From Bartering to Bankruptcy

“No tribe has the right to sell, even to each other, much

less to strangers… Sell a country? Why not sell the air,

the great sea, as well as the earth? Didn’t the Great

Spirit make them all for the use of his children?

-Tecumseh

Shawnee

 

The stories of many Native American people, who turned their lives over to enterprises such as the American Fur Company, were filled with financial loss and other hard-ships. Indian people were coerced into accumulating debt during President Jefferson’s time in office. Jefferson believed the country was run by the people and during that time period the general population strived to rid the country of the “Indian problem.”

            To appease the Americans, Jefferson decided to set up the Indian people to turn over their land holdings by using a market economy. More and more white settlers were moving to this country and using more of the land’s rich resources. Trading posts were put up in various locations to entice the Indian people to get their needs met and at the same time accumulate debt. 

            To get an idea of how much beaver pelts were worth at the trading posts, in 1784 the Hudson Bay Company prepared a “Table of Equivalents” which listed the number of beavers required to trade for various items. Throughout history prices have gone up, not down, for items purchased in stores. It would be safe to note that it would have taken many more beavers to get the same wares during the early 1800s. In 1784, the following table was used to place a value on specific items, a concept that was foreign to the Indian people.

 

• 1 Beaver = 9 Arrow Heads
• 1 Beaver = 1 yard of cloth
• 4 Beavers = 1 gallon of brandy
• 11 Beavers = 1 gun
• 1 Beaver = ¾ pounds of beads

 

            Moving from a bartering system to a market economy was difficult for the Native American people. Many were confused about this concept. Bartering is a form of transaction in which goods or services are exchanged for other goods or services without mediums of exchange such as money. This form of exchange was practiced by the Native Americans and they believed in the concept of reciprocity. Trade was carried out in a respectful and fair manner. The bartering exchanges were usually considered reciprocal and immediate by the trusting Indian people.

            The beaver they hunted and trapped for the Euro-peans provided sustenance for the people of their village. In the past they used all parts of the animals they hunted. For example, the animal intestines referred to as sinew served as the thread to sew hides together. Before the fur-trading days the Indian people would exchange furs for things such as cooking utensils, pots, pans, guns and alcoholic beverages. Brandy and rum were often the trade items of choice for the British and French. They would trade vast amounts of alcohol because it was regarded as a cheap commodity in exchange for furs.          

When the settlers wanted to obtain the land, Indian people did not know how to place a value on it. They did not know what a stream or a tract of forest was worth in terms of gunpowder, iron pots or cloth. They went along with the government treaty negotiators who wrote on paper what specific land holdings were valued. They did not understand how that could be determined, considering the change of seasons and the yield of the hunt. The traders often short changed the unsuspecting Indian people and to back up their claims they would show them a statement of accounts. These statements resembled a foreign language to them.

They felt confused, hungry and cold, and they were losing their homelands. Eventually, they realized they lost by playing by a corrupt set of rules. By the time they realized they were being cheated, it was too late. Not all of the white settlers took advantage of the naive Indian people.

John Johnston became friends with many of the Indian people. Johnston’s life began on August 25, 1762 in Northern Ireland. In 1790 he moved to what is now referred to as Canada and he arrived with capital to invest in the fur-trading business. In 1791, Johnston went on a fur-trading trip to Mackinac Island. He traveled further north to Bad River in what is currently referred to as Wisconsin.

He made friends with some of the Ojibwe people at Bad River. He was interested in marrying the daughter of the Ojibwe war chief, Waubojeeg. The chief told him to come back in one year and if he was still interested he would allow him to marry his daughter. Johnston returned after a year and married Ozhaguscodaywayquay, Woman of the Green Glade.  He later named her Susan. They had four sons and four daughters. When he married his wife, the couple was considered influential with the trade business and had excellent connections with the Ojibwe, Europeans, and Americans in the area. They were welcomed by explorers, politicians, scholars, tribal chiefs and military officers. Johnston did not take advantage of the Indian people. He was known for his kindness amongst the tribal people. If they did not have enough furs to trade for items they needed, Johnston did not carry the debt over in his books.[i]

             His relationship with the Americans took a turn for the worse during the war of 1812. Johnston fought with the British when they took over Fort Michilimackinac on Mackinac Island. The American military forces believed Johnston to be on the side of the British and connected to the British run company, the North West Company, so they burned and confiscated approximately $40,000 of his business and private property as an act of revenge. Susan had to pack in a hurry and take her children to her brother’s home to keep her children safe. 

Johnston was facing financial ruin and was forced to seek employment. He became the fur-trading agent for the American Fur Company in 1816 and 1817 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and the south shore of Lake Superior. John Jacob Astor was the owner of the American Fur Trading Company. Instead of being an employee of the company Johnston decided to take his goods on “shares.” This venture set him up for risk if the company did not do well in the region.

In 1816 an act of law was passed which granted only U.S. citizens the right to carry on the fur trade in “Indian Country” in the United States. Johnston found a loop hole and appointed his U.S. born son George to run the family owned fur-trading company. Out of loyalty to his home country, Johnston had not become an American citizen and as a result Johnston was not in a position to fight for his rights as a shareholder in the American Fur Company. [ii]

The Indian people suffered under the guise of  joint business ventures between the Indian people and the white businessmen. Much of the wild game was hunted by the settlers and there wasn't much left for the native inhabitants. The Indian people, depressed and downtrodden, had to rely on charging for goods purchased at the trading companies. They were unfamiliar with transactions that involved money for the exchange of goods. Some of these unfortunate people traded furs for goods. Johnston treated the Indian people with respect and tried to help them whenever he could. That was not the case with many of the other white businessmen.

---

[i] Brazer, M. (1993).  Harps Upon the Willows.  Michigan: The Historical Society of Michigan, 51-89.

[ii] Arbic, B. (2003).  City of the Rapids: Sault Ste. Marie’s Heritage. Michigan: The Priscilla Press.

The Amish

A large group of Amish people decided to move to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan a few years ago. We see them at local farmers’ markets, at local stores and driving their horse and buggies near where they live and other areas. They seem to be a friendly lot. Some of the stores put a place for their horses to be secured. We are not permitted to park near these areas to prevent us from blocking the area. The men usually sport beards and the women wear bonnets and long dresses. There have been some complaints about them driving their carriages during the nighttime hours. People fear they may not see their black buggies. The police have not been able to convince the Amish people to install lights to the back and front of their buggies. There has been another complaint about the Amish not having to obtain building permits. Our home was built by the Amish, they worked for a manufactured home company. I have learned through my travels that they own restaurants, build furniture and build homes, they are a talented group of people. They are also farmers. I decided to explore and learn more about what it is like to live in an Amish community.

            The Amish people have lived in America for a long time with the first Amish people arriving during the 18^th century. They moved to this country to escape persecution because of their religious beliefs. The first sect was established by Jakob Amman, a Swiss minister, during the late 17^th century in the Anabaptist church. He believed that his followers should adhere to the teachings of Jesus and His apostles, but leave the rest of the world behind, not get involved in the daily lives of others outside of their sect. The word “Amish” originated from his name.

            Their language was derived from the “Deutsch” or German and from an ancient dialect. Because of their isolation from the outside world, their language is spoken differently than the current German. Their language has been influenced by the English population.

            Farming is the central focal point of their lives so where they live depends on where they can farm successfully. The population of the Amish has expanded due to their large families so they tend to live on land away from urban areas. They initially resided in Ohio and now have expanded to 30 states and they also reside in Canada. Ohio has the largest Amish population. The Amish population is one the fastest growing populations in the U.S. In 1920, the population was at 5,000 and now it is almost 300,000. In 1984 the population was reported to be at 84,000. The extensive growth is related to the belief that large families are a blessing from God. Children also provide assistance on the farms.

            Contrary to what I believed, the Amish are taxed on their earnings. Increasing numbers are venturing into business enterprises, primarily carpentry and the sale of farm products. They form construction crews that build homes and other buildings. A friend of mine told me that her neighbors hired the Amish to put a new roof on their home. As a result of owning property and earning money through various ways, they pay all taxes: income, property, sales, estate, corporate and school. They were exempted by Congress to not collect or pay social security . they view social security as a commercial insurance. They believe the members of the church should provide for its community members. The Amish people have been exempted from workmen’s compensation for the same above reason. They are excluded from military service due to their belief in non-resistance. This not only applies to war, but also law-enforcement, politics and legal actions. Wouldn’t life be simpler if we didn’t have to deal with any of these things?

            The Amish life is ruled by the “Ordnung,” a German word for order.  Most Amish people forbid the owning of cars, televisions, computers, other forms of self-propelled machinery and the use of electricity. They forbid the sanction of divorce, and attending high school and college. Photography is not permitted because it may lead to personal vanity. Another Amish word “hochmut” defines the prohibition of the demonstration of pride and arrogance. It is believed that the horse and buggy mode of transportation keeps the community anchored in one area.

            Amish children attend school usually through eighth grade, mostly private schools. A few have attended public schools, approximately 10%. The United States Supreme Court passed a ruling in 1972 that they could end school at the age of 14. Instruction is usually provided in English and their German language.

            The Amish are not considered one single unit, there are four main groups: the Old Order, the New Order, The Beachy Amish and the Amish Mennonites. Subgroups and different rules exist amongst these various categories. The Beachy Amish and Amish Mennonites have been known to drive cars and use electricity while the other groups do not.

            Their dress is rather plain with some groups only wearing black and white clothing, while others may wear muted colors. Buttons are not permitted because of the potential for showiness, and such things as Velcro and zippers are also not allowed. They use pins and hook-and-eye closures. Capes may be worn to religious services.

             The term “Rumspringa” refers to the period of time in young person’s life when they are deciding to either be baptized and join the church or leave the Amish community. The term means running around and this running around stops when they get married. When a person turns 16 the youth will socialize with their friends on weekends. They will perhaps seek a future mate or explore the workings of the outside world. The “Rumspringa” ends when the person is between the age of 18 and 21 or if they decide to leave the Amish community.

            I hope this summary of what it is like to live in an Amish community was helpful. It is my understanding that they are a hard working people who embrace the solidarity of their communities. With farming being their main focus, the community practices a drive to satisfy the responsibility of caring for their community as a whole. I have seen during the winter months, a long line with cotton towels were hung to dry and possibly air. I saw a young man at a mail box, he seemed excited to discover what had been sent. The males are usually seen driving the horse and buggies. I imagine the family members are assigned the traditional jobs of males and females such as the females handling the cooking responsibilities. I wonder if they celebrate any of the holidays we celebrate. Do they read books on a regular basis? When it is dark outside do they light candles? Perhaps I will need to interview a few Amish people to find out more about their lives.

 

 

Reference

 

Diebel, M. (August 15, 2014). The Amish: 10 things you might not know. Retrieved on March 7, 2017 from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/15/amish-ten-things- you-need-to-know/14111249/

           

           

           

           

           

Alien Abductions

We are being watched by aliens from other planets and sometimes they take us to their spaceships or possibly planets to examine us to find out how we are different or similar to them. Many individuals filed reports about alien abductions. Some of the humans have not been returned to Earth. They have disappeared forever. Some have given detailed accounts about their abductions and others do not remember any details. Various testimonies derailed the idea that we are alone in this universe. Other life forces exist.

            “George wake up. Someone is in our home,” wailed Alexia.

            “I don’t hear anything,” replied George.

            “George, can you take your gun and flashlight and check things out?” asked Alexia.

            “Yes, Alexia,” said George begrudgingly.

            George grabbed his handgun out of his nightstand and the flashlight that was laying next to the gun and walked out into the hallway outside of their upstairs bedroom. He heard nothing.  He almost tripped over their cat, Sammy. Cursing because he stubbed his toe, he continued to look in the other bedrooms and bathroom that shared the same floor as their bedroom. He saw nothing out of the ordinary.

            He walked downstairs and entered the kitchen. He found nothing out of the ordinary. George was starting to get frustrated because this was the second time in two weeks that he has been woken out of a sound sleep by Alexia because she thought she heard something.

            Alexia screamed, which startled George. He ran upstairs. Alexia was nowhere to be found. The door to the terrace from of their bedroom was open. He ran outside just in time to see a strange spaceship.  The spaceship was round and blue lights lined the perimeter.

George could not believe his eyes. He grabbed onto the railing and yelled at the spaceship to bring back his wife.  

            What do I do? She’s gone and it looks like aliens took her. Do I call the police? What do I do? I have to call someone. George was beside himself. He decided to call the police. He could not deal with this on his own.

            “Hello, my name is George Castice. I am reporting that my wife was just abducted by aliens.”

            “Slow down. It sounded like you said your wife was abducted by aliens,” replied Sandy the responder from the 911 call center.

            “Yes, that is what I said.”

            “Give me your address and I will send a car over there immediately,” replied Sandy. She has heard a lot of strange things since she started her job a couple of years ago, but never did anyone report an alien abduction. She placed the call with a couple of police officers that were in the area after George gave her his home address.

            Lights were flashing brightly from the police car as the police entered the driveway of George’s home during the wee hours of the morning. The neighborhood was quiet.

            “I am so glad you are here. My wife heard something and woke me up to check things out. I was downstairs when I heard her scream. The door to the terrace was wide open. They were locked when we went to bed and when I ran onto the terrace, I saw a strange alien spaceship,” George said. He was out of breath because he was talking so fast and he was a nervous wreck.

            The officers looked at him strangely and suspiciously.

            “Have you been drinking, sir?” asked one of the officers.

            “No, I was sound asleep and like I said my wife woke me to check things out. I was downstairs after checking all the rooms upstairs when I heard her scream.”

            “Did you see anything out of the ordinary when you checked out the house?” asked the officer.

            “You mean besides the spaceship?” asked George who was starting to feel like he was not being taken seriously.  He was concerned about his wife and knew the police officers could not help him.

            “Have you and your wife been getting along?” asked one of the police officers.

            “What are you suggesting? I love my wife. We were going on vacation in a couple of days. I would never do anything to hurt her,” said George. He was starting to feel sorry that he called 911. George’s face was turning redder as he stared at the police officers.

            “Settle down. We are not accusing you of anything yet.”

            George asked the police officers to leave. They reluctantly left.

            “Let’s us know if you hear from your wife.”

            “I will.”

 

            A couple of days went by and there was no sign of Alexia. George was getting more and more worried.

            He went to bed and tried falling asleep. He saw flashing blue lights outside their bedroom window. He opened the doors to the terrace and found Alexia. She was in a daze. He guided her to their bed and helped her lay down. Her nightgown was torn and dirty which George thought was odd. It was like she was running through the woods with bare feet. Her feet were covered in mud. How odd that she appeared like she did.

            “Are you okay my love?”

            Alexia did not respond. She lay staring at him with blank eyes. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days. Dark circles were under her eyes and her eyes were bloodshot. George lay down beside her and held her in his arms. She fell fast asleep and did not wake up until 8:00 a.m. in the morning. She shook George who was sound asleep next to her. He was startled and woke up to see her looking down at him.

            “I’m hungry, George.”

            “What do you want to eat?”

            “Anything. I haven’t eaten in days.”

            George stared at her for a little while and then got out of bed to retrieve food for her. He made her a turkey sandwich on rye and peeled and orange for her. He poured her a glass of milk and walked upstairs to bring the food to Alexia. She was in the shower. George set the tray down on the nightstand and walked into the bathroom.

            Alexia finished showering and started drying off. George didn’t realize how much he missed her until he saw her in front of him. She was covered in small bruises and winced when she dried over part of the bruised area on her body.

            She ate heartily after she put on another nightgown.

            George waited until she finished eating and drinking the milk and then asked her, “Can you tell me what happened to you?”

            “I was taken by these strange greenish people. They didn’t talk but probed me a lot. They inspected my whole body. We landed, I think on Earth. It looked like Earth and they had me run through the woods as fast as I could. They placed that thought into my head. There was no talking. I had to run for what seemed like hours and I was given short breaks. I think they wanted to see how strong I was.”

            “Did they hurt you?”

            “They were pinching me with these devices. That hurt.”

            “What did the devices look like?”

            “They looked like large narrow tongs with red lights running down the sides. The red lights were hot,” said Alexia.

            Alexia matter of factly added, “I was told that I was taken as a child when I was six and they wanted to see how I have grown and to check my strength.”

            George was surprised to hear about her fist abduction.

            “I don’t remember being abducted when I was six. They told me they erased the memories of my abduction from me and my family’s memories.”

            “Why are you able to remember you were abducted this time?”

            “They said they are not concerned with hiding their appearance on this planet. There are a lot of aliens on Earth at this time. The aliens are concerned with what we are doing with our planet.”

            “Interesting.”

            “We do things like recycle and use energy efficient appliances. We also grow our own food when possible, but many people do not take any steps to save our planet,” said Alexia.

            “Are you okay?” asked George.

            “They were more careful with me than they were with some of the others because I am pregnant.”

            “You’re pregnant,” said George. He was astounded to hear the news. They gave up trying to have a baby a few years ago because of George’s low sperm count. They adopted a dog and a cat to fill the void and volunteer at the local animal shelter when time permits. They thought they lived fulfilling and happy lives for the most part.

            George hugged his wife and patted her belly.

            “Are you going to be left alone from now on by the aliens?”

            “I don’t know. They dropped me off and said nothing to me about any future visits,” said Alexia.

            George did not know what to make of the whole ordeal. He called the police and the same police visited their home again. They met with Alexia to get her side to things and left feeling like they were just told the biggest lie. The police officers looked at each other with disbelief but could not openly disagree with Alexia about what she reported. They told her that they were glad she was home safe and sound.

 

********

 

            Jack woke up in his bed in a small community in Vermont. He was terrified about the dream he just had. He dreamed he was taken by aliens to another planet. He was shackled, probed and ordered to run for great distances. The man that was running next to him fell to the ground and it looked like he was dead. There was no heart beat or pulse. He was alone running for what he thought was for his life. He was fully awake so he looked at his alarm clock. The luminated numbers told him it was 5:00 a.m. so he got out of bed to get ready for work. He worked at the hospital for the maintenance department.

            He arrived at work and John, a lab tech, asked him if he was feeling better.

            “What do you mean?” asked Jack.

            “You were out for a few days,” responded John.

            “What day is it?” asked Jack.

            John looked at him queerly and responded, “It’s Sunday.”

            Jack realized he missed a couple of days. He lost them completely. He thought it was Thursday. Where did Thursday, Friday and Saturday go. Jack scratched his head.

            Jack looked at John and told him he was feeling better and he thanked him for his concern.

            Jack did not know what to think about what was going on. He went about his business and explained that he had a terrible bug and he was immobilized for what he thought was only a day or two and was very sorry he did not call in. Jack was a model employee so they did not question what he said. They took his word concerning his three-day absence. There were a few bugs going around. It was that time of year, midwinter.

           

*********

 

            Leon was strapped to a long table. A bright light was hanging above his head. He did not know where he was. He was groggy and stunned to realize he was in a strange place.

            Tall people who happened to be a greenish color were staring down at him.

            They were planting thoughts in his head or he was reading their minds. They were planning on examining his brain. They wanted to find out why he was so intelligent. More so than the other humans they picked up from Earth.

            Leon was a scientist on Earth. He was working in a laboratory trying to come up with a cure for cancer. The aliens were exploring the possibility that he may be a human hybrid. They knew he was more intelligent than most of the humans they have examined. They wanted to find out how intelligent he was and where his intelligence came from. Some of the aliens that visited Earth were in competition with the other aliens.  Most of the aliens were from advanced civilizations and they surpassed the capacity of the typical human brains.

            Leon was given a multitude of virtual tests to measure his intelligence. The aliens were impressed with his aptitude. Leon was getting sleepy so they studied his brain while they let him sleep. They continued for days until they reached a point of discovery that Leon must be a hybrid human. The origin was further explored by running a series of complex DNA studies. They made the determination that Leon was derived from a combination of donors. One of the donors was from the planet Nibiru, their sister planet. They learned that at an earlier time period their Anunnaki brothers and sisters were experimenting with their own DNA to make more intelligent humans. It appeared to them that they were successful with their human hybrid experiment.

            Leon woke up from his induced sleep to find them probing his heart and lungs. He was in pain from all the probing that was being done to him. He looked down at his arms and saw puncture wounds.

            “I want to go home,” demanded Leon.

            Aliens have been known to be able to decipher any language from any planet they visit and respond by planting thoughts in the beings’ minds. They replied that he will go home soon by planting that thought in his head. Leon settled down and tried to block from his mind the things they were doing to his body. He fell to sleep naturally and woke up in his own bed not remembering a thing that happened to him the past couple of days.

 

********

           
            Alexia was having a nightmare one night and George turned on the light on his end table. He saw Alexia standing facing him on the bed. Her face was contorted. She looked like she had seen a ghost. George carefully helped her lay down. He held her in his arms. She was crying and trembling.

            “I don’t want to go back with those aliens. They haunt me constantly. Half the time I have trouble deciding what is real and what is not.”

            “I am so sorry honey. I wish I could ease your mind.”

            “I know you are doing the best you can.”

            “The baby kicked. Feel it.”

            George placed his hand on his wife’s belly. She appeared to be getting big with this pregnancy faster than George expected. George was hopeful everything was going to be okay. Alexia’s doctor’s appointment was tomorrow and they could check on the progress of the baby. The doctor was going to conduct an ultrasound.

            The next day they are at the doctor’s office and he running the scope on Alexia’s swollen belly. George is anxiously awaiting the results.

            The doctor points out what looks like a dark blob on the screen.

            “It looks like a healthy baby. Look there is a second fetus hidden behind the first,” the doctor said.

            George and Alexia look at each other to share in the surprise together. George squeezes her hand.

            “The fetus that is behind the other fetus appears to be smaller. You may be having a boy and a girl.”           
            “That will be okay,” said George elated about the news. Twins did not run in any of their families as much as he was aware but the news of the babies being healthy and of possibly two sexes sounded okay to George. He held Alexia’s hand.

           

********

           

            Jack discovered that he was even more forgetful. He forgot to set his alarm and was late for work. He forgot to pack his lunch so he wandered down to the cafeteria.

            He paid for his food and sat by himself. John sat next to him.

            “I think I am still under the weather. I am not myself.”

            “Is there anything I can do for you?” asked John.

            “No, I think I just need to let it work out of my system.”

            The truth was he felt okay but his mind did not seem to work as well as before he was abducted. He was wondering what the aliens did to him.

            “Do you mind if I join you?” asked Mary, another lab tech.

            John pointed to the seat by him.

            “What’s wrong with your friend?” asked Mary quietly.

            “I think he’s still feeling like he’s under the weather. He was recently sick.”

            Mary smiled at Jack to reassure him.

            At home later that evening Jack tried to play along with jeopardy and realized that he couldn’t answer any of the questions that were being presented. He closed his eyes and thought about a time when he could not answer the questions and could not come with a time when his mind was as blank as it was now. He was getting concerned. He had to write lists to accomplish any of the everyday things he used to do in the past such as turning on his alarm clock. He developed a daily checklist so he wouldn’t forget to do anything. He couldn’t afford to be late for work anymore. He felt he was being watched at work. Jack went from being a model employee to one who was being watched. This was unsettling to him.

            When the aliens abducted Jack they realized that he was of average intelligence, not a remarkable human specimen. They were not careful when they erased part of his memories from the abduction. Some of his previous memories before the abduction were also erased.

            Leon, on the other hand, was treated with the utmost care when they erased part of the memories from his abduction. As part of their experiment, they injected some of their brain cells, which enhanced his intelligence. He was making progress with his research concerning finding a cure for cancer in leaps and bounds.

 

********

                       
            It was time for Alexia to give birth. They were both nervous but faced the future bundles of joy with happy anticipation. Alexia’s mother was arriving at their home that evening to help with the twins. She was able to stay for a month or two. George was very happy about that. His mother died years ago so he was glad that Alexia still had her mother in her life.

            Alexia was in a lot of pain and was given a shot to ease the pain.

            The time had come. The first head of one of the babies was crowning. It was a girl, a healthy baby girl.

Alexia started pushing again and the second baby’s head was crowning. This baby was considerably larger so she needed to be cut more to allow the baby’s head to come out.

            Everybody was waiting. Alexia’s sister and her husband and George’s father were in the waiting room.

            George asked, “Is the baby okay?”

            “The baby is fine, just larger,” replied the doctor.

            The baby was finally born. The baby’s skin had a sparkly glow to it. Everyone in the delivery room thought it may be the lighting. The baby was a boy. He cried loudly as he was being cleaned after the delivery.

            Alexia was being stitched and given additional pain medicine because of the difficulty of the second delivery.

Yooper Creation Story

Den on da first day God created the U.P.

On da second day He created da partridge, da deer,

da bear, da fish, and da ducks.

On da third day He said, “Let dere be Yoopers to roam da U.P.”

On da fourth day He ceated da udder world down below…

And on da fifth day He said,

“Let dere be trolls to live in da world down below.

On da sixth day He created Da Bridge

so da trolls would have a way

to get to Heaven

God saw it was good and on da

seventh day He went huntin’

Author: Unknown

Michigan Snakes

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources gets many questions this time of year about Michigan's snakes. Eighteen different species of snake call Michigan home, but only one of them poses any real harm to humans.

            “Whether you think snakes are terrifying or totally cool, it is best just to leave them be,” said Hannah Schauer, wildlife communications coordinator for the DNR.

            The snake the DNR gets the most questions about is the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, the only venomous species found in Michigan. This snake rarely is seen and is listed as a threatened species found by the U.S. Fish, and Wildlife Service due to declining populations from habitat loss. As it name implies, the massasauga rattlesnake does have a segmented rattle on its tail. It should not be confused with the other, harmless species of snake in Michigan that do not have segmented rattles but will buzz their tails if approached or handled.

            “The massasauga rattlesnake tends to be a very shy snake that will avoid humans whenever possible,” said Schauer. “They spend a vast majority of their time in wetlands hunting for mice and aren’t often encountered.”

            Schauer said that when a massasauga is encountered, if the snake doesn’t feel threatened it will let people pass without revealing its location.

            “If you do get too close without realizing it, a rattlesnake will generally warn you of its presence by rattling its tail while you are still several feet away,” Schauer said. “If given room, the snake will slither away and likely will not be seen again.”

            Rattlesnake bites, while extremely rare in Michigan, can and do occur. Anyone who is bitten should seek professional medical attention.

            Learn more about the massasauga and get more snake safety tips.

            Another snake that can cause quite a stir is the eastern hog-nosed snake, one of the many harmless species found in Michigan. When threatened, hog-nose snakes puf up with air, flatten their necks and bodies, and hiss loudly – this has led to local names like “puff adder” or hissing viper.” If this at is unsuccessful, they will writhe about, excrete a foul-smelling musk and then turn over with a smooth mouth agape and lie still, as though dead. Despite this intimidating behavior, hog-nosed do not pose a threat to humans.

            Michigan snakes do not attack, chase or lunge at people or seek out human contact. If you have spotted a snake, stay at least 3 feet away from the head to avoid getting bit. Handling or harassing snakes is the most common cause for humans getting bit. Simply put, if left alone, Michigan snakes will leave people alone.

            To find out what other kinds of snakes Michigan has and how to tell the difference between them, check out the “60-Second Snakes” video series on the DNR’s YouTube channel.

            Learn more about Michigan’s snakes by visiting mi.gov/wildlife and clicking the “Wildlife Species” button, then selecting “Amphibians and Reptiles.”

            Please consider reporting any reptile or amphibian sightings to the Michigan Herp Atlas research project ot help monitor amphibian and reptile populations in the state and protect these important Michigan residents for future generations. Visit www.miherpatlas.org for more information.

Source: The Sault News: Friday, June 9, 2017 issue.

           

Columbus

After Columbus’ arrival to the Western Hemisphere many other explorers followed suit, and millions were dehumanized, families destroyed, societies met untimely collapse and civilizations were destroyed as a result of colonization and the seeking of riches by greedy entrepreneurs. Mankind has suffered throughout history as a result of racist ideology and acts of superiority that has justified slavery, assimilation, discrimination and genocide. Throughout history the dominant cultures have practiced discrimination and segregation based on skin color, birth rights and gender, which in turn has prevented unity from occurring and has aided the ruling classes to maintain power and control. Many countries have sought more resources and people to fall under their ownership. People served as a valuable resource and kept the wealthy in the lives they thought they deserved by the disparaging pursuing of an economy based on the labor provided by slaves. As a result, many groups from the Vikings to the Spaniards, needed to expand their horizons by invading other countries, curious and self-serving interlopers intruding on the lives of unsuspecting natives. 

            At the same time parts of the world were being explored, military unrest was occurring between the Europeans and Muslims. The struggle between the Muslims and Spaniards endured for nearly seven centuries and established the Europeans’ insight of how they should deal with non-Europeans. Anyone who was not from Europe could not be trusted. The Muslims constructed a formidable military force with the collaboration of many Muslim groups that led the way to controlling a major port city, Constantinople, in 1453. The takeover of Constantinople paved the way for Muslim rule over much of Eastern Europe.

During this time of unrest, Christopher Columbus was born to an Italian weaver in 1451.  Columbus became a man of deep-seated convictions. He possessed strong Christian beliefs. He also believed he could travel west from Spain and reach Japan and China and held onto these convictions up until his death. For years he was persistent with trying to convince rulers of various countries in Europe to fund his expedition. He was not able to persuade the king of Portugal, or the rulers of England and France to fund his first voyage and spent years trying to convince Ferdinand and Isabella, rulers of Spain. The Spaniards and other European countries were preoccupied and very busy with their efforts of taking over specific ports and land holdings from the Muslims.

            Eventually, the Spaniards started experiencing military success and captured the port of Seville.  A link to the continent of Africa was established, forming a base for trade and served as a conduit for expeditions against the Arabs in the Mediterranean area.  In 1469, the marriage between Ferdinand and Isabella consolidated the armed forces of Castile and Aragon leading to the final annihilation of the Moors. The last Moorish king and his kingdom fell under the rule of the Spaniards. The Spaniards managed to push the last of the Moors out of the Granada region of Spain. The wars that occurred in Ganada involved in long tedious battles between the Christians and Muslims. Columbus was impressed with the mighty diligence and the powerful unity of Ferdinand and Isabella.

On March 31, 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella in their effort to strengthen Christian influence in their kingdom they worked on banishing Jews from Spain. The queen’s ruling applied to 300,000 Jewish people who did not practice Christianity. Many of the Jewish people avoided extradition by professing the Catholic faith.  After the ruling was enforced, Jewish people suspected of infidelity concerning the Church were referred to as “marranos” meaning pigs.  New laws were put into place and as a result Jewish blood was considered at fault for their Christian infidelity.  Because they were tainted due to their bloodline, their sinfulness could not be eliminated by baptism. Thus, the Jewish people needed to be banished. 

“We have upheld our battle against the Jewish people for years now. We have convinced our Christian followers to abhor those wretched people. Why they are even permitted to live is beyond me. I despise them. I can’t think of a point in time even as far back as when I was a small child that I didn’t hate the Jewish people. Both my parents taught me to hate the Jewish people,” said Ferdinand.

“It has been the wish of both of us to rid our country of the filthy vermin,” said Isabella.

“Did you see what happened to the young Jewish women when we turned them over to some of our soldiers?” asked Ferdinand. He smiled broadly and looked directly into Isabella’s eyes.

“Yes, it was delightful to watch the look on their parents’ faces when we forced them to watch. We may as well have a little fun at their expense,” smirked Isabella.

“A lot of them have converted to Christianity, but I am sure some of them are lying,” said Ferdinand.

“I think so too. I don’t trust them at all,” replied Isabella.

“I want to change the subject.”

“Okay.”

Columbus, discussed a trip to some of other countries. I think he wants to visit the Indies. I wonder how much he would bring back to us. You know in the form of gold and possibly some other jewels and riches,” said Ferdinand.

“We can use some more slaves to help us with the running of our kingdom,” said Isabella.

“Forget about the slaves. I am more interested in gold. We need more trading capital and you have had your eye on some gold trim in our bedroom suite,” said Ferdinand. He patted her hand from across the table.

The room was dark and only one candle was burning on the large table they were sitting at. They liked to sneak away from the rest of the world and hide in their bedroom to discuss how to run the country among other things. They enjoyed their privacy.

“That would be nice to see the glitter of gold on our bedroom walls when I wake in the morning,” said Isabella.

“I think I am going to tell Columbus that we will fund his venture,” said Ferdinand.

“Good plan,” replied Isabella.

Columbus thought he won over Ferdinand and Isabella when they finally agreed to fund his first voyage. They made him feel that he persuaded them. He had to prepare and give them a sales pitch before they would finally agree. They liked having their underlings jump through hoops. The rulers wanted to convert the natives of the uncharted lands to Christianity and the thought of a source of untapped wealth was the main reason they agreed to support Columbus concerning his ventures. There were so many possible lucrative possibilities. Columbus convinced Isabella and Ferdinand that he was going to work hard to convert the people he  discovered to Christianity during his excursions. Since he demonstrated that he possessed strong Christian beliefs, they believed him. He insisted on being appointed viceroy, meaning governor, of the newly discovered lands and demanded ten percent of the gold, spices, and trade that he found. Columbus also had his eye on accumulating as much wealth as possible. He envied the lives of the rulers and imagined himself living in the lap of luxury.

            The “Columbus as the discoverer” myth propagated the belief of which voices were to be listened to and which were to be ignored. Columbus never set foot on North American soil. The native people of San Salvador, the first discovered people, were later portrayed as lacking feelings or thoughts, barely human.  To explain as simply as possible, what happened over five hundred years ago was a group of heavily armed Europeans invaded a country to claim and control the lands of a large group of people, the indigenous.  

            Columbus set sail with three ships from the small port of Palos de Frontera on Friday, August 3, 1492. Martin Alsonso Pinzon was second in command of the expedition and captain of the Pinta. The Pinta had a crew of 27 men. Master of the Pinta was Francisco Martin Pinzon. Vincente Yanez Pinzon was captain of the Nina. The Nina had a crew of 22 men. The flagship, which was a carabela, was named Santa Maria and it had a crew of 39. Some of the crew members were convicted prisoners. Columbus had to take a chance in order to man his ships with an adequate amount of men. Columbus was awarded the title admiral. Juan de Cosa, owner of the Santa Maria, was the ship’s master (Aughton, 2007).

            On August 8^th, 1492, they set anchor at the Canary Islands. They needed to stock their ships with provisions for the long journey.

“Where’s Samuel?  I need him up on deck immediately,” demanded Senior Officer Luis.

            “What do you need sir?” replied a shaky Samuel after another sailor retrieved him. 

            “You need to swab the deck before sunset.”

            The sailors were treated like servants. They did not have their own living quarters.  The crew worked in four hour shifts, and when they were off duty, they slept anywhere they could find space.  Their duties consisted of pumping bilge, swabbing the decks, working the sails, and checking the ropes and cargo. Columbus often spent days without sleep.  Only the captain had his own private sleeping quarters. The sailors’ lives were hard, and they often died from disease, hunger, and thirst. Religion was the central focus of their lives, and their days began with prayers and hymns and ended with religious services in the evenings. The sailors received one hot meal a day, cooked over an open fire in a sandbox on deck. Their diet included biscuits, pickled or salted meat, dried peas, cheese, wine, and freshly caught fish.(insert citation) 

**********

            “Bartolomeo, what are you doing? Get over here and eat with your brother” demanded Columbus. Bartolomeo was somewhat of an expert with reading maps and he provided assistance to Columbus with regards to navigation of the open seas.

            “We really lucked out with that storm.  I have to tell you, brother, on a few occasions I thought I could see my life flash before my eyes,” said Columbus. The night before the winds were howling and the waves almost capsized their ships. Everyone hung on for dear life trying not to let the angry sea swallow them.

            “Do you think we are going to find land soon?  Some of the men are becoming a little mutinous,” said Bartolomeo as he scoffed.

            “You know, we’ve been on the sea for at least a month, and it is wearing on me, too.  I love the smell of the sea, but seeing land would be much appreciated,” said Columbus.

            Columbus’ ships covered approximately 150 miles a day. His crew used a compass for direction and a chip log and reel to measure speed.  The chip log was a large reel with over 700 feet of line wound up on a large wooden spool.  A triangular piece of wood was located on the front right side, which was thrown over the side of the ship.  It created a large amount of drag that stayed where it fell in the water, and the ship could sail away from it.  The rate at which the line ran off the reel represented the speed of the vessel.  The rope was knotted and spaced along the line at intervals of 47 feet, 3 inches, representing the distance the ship sailed in 28 seconds, if traveling at one nautical mile per hour.  If two knots ran off the reel in 28 seconds, the ship was traveling two nautical miles per hour. The term “knots” was derived from the tying of knots on a rope.  The reel was usually held by two sailors.  One sailor, usually the sailing master, tossed the chip and counted the knots.  Another sailor was placed in charge of the sandglass to track the time.  Columbus relied on his experience, intuition, observations, and guesswork to determine his ship’s position.

            “If my calculations are correct, we should be seeing land in a couple of days.  The Indies were supposed to take just a little over a month to reach,” reported Columbus.

Columbus was a collector of a large amount of books and the Bible was a great source of inspiration for him. Columbus was influenced by the written works of Pope Pius II’s Historia Rerum ubique Gestarum, which was published in 1477 and Cardinal Pierre d’Ailly’s Imago Mundi published in the 1480s. Columbus derived his image of the world from these books and was determined to prove he could reach the Far East by traveling westward.

            “I can’t wait to see land.  The days are beginning to seem endless,” said Bartolomeo.

            “There may be unfriendly people and animals living on the land,” added Columbus.

            “Let’s make sure we have our guns and ammunition ready just in case some of the animals are vicious,” stated Columbus.

            “I will meet with the officers and tell them that we may be seeing land soon and to be prepared,” replied Bartolomeo.

            “Thanks.” 

*********

            “Do you know what we have to do Emilio?” asked Francisco.

            “Yes, we have to have our matchlock muskets armed and ready.  I will assist with cleaning the stocks,” said Emilio.

            “I think we brought plenty of gun powder,” said Emilio.

            Henrico was huddled over a musket as he slid a stick with a rag tied to it into the barrel.  As he redrew the stick, he turned the rag around to the clean side and attached it to the stick.  The rag came out cleaner the second time. Henrico tossed the rag to one of the sailors to clean.  The sailor ran the rag over the washboard several times and hung it to dry on a nail that was pounded into one of the sideboards.  The sailors haven’t eaten all day. They have to wait until early evening to have their only meal of the day. Food supplies were not as plentiful and had to be reserved to last the duration of the trip. The conditions on this ship are deplorable, the rats, the food, and the sleeping conditions.                     

********

            The journey proved to be very long and arduous. Sometimes the waves would almost capsize the ships. Many of the crew became seasick and unfit to work. The crew had not seen land in a long time. September turned into October with still no sight of land. There was a call from the Nina that land was sighted but that ended up being a false alarm. The crew was becoming restless. Columbus was afraid there was going to be a mutiny. The crew feared traveling further west in case they did not find land soon. Provisions were running out. Some of the men recommended that they turn around and return to Spain. Columbus worked diligently to coerce the crew to travel further west. He asked them to give him four more days. The crew finally agreed. Columbus breathed a sigh of relief.

            On Thursday, October 11 the ships were sailing west south west in a heavy sea with the most turbulent weather they have encountered throughout the journey. All of a sudden Columbus spotted green weeds growing under the water. A branch with berries on it that appeared to be freshly cut was floating on top of the water. They were approaching land. Columbus could feel it in his bones. It was getting dark quickly. Columbus feared going aground with the ships. All of a sudden he saw a light in the distance and called out to the rest of the crew. They verified that they saw a light, also. 

            The Pinta was the fastest of the ships so that was sent ahead. Late into the night there was no doubt that there were fires on a shore at a short distance from them. The excitement was rising. Smiles crossed many of the faces of the travelers. In the morning the caravan discovered that it was approaching an island. The island appeared to be inhabited.

            This was a historic moment for Columbus, Spain and the rest of the world. Even though it has been noted that other countries visited North America before Columbus’ voyage, his expedition is the most well-known. The travelers landed on the island of San Salvador after managing to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

            Green foliage and lush flowers of many colors peppered the land as Columbus walked along the shoreline. The sand on the shore was white and pristine.  The sailors were in awe of the beautiful scenery. Brightly colored birds chirped and cawed as they flew above. The large branches of the palm trees swayed in the gentle breeze.  Columbus stared at the magnificent view as he made his way further into the forest down a narrow path with the crew and officers from the ships.  A clearing was spotted a hundred yards ahead of the weary travelers.

            Columbus ordered the sailors to have their weapons ready to fire.

            A small group of villagers approached the sailors.  They had bronze colored skin.  Their bodies were of a slim build and muscular.  Their long black hair was braided and tied with twine.  The islanders greeted the strangers with curious enchantment. They gathered around the voyagers talking excitedly. Columbus came prepared with gifts. He gave them red bonnets, glass beads and necklaces. The islanders gave them in return balls of cotton thread, darts and brightly colored parrots. Columbus was not interested in the gifts he received. He noticed the gold that was in one of the necklaces a native woman was wearing (Aughton, 2007).

            “We saw naked people and I went ashore with a boat with armed men, taking Martin Alonso Pinzon and his brother Vicente Yanez, captian of  the Nina. I took the Royal standard, and the captains each took a banner with the green cross which each of my ships carries as a device, with the letters F and Y (Ferdinand and Ysabella), surmounted by a crown, at each end of he cross. When we stepped ashore we saw fine green trees, streams everywhere and different kinds of fruits. I called the two captains to jump ashore with the rest, who included Rodrigo de Escobedo, secretary of the fleet, and Rodrigo Sanchez de Segovia, asking them to bear solemn witness that in the presence of hem all I was taking possession of this island for their Lord and Lady the King and Queen, and I made the necessary declarations which are set down at greater length in the written testimonies.” (Aughton, 2007)

            The tallest man in the group waved for the rest of the group to stay. He approached the large group of voyagers. His smile revealed perfectly straight teeth, which shined in the sunlight like pearls.  He extended his hand and waved for them to follow him to the village.

            “What do you think about this?” inquired Columbus as he waited for a response from Valante, an officer of the Santa Maria. 

            Valante appeared to be unsure, and he responded by shrugging his shoulders.

            Henrico walked up to Columbus and said, “I think we are going to be alright. These people don’t appear to have any weapons.”

            “Are you sure?  They could have people hiding in those huts ready to pounce on us as soon as we get near the village,” said Emiliano, an officer of the Nina, as he looked at the huts anxiously.

            “We discovered this land and I am not going to let a few strange people stop us.  They are like animals, naked, and the color of their skin is like no other I have ever seen,” said Columbus. The more he thought about the native people the more he began to admire them. They were a friendly lot. They welcomed the strangers with open arms.

            Towards the end of the 1400s, a belief existed of a land resembling paradise far to the east of Europe. Mystical wonders like the biblical Eden and the fountain of youth were believed to exist.  It was believed these faraway lands were free from the strife the Europeans faced at home.  Initially, Columbus referred to the people he discovered in the Western Hemisphere as children of God. Columbus imagined his good fortune led him to the “Golden Age.” He wrote to his royal patrons after meeting the first inhabitants of the newly discovered land:

            “So tractable, so peaceable are these people, that I swear to your Majesties there is no better nation on earth.  They love their neighbors as themselves, and their discourse is ever sweet so and gentle, accompanied with a smile, and though it is true that they are naked, their manners are decorous and praiseworthy.”

            The travelers were invited to sit down around a fire, and the native people introduced themselves in a strange language. 

            Columbus stared thoughtfully at the native people. Their tongue is unintelligible. They don’t understand a thing we’re saying.  How are we going to find out where the treasures are located? Did we take a step back in time when we landed on this ancient barbaric land or did we actually come across the people of the Golden Age? They welcomed us and appear to be so friendly, not only to us, but to each other as well.  They have this gentle attitude with visitors, and they treat each other with the utmost respect.

********

            “We have searched high and low and can’t find any treasure, and we can’t communicate with these people to find out where their treasures are kept,” said Columbus as he fervently placed his hands on his hips to demonstrate his frustration.

            “The others are starting to talk about us.  They think we are soft and need to put our foot down with these savages,” stated Bartolomeo.

            “I know, brother.  I’ve been thinking about the very same thing. We need to come up with a plan,” replied Columbus.

*******

            “I have an idea. Why don’t we capture as many of these creatures as we can and take them back to Spain?  They can be used as slaves and sold for a profit.  I promised Isabella and Ferdinand I would bring them back valuables,” said Columbus.

            “I think we can take at least a couple hundred back to Spain. We can cram them in the haul of our ships,” said Bartolomeo.

            “Let’s inform the other sailors of our plans,” said Columbus.

            The sailors from the three ships were informed of their plans and instructed to construct cages to house the natives until they were ready to depart.  The cages took a couple of weeks to build. 

            “We have all the cages built, Columbus.  Now what?” asked Henrico.

            “We have put a couple of small animals in the cages to fool the savages. They think we are catching animals to eat,” said Henrico.

            “It’s time to round up the savages. Get the best specimens and put them in the cages,” replied Bartolomeo.

            “Do you only want men?” asked Henrico.

            “No. I want to take back both men and women,” replied Columbus.

            “What about the children? What do we do with them?” asked Emilio.

            “Children wouldn’t make good slaves.  Let’s leave them behind,” replied Bartolomeo.

 

            The beliefs of the native people presented a paradoxical point of view to the Europeans.  One side demonstrated a people who did not live within the confines of a civil society, lacking the concepts of marriage, property and law.  Common ownership and a lack of selfishness are also trademarks associated with innocence and natural virtue. The laws that beset civility defined the boundaries between what was considered a savage existence and that of civilized society. The heightened awareness of these differences created confusion concerning people of color when the Spaniards discovered the New World.  Many circumstances, such as the Black Death, military conflicts and the shift towards a market economy, also led Europeans to adopt a highly competitive mindset.

            Columbus and his followers decided to enslave the tribal people and order them to seek gold for them before they returned to Spain. They were expected to obtain a certain quantity and if they did not do so some of the tribal people would lose an ear, foot or a hand to set an example for the others.

            “We are not amassing the gold we thought would be available to us. I specifically remember our orders. We were to bring back as much gold as possible. Ferdinand was adamant. We took all the jewelry from our captives. They have been going to the mines daily and all we have is this bucket full of gold,” said Columbus scratching his head. He looked at the others to seek their guidance. They looked as stumped as he did.

            Vicente added, “I think we have been here long enough and we should count our losses and head back to Spain.”

            “I think you are right,” Columbus replied.    

“I will get everybody moving concerning the gathering of these savages,” stated Emilio.

            “We must get back to Spain and collect our fee for services rendered,” said Columbus as he turned to locate the captains of the ships and tell them of their plan.

            The horrified villagers were gathered and put in the haul of the ships.  They were crying and screaming with terror.  The other villagers, who were not captured, tried to run to the mountains and forests to hide. Some were lucky while others were drug back and beaten for trying to flee. The captains told the sailors they could do what they wanted with the rest of the villagers.  The acts committed against them were unspeakable.  Some of them managed to flee.

The captains were more than happy to plan their voyage back to Spain and collect their pay.  Food was scarce on the ships so plans were made to take a lot of the food from the villagers that were left at the village. Some were hidden in the jungle.

            A massive raid was conducted and 1,500 Arawaks [Tainos] were abducted. Men, women and children were imprisoned in pens, which were guarded by men and dogs. The dogs haven’t been fed in a while so the prisoners, if they tried to escape, would serve as food. Columbus’ ships could not carry more than 200 slaves so only the ones considered the most valuable were loaded aboard. The Admiral told those under his command they could do what they wished with the remaining captives. The native people who were not wanted for any purpose were released and they ran in all directions like lunatics, women dropping their infants in the rush, running for miles without stopping, fleeing across rivers and mountains. The terror inflicted on them is unimaginable.

            Of the 200 slaves taken to Spain, only approximately 100 arrived alive. They were put up for sale in Seville by Don Juan de Fonseca, the archdeacon of the town.  The slave trade proved to be unprofitable because so many of the slaves died.  Columbus turned his focus to obtaining large amounts of gold.

            Bartolome’ de Las Casas was disheartened when he heard of the brutal treatment and exploitation inflicted on the native people.  He based his beliefs on what he thought needed to occur in the new land, which involved the spreading of their interpretation of God’s word. According to Las Casas, that was why God permitted the discovery of this foreign land.  He devoted his life to serving as an advocate for Indian people. However, there were stronger powers at play overriding his efforts.

            In 1493, before the Pope turned over South America to the Spaniards, he gave them a proclamation. The Spanish conquistadores were ordered to read this declaration to the native people mandating that they should:

            “… Recognize the Church as your Mistress and as Governess of the World and Universe, and the High Priest, called the Pope, in her name, and His Majesty in Her place, as Ruler and Lord King…

            And if you do not do this… with the help of God I shall come mightily against you, and I shall make war on you everywhere and in every way that I can, and I shall subject you to the yoke and obedience of the Church and His Majesty, and I shall seize your women and children, and I shall make them slaves, to sell and dispose of as His Majesty commands, and I shall do all the evil and damage to you that I am able.  And I insist that the deaths and destruction that result from this will be your fault.” (citation)

            This document removed all responsibility from the Spaniards and gave them authorization to do whatever they felt necessary to conquer and exploit the native people.  Thus heinous atrocities were inflicted in the name of Christianity with the Pope’s blessing.

             

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The takeover of native land and resources continued after Columbus made his discoveries. From 1519 to 1521 Hernando Cortes and 400 Spaniards set foot on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. These Spaniards defeated an empire of 200,000 Aztecs. At the time of this invasion, 50,000 Aztec men were prepared for battle.  The takeover was possibly made feasible by a rumor that Montezuma believed Cortes was the god Quetzalcoatl and that was how Cortes became feared and gained so much power over the Aztecs. This was the first time the Aztecs were exposed to horses and firearms. Another explanation for the depletion of the Aztec population involved disease, possibly after he obtained notoriety as their new found god. Cortez and the other Spaniards gave the Aztecs small pox infested blankets. 

Columbus was following the instructions of the rulers of Spain and the Church. It has been extremely difficult to fathom that they felt it necessary to wield such brutality on people who welcomed them into their country. The mindset of the European culture included strong competitive and military attitudes of this time period.

            As much as Columbus’ actions appear deplorable, his actions did represent the mindset of the religious, political and economic forces of that time period fueled by dark and evil influences. It was the goal of the fallen angels and Lucifer to make the lives of the humans as miserable as possible and if a few died along the way which served as a bonus. Killing as many humans as possible was their main goal. Celebrating Columbus’ discovery has provided validation for the abuse of the Western Hemisphere’s native people, the destruction of their societies, and the brutal enslavement of many people of color.

Columbus was never fully aware of the significance of his discovery. It was the precious metals and other finds that led to the rise of European capitalism in the newly discovered land.  As a result, there was a gradual transfer of political and economic power from Europe to the Americas. Columbus made three additional voyages to unchartered lands before he was forced to retire because he lost his foothold with the ruling class.  Columbus spent his last lonely years in Spain before his death in 1506.  History has been written by the victors. That’s why many of us learned about Columbus discovering America.