We are about to start a new unit in 8th grade U.S. history and I have thought about trying to get the class to understand the inherent bias in the usage of the term “settlers” for those decedents of Europeans who encroached on the land occupied by Native Americans.
That is an extremely benign term that neglects and glosses over much of what transpired in the “settling” of the west. Such terms are tools used to whitewash that which is embarrassing or unsavory.
Anyway, that got me thinking that our brethren who are often termed “illegals” or “undocumented” should be more correctly (in keeping with precedent) called “settlers.”
Observer - right on about the “settler” vs. “illegal” dichotomy. If we were really to push the issue, how many current immigrants are really expatriots returning to the homeland? To quote a classic lyrics from Aztlan Underground - “We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us.” (Other great lyrics from them include, “We’ve got the rage to pump the 12-gauge”).
HP, speaking of immigration, did you ever post anything about Fox’s controversial comments last spring about Blacks? I’m writing a post about Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff’s recent comments about immigrants that sounds pretty much the same, just without the loaded racial reference. Read here.
“The American and Mexican indians both failed to enforce their borders. Look what happened to them!”
-Jack
Their “failure” wasn’t from lack of effort; the “settlers” were jut too overwhelming. History, it would seem, is cyclical and not completely devoid of vengeful justice.
Classic!
Q’onda HP… I have to comment on your recent posting on abortion, but I’m pressed for time. I’ll be back.
Ciao
Lulu
Aver a que horas!!!
Did you have a happy hump day, mi amiga Lulu? Shhhsssshhh, no le digas a nadie.
Very funny stuff.
We are about to start a new unit in 8th grade U.S. history and I have thought about trying to get the class to understand the inherent bias in the usage of the term “settlers” for those decedents of Europeans who encroached on the land occupied by Native Americans.
That is an extremely benign term that neglects and glosses over much of what transpired in the “settling” of the west. Such terms are tools used to whitewash that which is embarrassing or unsavory.
Anyway, that got me thinking that our brethren who are often termed “illegals” or “undocumented” should be more correctly (in keeping with precedent) called “settlers.”
Yup!
ijole, that is a good one,
es cierto, where where their papeles?
and why am i speaking spanish?
z
Observer - right on about the “settler” vs. “illegal” dichotomy. If we were really to push the issue, how many current immigrants are really expatriots returning to the homeland? To quote a classic lyrics from Aztlan Underground - “We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us.” (Other great lyrics from them include, “We’ve got the rage to pump the 12-gauge”).
HP, speaking of immigration, did you ever post anything about Fox’s controversial comments last spring about Blacks? I’m writing a post about Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff’s recent comments about immigrants that sounds pretty much the same, just without the loaded racial reference. Read here.
The American and Mexican indians both failed to enforce their borders. Look what happened to them!
“The American and Mexican indians both failed to enforce their borders. Look what happened to them!”
-Jack
Their “failure” wasn’t from lack of effort; the “settlers” were jut too overwhelming. History, it would seem, is cyclical and not completely devoid of vengeful justice.
Viva Mexico!