Posted on 06/27/2014 9:55:16 AM PDT by Second Amendment First
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In the United States today, the names Apache, Comanche, Chinook, Lakota, Cheyenne and Kiowa apply not only to Indian tribes but also to military helicopters. Add in the Black Hawk, named for a leader of the Sauk tribe. Then there is the Tomahawk, a low-altitude missile, and a drone named for an Indian chief, Gray Eagle. Operation Geronimo was the end of Osama bin Laden.
Why do we name our battles and weapons after people we have vanquished? For the same reason the Washington team is the Redskins and my hometown Red Sox go to Cleveland to play the Indians and to Atlanta to play the Braves: because the myth of the worthy native adversary is more palatable than the reality — the conquered tribes of this land were not rivals but victims, cheated and impossibly outgunned.
The destruction of the Indians was asymmetric war, compounded by deviousness in the name of imperialist manifest destiny. White America shot, imprisoned, lied, swindled, preached, bought, built and voted its way to domination. Identifying our powerful weapons and victorious campaigns with those we subjugated serves to lighten the burden of our guilt. It confuses violation with a fair fight.
It is worse than denial; it is propaganda.
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Noam Chomsky has clarified the moral stakes in provocative, instructive terms: “We might react differently if the Luftwaffe were to call its fighter planes ‘Jew’ and ‘Gypsy.’ ”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
This is insanity!
From the comments: Oh please. Another article that makes me embarrassed to be a liberal.
They are called "liberal media".
Not to be confused with just plain old dumb ass liberals.
“Why do we name our battles and weapons after people we have vanquished?”
Kind of a reach there ain’t it simon? Pretty sure it’s done in honor of those folks and not to offend. Get a life will ya?.............GEEZ.
I agree. That was my first thought.
Okay, Mr. Waxman, let’s name the Redskins the Panzers. You oaky wit dat?.........
“Another article that makes me embarrassed to be a liberal.”
That should occur during every waking moment.
Will Harry Reid Tell This 100% Navajo Indian High School Their ‘Redskins’ Mascot is Racist?
http://www.tpnn.com/2014/06/19/will-harry-reid-tell-this-100-navajo-indian-high-school-their-redskins-mascot-is-racist/
We name our tanks after great American Generals. I do think we should name the next helicopter The Honkey. We name our ships after states.
Well, what about all those Army posts named after Confederate Generals? Lee, Hood, etc. Isn’t that ‘racist’?
I know some Comanche who were upset that RAH-66 did not go into production; they felt like their tribe was not being honoured with a combat machine.
We did to the Indians what they were trying to do to each other. We are, in sum, the best thing that has ever happened to Mankind period.
Indians WERE often as brave in battle as Men can be and as such are worthy of Tribute in the minds of Men who understand Human nature in battle.
So should lots and lots of presidants, admirals, US cities and States be offended at having ship named after them? Should various general be mad that they had tanks named after them? No. It’s a sign of respect. That’s why there is no US helicoper named Hitler.
could SImon...POSSIBLY be the offsrping of ...Henry Waxman??
You have got to be kidding. Honoring great warriors is now an insult? Or more likely, a reason for empty headed holier than thou “liberals” to feign offense on behalf of others. Bunch of posers.
This story is such a... White Lie....
;-)
Excellent post.
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