2. Each of you please respond to one another's essays arguing for Chief Seattle's point of view. Though these are not essays, I expect you to explain yourself in well written responses that touch on specifics that support your point of view.
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Chief Seattle makes several good points about his people, and events that had occurred up to that point. Seattle's speach had a somewhat somber, emotional tone, but seemed to lack regret. It appears as though he has accepted the fate of the "red man" and has moved on to make the best out of the situation. Three specific ideas are mentioned in his speech, and show exactly how he feels on the subject.
His first point is a one way relationship. He acknowledges that the white man has no need for the red man, and that his people are at the mercy of a technologically superior race. His point is about struggle, and sometimes acceptance is an alternative that needs to be considered. Seattle put it well, and mentioned that the red man's time is "over", and the white mans time for dominance has come. Acceptance solves hostility, bloodshed, and violence. This is the main message and the first point I am going to support from Seattle.
The second point Seattle mentioned is about the difference between white and red races. The fact that Seattle mentions the holy burial grounds, and requiring an agreement to leave reservations to visit them shows a difference of cultures. The Native Americans have a unique relationship unlike that of the white man, where they cherish what is given to them by the land. Seattle also mentions that the white race wrecks havok in their homeland because all they hold sacred is protected by the Atlantic Ocean.
The laat point is a difference of morals and religious beliefs. Seattle states that even when all of his tribesmen, family, and friends have been wiped from their physical place on this earth, the white man will never be alone. His people will be present in spirit and mind. The white race believes differently, and this religious barrier obviously played a role in the unfriendly relationship between the two races. Another differing point would be destiny. The Native Americans believe in cycles, which is why Seattle was accepting of his races defeat. The white men, on the other hand, don't accept that they will be overthrown and "inferior" to another race one day.
Chief Seattle makes several good points about his people, and events that had occurred up to that point. Seattle's speach had a somewhat somber, emotional tone, but seemed to lack regret. It appears as though he has accepted the fate of the "red man" and has moved on to make the best out of the situation. Three specific ideas are mentioned in his speech, and show exactly how he feels on the subject.
His first point is a one way relationship. He acknowledges that the white man has no need for the red man, and that his people are at the mercy of a technologically superior race. His point is about struggle, and sometimes acceptance is an alternative that needs to be considered. Seattle put it well, and mentioned that the red man's time is "over", and the white mans time for dominance has come. Acceptance solves hostility, bloodshed, and violence. This is the main message and the first point I am going to support from Seattle.
The second point Seattle mentioned is about the difference between white and red races. The fact that Seattle mentions the holy burial grounds, and requiring an agreement to leave reservations to visit them shows a difference of cultures. The Native Americans have a unique relationship unlike that of the white man, where they cherish what is given to them by the land. Seattle also mentions that the white race wrecks havok in their homeland because all they hold sacred is protected by the Atlantic Ocean.
The laat point is a difference of morals and religious beliefs. Seattle states that even when all of his tribesmen, family, and friends have been wiped from their physical place on this earth, the white man will never be alone. His people will be present in spirit and mind. The white race believes differently, and this religious barrier obviously played a role in the unfriendly relationship between the two races. Another differing point would be destiny. The Native Americans believe in cycles, which is why Seattle was accepting of his races defeat. The white men, on the other hand, don't accept that they will be overthrown and "inferior" to another race one day.
--steve
This is definitely quite a powerful speech. I found that there where several comments which I found startling. The first “…we know he has little need of our friendship in return because his people are many.” To me this means that he is basically giving up because he has no choice. And later on he says “…let us hope that hostilities between the Red Man and his paleface brothers may never return.” This further shows that they are not going to be putting up much of a fight. Chief Seattle also says that White Chief was wants to buy there land but let them stay on it in a reserve. I think this would be a good idea because they don’t have nearly as many people and don’t need as much land as they had before. He then goes on to say, “Your God loves your people and hates mine!” This could be quite a controversial statement because the white man may also think the same thing about the Indian god. In addition, religion was not as well known about as it is now. He ends the speech with this statement, “There is no death, only a change of the worlds.” This leads us to believe that the world might have a total change for a certain group of people. ~Ryan
Although on the surface Chief Seattle's speech seems as though it is one of acceptance of the current situation, it appears to me as one of defiance. Seattle makes a point to show that his people, the Native Americans, have been forsaken by their God, who has obviously shown favor to the white men who have invaded their land, and sounds deeply sorrowful for that fact, but never once does he truly admit defeat. He admits that the white man has superior technology, and accepts the movement of his people, but never wavers from the fact that his people are in no way inferior to their invaders. Even through the great ordeal which he has suffered, Seattle's pride never waivers, a quality that shows great strength of character. He points out the fact that the area holds far more importance and receives far more reverence from his people than it ever will from the white man. Seattle even goes so far as to say that his people are forever tied to the land, in that the burial grounds left behind will serve as the memories of his people and a time before their land was invaded by sea. Seattle believes that even though the white man may lay claim to the lands of his people, they will never be rid of the original inhabitants of the land, as they will live on in spirit should his race ever vanish from the land. This statement appears to me as another statement of defiance from Seattle, as even though their lands are taken from them in this world, they will remain firmly in the hands of his people in the spirit world. Finally, Seattle says that just as the white man has come to replace his people, eventually the same fate awaits the invaders. This is probably the most obvious statement of defiance, the idea that the white man will eventually reap what they have sown, and receive the same treatment that they had given to the Native Americans. Overall, Seattle's speech was one that took great courage to deliver, a sort of surrender speech that never once tarnished his great pride in himself and his people.
-Eric
Chief Seattle's made some excellent points about land, kindness and his people. He speaks in a very eloquent tone and is willing to share the land with red man in peace and harmony. Despite their cultural differences, they must unite to make the best of what they have and what they will need to survive.
Chief Seattle states that "Every part of this soil is sacred in the estimation of my people. Every hillside, every valley, every plain and grove, has been hallowed by some sad or happy event in days long vanished." Here, he makes a valid point. I, too, believe that land cannot be possessed because all life depends on it and if some species possess it, where does that leave the others. Also, we must preserve the land for future generations and should live by the motto,live and let live. However,the White Man's weaknesss for shooting buffaloes was attacked.
Seattle also was a very kind and eloquent man.The next point he mentioned was that "The White Men will never be alone. Let him be just and deal kindly with my people, for the dead are not powerless-Dead-I say? There is no death. Only a change of worlds." This quote shows that Seattle refers to the deceased even though they no longer have a physical being that they still exist spiritually. He says that just because there's a change of worlds that they shouldn't act like the deceased never existed and that they should acknowledge them.
Lastly,he mentions the conflicting cultural beliefs between his people and the red man. Seattle knows that the red man does not understand their ways. He says that they mistreat mother Earth. He says that the red man will come to a piece of land, take what they need and leave it there. Also, Seattle's believes that they should never leave the deceased and forget about them. On the contrary, the red man will leave their father's grave behind, and will not care. Seattle feels that his people should never forget the impotance of their ancestors and the contributions they made. He feels that the red man's father's grave, and his children's birthright are forgotten. Seattle also thinks that the red man uses the land for the wrong reasons. The red man's appetite will devour the earth and leave it behind ruined.
overall, Seattle's speech is truly remarkable because he was willing to stand outside his compfort zone to make peace and share land with the red man without ever revolting against his own.
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