OT: This & That ** Was: Thanks Vicki

[Guest guest]

Hi Deb,

 

Welcome to the finest list on the net. :-) There is no other of its

kind that has more valuable information on it .. and there is but one

other that comes anywhere near having as nice a group that gets along

well even when they disagree. Ask a question on any topic and folks

will do their best to provide answers .. hopefully, you will be one of

those who asks questions and provides answers.

 

> Ditto on the thank you's...how quickly we forget the history of this country

> (and others)...immigrants are what " conquered " the only " natives " that have

> lived here.

 

Most folks can't forget what they really never knew much about in the

first place .. movies and mini-series give little information on what

really went down and why .. though the History Channel does a fairly

fine job in some cases. Those who are serious students of the history

of mankind and the reasons for migration of tribal groups .. me being

one for the past 30+ years .. understand that every indigenous group

since the beginning of time was either displaced or displaced others ..

or both. In the early 1700s few of the First American tribal groups

were in the same locations they were in during the early 1600s .. and it

continued until they ran across a tribe that wouldn't be dislocated.

 

They were fortunate to have been isolated or they would have easily been

conquered centuries before. First Americans were still chipping flint

for weaponry while the Europeans and Asians had been slaughtering those

they could for a long time .. using very sophisticated weapons. It was

inevitable, unfortunately, that they would be conquered. It was not for

booty or honors that the winners did battle .. such reasons were easily

understood by the First Americans as that was their norm .. their only

means to achieve status in their tribe. The new tribe on the block had

desires for expansion and territorial security after settlement .. which

was also easily understood by the First Americans as they had been there

before .. but this time the odds were against them .. as was the might

and the numbers of the opposing tribe.

 

Totally incompatible cultures existed .. there was no way either side

could change the other. And if the Europeans had not come along many

historians believe that the Lakota and Blackfeet would have eventually

controlled all the other groups .. and then had a go at each other.

 

I am a student of First Americans .. and I follow the spiritual path.

Not for recognition or for profit .. its very personal with me. On the

other hand, I understand why what happened and have no regrets that it

happened. With but one great exception, Sand Creek, I feel no shame at

the tactics used .. I do, however, regret the strategy .. but it was a

different time and place .. historians can't begin to recreate emotional

attitudes when they try to describe events.

 

> This is my first post, as I've just joined this list, and was wondering

> which way the wind would blow and whether or not I would find like

> minded people to share oil/herb tidbits with, after reading that very

> offensive post..and thank GOODNESS you posted,

 

Vicki provided a well written opposing position .. not necessarily right

or wrong (methinks) but one that even those who disagree in principle

can agree was well thought out and well presented.

 

> Vicki --- it kept me from hitting the " leave this group " key.

 

If that's all it took to keep you from bailing out and you feel a need

to deal with only " like-minded " people, it might have been a temporary

stay and you might not remain on this list long. I thank the Great

Everywhere Spirit that there are few like minded people on here .. I can

imagine it being boring as hell if there were. Such topics as the one

now being calmed down (I hope) are not the norm on the Oils & Herbs list

but we still disagree on issues .. on and off topic. We don't get into

four-letter name calling. ;-) If you decide to leave I would recommend

you breeze through the archives afore you go because there is a lot of

good information in there .. it might take a few months to get through

the good part even if you skip the OT posts.

 

And if you leave you might find it difficult to locate another list that

will satisfy because like minded folks are rare .. that is, like minded

in more than a couple of areas.

 

> Some of us need some herbs/oils for tolerance and acknowledgement of the

past...

 

And .. the present! :-)

 

Folks who understand the past acknowledge the past but acknowledging

does little to change the attitudes of folks who criticize historical

events. Understanding those events helps a lot. Viewing the actions of

our ancestors and the events of their time within the framework of those

times and accepting that what we call mistakes today were in most cases

normal behavior in those times is critical if we want to see with our

noggins instead of our hearts. Criticizing those who played a role in

historical events because they didn't observe the standards of today is

anything but tolerant. Fifty years from now other folks will view our

actions in a similar manner .. but hopefully not so narrow. :-)

 

> thisnthat

 

Again .. welcome to the best list around .. and I hope you can make it

even better than it is now. :-)

 

Y'all keep smiling. :-) Butch http://www.AV-AT.com