine. The funny thing is that Isrealis often claim that the issue is "too complex" to explain. But the Zionist assault on Palestine was planned from the beginning, and more straightforward than U.S. Indian policy prior to the westward expansion.
BTW, I am glad to see a Zionist admit that the conquest of Palestine does not parallel the growth of the United States. And even if it did, it still wouldn't put America on the hook for Palestine. It takes some nerve for Zionists to claim the moral high ground while telling Americans that their own horrible past justifies Israel's present, and, at the same time, demanding that Americans fight for and fund Israel.
"why can't suzanne, berel, ai, et al, hear themselves? why aren't they ashamed of their own thoughts? like "good thing that ethnic cleansing was successful"? the beauty of emerson's letter contrasts starkly."
None of us said anything remotely like that, you vile little liar. If the Pals have such low iq, low integrity pos like you on their team, they are DOOMED.
"I don't know how sorry one should feel for the Cherokee, since the land was once Creek land, and had changed hands many times before Europeans arrived. There are actually quite a few interesting sites in the area. You may be from the area and know these things already."
Thank you for indulging in reality. The story of the Cherokee is very sad…and it would've been a hell of a lot nicer if the Europeans and Natives could've divided land equitably. But it NEVER is that simple or clearcut…despite the romanticization of a conquered people.
Furthermore, mooning over the tragedy of the American Indians has done them no favors. Get on with it instead of clinging to the past. Sheesh!
Admit that the settlement of the land of our fathers was not the same as the European rape of the Americas? Gladly.
Additionally, there was certainly no genocide in the Palestinian region, even though the Arabs, living in and surrounding the area, claimed that was their end goal.
As far as conquest is concerned, until the racist arab aparthied laws went into affect, making it illegal to sell land to a Jew, the immigrants were buying the land they were settling on. Additionally, the owners of all state lands, the British, stated that they would eventually turn it over to the Jews for a homeland.
Nothing too complicated for you? If not, speak up. Don't be shy!
I have tired to point out several times that Suzanna is actually your old friend SOG…please don't take bait and respond to him.