I think one of the sadder realizations about history is that at first you go ‘oh man, people in the past were terrible people, how could they do that?’
Then you grow up and start seeing and realizing how much a difference the culture and social pressures can influence you. At first it makes you feel better, everyone would be shitty in that context.
Then you read deeper more nuanced history and you realize that during every time period and culture throughout history, there were truly decent people who immediately saw through to the humanity of the situation and were just considered weird freaks for having basic empathy.
Really shows the bell curve of it all. There are a few truly evil people, and a few truly decent people, but most of the middle is pretty meh, and will just take the easiest path with the crowd.
Most of the middle have always been just here to survive and have 0 impact on things outside of their immediate life. Was true back then, still true today.
Its true that most of us don’t have a broader impact but that doesn’t excuse ‘going with the pack’ when the pack wants to mass imprison and lynch people. ‘Just trying to survive’ is an excuse that does not absolve culpability in the face of injustice.
The vast majority of people are simultaneously corporate drones while trying to gain clout on social media while snorting cheetoh dust while just trying to watch the game ovah here! The question is, where is the line between that being survival versus intentionally sticking your head in the sand because you don’t feel like larger societal problems should be your problem.
Were Native Americans even considered people by the Europeans at that time?
I love looking at old maps and some from the late 1800s are still describing some of the Native’s land as “the land of the savages”.
I think one of the sadder realizations about history is that at first you go ‘oh man, people in the past were terrible people, how could they do that?’
Then you grow up and start seeing and realizing how much a difference the culture and social pressures can influence you. At first it makes you feel better, everyone would be shitty in that context.
Then you read deeper more nuanced history and you realize that during every time period and culture throughout history, there were truly decent people who immediately saw through to the humanity of the situation and were just considered weird freaks for having basic empathy.
Really shows the bell curve of it all. There are a few truly evil people, and a few truly decent people, but most of the middle is pretty meh, and will just take the easiest path with the crowd.
Most of the middle have always been just here to survive and have 0 impact on things outside of their immediate life. Was true back then, still true today.
Eh probably, but you can survive with varying levels of morality. Most are not so desperate that they have no other options.
I think that’s more of a comforting thought then reality. At a base minimum they still vote, let alone the rest of the impact they have on the world.
Its true that most of us don’t have a broader impact but that doesn’t excuse ‘going with the pack’ when the pack wants to mass imprison and lynch people. ‘Just trying to survive’ is an excuse that does not absolve culpability in the face of injustice.
The vast majority of people are simultaneously corporate drones while trying to gain clout on social media while snorting cheetoh dust while just trying to watch the game ovah here! The question is, where is the line between that being survival versus intentionally sticking your head in the sand because you don’t feel like larger societal problems should be your problem.
Half of Europe wasn’t even considered people at the time.
They got there with enlightenment but still used race ‘science’ to make sure nonwhites didn’t get too close to human status.
I was going to say women, but that counts too.