The narrative of the Aboriginals’ 45,000-year history is given some majesty in popular opinion pieces. Why, I don’t know, unless stagnation is your thing. Wandering about for 45,000 years while advancing as a culture not one iota: no writing, no buildings, no structures, no technological advancements of any note. In short: Nothing, aside from some rock painting, superstition, and subsistence. This is nothing about which today’s Aboriginals need to feel either pride or humility, since today’s individuals have no responsibility for what others did in the past, only what they themselves do today and in the future. But this 45,000-year story of stagnation does not seem to me what constitutes the natural state of man, or any sort of grounds for future success should one attempt to find lessons in it for today.
Occasional bad word advisory. (h/t Adrian)
The one phrase the article that resonates is the concept that aboriginal cultures are vulnerable to “genocide by welfare” – so true, even on our own continent.
Welfare as it is handled now, is simply free access to genocidal vices – drug/alcohol addiction and the promiscuity and broken family unit that comes with dependence unaccountability, lethargic entitlement lifestyles, loss of self respect that leads to cultural degradation and blame-shifting – all self inflicted because there are no requirements for personal or cultural accomplishment required of the entitlement recipients. In many cases the aboriginals were better off with their traditional culture – the one without Levi’s, Chevy 150s and welfare housing.
Aboriginals have to gain self respect and move forward as an independent self actualized culture – all forms of aboriginal demands and organizing today are just extensions of the welfare-entitlement culture – and there is the problem.
As long as we keep the status quo on this file in Canada there’s no point talking about respect on any front. Gaining self respect and earning our respect will mean a whole new way of life, stop the whining, get a job, pay taxes, join the country and respect our laws. A “culture” belongs to those of it and from it, all others in a free and democratic country should not be forced to support it. The Indians can dress in traditional garb, have their ceremonies which have meaning to them and still be PRODUCTIVE members of the country. We’ve had enough of their games showing us no respect or gratitude, basically laughing at their ongoing triumphs over our governments. When a bombastic chief says they will bring the country to it’s knees over the pipeline, the joke is over, time to take action.
Time to stop blaming us, our governments, for their own actions and choices, time for our governments to stop the gravy train to remote areas, no man’s lands and expect modern facilities and food, four wheelers, snowmobiles etc. Those who choose to stay in such places can take responsibility for their own livelihood, it’s called choices, we all have them.
first, last, or in between. it does not matter. none of us have been alive for over 100 years. the few exceptions have no more right to anything than the rest of us.
“No one in the human race had a culture much above eternal stagnation until the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution.”
Excuse me? Did you only read the back end of your high school history book?