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To: anothergrunt
The only reason they didn't rape the land

May I ask, how does a society with neither paper nor plastic rape a land? What possible evidence exist today of the Indians rape of the land? Did you really think that a society with over five million square miles to roam and possessing only that which the earth could provide could actually pollute or even have need to care for that matter? But they did care.

"We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can't speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees."
Qwatsinas (Hereditary Chief Edward Moody), Nuxalk Nation
Rain-in-the-Face - Sioux (???-1905)

"I am poor and naked, but I am the chief of a nation. We do not want riches but we do want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches. We want peace and love."
Red Cloud (Makhipiya-luta) Sioux Chief

Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the Book? "We also have a religion which was given to our forefathers, and has been handed down to us their children. It teaches us to be thankful, to be united, and to love one another! We never quarrel about religion."
Sogoyewapha, (Red Jacket), Seneca 1752-1830

"Every part of the earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every meadow, every humming insect. All are holy in the memory and experience of my people.". . . . "Will you teach your children what we have taught our children? That the earth is our mother? What befalls the earth befalls all the sons of the earth. "This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. "One thing we know: our god is also your god. The earth is precious to him and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its creator.
Chief Seattle, Dwamish - 1786-1866

71 posted on 12/03/2001 2:50:10 PM PST by MosesKnows
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To: MosesKnows
Moses knows a lot but he obviously is unaware that the "noble savage" canard was invented in Europe, as early as the 1700's, and was even then so transparent as to be parodied by acerbic writers like Alexander Pope (Lo! the poor Indian!) It was a drawing room cliche by 1750. The "Noble Savage" was reinforced and actually named I believe in the mawkish writings of Rousseau.

As for this idyllic image of the earth revering eco-mystical innocent you apparently have swallowed, consider the way some Plains Indians harvested buffalo: set a prairie fire and force a whole herd of bison over a cliff or river bluff as they stampeded to escape the flames.

Then the innocent nature lovers went and took what little they could carry from the massive carnage, leaving the bulk to waste and rot in the sun.

What ever made you think "pollution" by paper and plastic comes anywhere near the despoliation caused by these primitive peoples?

95 posted on 12/03/2001 4:36:31 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: MosesKnows
Let's see, these noble savages didn't want riches. So why was it that they spent large amounts of time raiding each others villages and carrying off anything they could steal? If they were so peaceful, why did they wage almost constant war amongst themselves and torture and enslave their enemies?

Environmentalists - don't make me laugh. Being dependent on local wildlife because you're to ignorant to invent agriculture does not make you an environmentalist.

130 posted on 12/04/2001 7:22:28 AM PST by anothergrunt
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