I think maybe these are common thought among non-whites. Don't you think the descendants of enslaved Africans ie. African-Americans think of this often or even Native Americans given the fact that it had such a great impact on their civilizations and futures? If you do a little research you will find that some one has already written many books on this. But I'd still be interested on your point of view.

I was traveling when you wrote your excellent post that you refer to today.  I'm glad I  was prompted to read the original.

When he suggests that  blacks and/or native Americans may be better off because of the white man, brandre  sounds a bit like Gerald Schoenwolf of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuals who, in addition to his gay bashing,  wrote an essay saying Africans were fortunate to have been sold into slavery.  I haven't done a lot of research, but I am of the opinion that blacks, native Americans, the underprivileged, and yes, Mexicans are not better off because of exploitation by the white man.  This is just a gut feeling.

If you address this issue in your thesis, I would love to read it. 

Thank you!

You are welcome.  And thank you.  And thank you, Noelle.

In case you don't know why I said thank you, it's because your comment is so appropriate. Brandre *sigh*

I hear ya.

I know what you mean. The dude went ballistic on my entry about a football commercial with Sen. Obama. 

oh yeah I think I remember that...it was a cute commercial in which Obama says that he has finally decided or something like that...I think I saw that. I usually don't get into to controversy so I didn't comment but it definitely raised an eyebrow. Check out myclette 's recent post about Texas. He let 'em rip on that one as well, but she paid him a little mini rant.

I love that absurd, SPECULATIVE, argument about blacks being better off because of slavery. Africa is in the shambles it's in now because of colonialism.  How would Africa be if it weren't colonized by European countries for centuries, denied the right to participate in the government for centuries, then haphazardly given control back without proper experience as governing officials? We claim we won't leave Iraq until we are sure democracy will be able to thrive there. The European colonist apparently did not have the same philosphy.

I apologize.  I didn't mean to take this post off track the way I did.  Objective studies of history and its consequences are sorely needed.  As much as we can, we should learn from history.  I wish you the best if you take on this noble study.

Red Cloud said, "I am poor and naked, but I am the chief of the 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."

I wish we could have followed his path. 

(Thanks for your post.   And again, I apologize.  I'm still learning from my mistakes.)

You didn't take this post off track! All of the comments for this post were EXCELLENT! I'm glad you all had opinions and voiced them, this is WONDERFUL! I love the way this post is developing! I've learned a lot!

I just haven't posted or responded today for personal reasons... I'm still sick- and that's with the anti-bioitics mind you, you wouldn't believe it if I told you what was wrong with me today.... sigh... and I'm only 39.... We're leaving for MD tomorrow and to top it all off when I went to borrow my parent's van to drive down (roomier, better gas mileage etc.) my dad told me that my grandmother has cancer. (Stunned silence from me) Mind you she'll be 95 next Sunday but they're leaning towards not treating her, she's got dementia, she's in a nursing home and why make things worse for her? So it's been a really bad day. To top it off today is my son's birthday and of course I can't tell him about our grandmother- and I always tell my kids what's going on, I think they're wondering why I'm so out of it. There werea few other snafu's today (and I'm glossing here) -I'm almost afraid to breathe today... tomorrow will be better.

Thank God (insert the deity of your own choosing here where appropriate ) I have all of you on Mindsay to keep my mind off of things... and thank you for the quote by Red Cloud, it means a lot, especially today...

Yeah, I've wondered similar things.  I also wondered if the native american population had somehow been able to band together to repel the europeans, how would that have played out?  And please excuse my general historical ignorance, but I think the Dutch were generally friendly and not trying to take advantage of the native americans - instead establishing fair trade, while the English were more interested in populating the country with Europeans.  Is that completely off?  Then what if the Dutch (or another friendly nation) help technologize (is that a made up word?) the Natives to the point that they could realistically repel the English?  I'm probably simplifying things a bit.