The Inside Assyria Discussion Forum #5
=> More On Cortes.....
| More On Cortes..... |
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Posted by
pancho
(Moderator)
- Friday, April 10 2009, 19:43:19 (CEST) from *** - ***  Non-Profit Organizations -  Windows XP -   MozillaWebsite: Website title: |
Clearly this book assumes that the benefits of Christian civilization and especially the Christian religion, no matter how they are enforced, are always worth the price paid....even though it would be “nicer” if less violent means could work. Thus the victim is blamed for being “stubborn”...for refusing to accept such “gifts”, even at the end of a sword. Things haven’t changed much for this is the same attitude the United States has towards Muslims who refuse American “democracy”...or “pacification” here too the victim is blamed. After telling in detail instances when Cortes tricked the natives and lied to them outright, the author has this to say about the Aztecs.... “But with an Indian, force and stratagem, courage and deceit, were equally admissible in war, as they were among the barbarians of Rome.” Excuse me? When was it admissible for non-barbarians to starve “enemy” children to death? There is something highly suspect as well as dangerous, dangerous to people as well as to the truth, in many of these supposedly first-hand chronicles. They seem to be only partly true...to have been cleaned up considerably, though it’s hard to find just how or where in the narrative. But, you get a hint when the original chronicler, thinking he’s covered his tracks pretty well, indulges in just a bit too much cleverness to be believable....for instance.... “Soon after they came in sight of a body of Indians, about a thousand, apparently all armed and brandishing their weapons, as the Christians approached, in token defiance. (note: I notice that the author refers to the Spaniards as “Christians” whenever they are outnumbered and therefore about to engage in an “heroic” act. When he has something shameful to relate he calls them “cavaliers” again....or “soldiers”.) Cortes, when he had come within hearing, ordered the interpreters to proclaim that he had no hostile intentions (we already know from his previous statements, and deeds, that this was not true...but it is a “Christian” lie); but wished only to be allowed a passage through their country, which he had entered as a friend. This declaration he commanded the royal notary, Godoy, to record on the spot, that if blood were shed, it might not be charged on the Spaniards.” You have to admire a man who thinks that by such gamey tricks he can convince people of his honesty and pacifistic aims. I don’t know which is sillier...to actually have the guy write this down, as proof that it really happened...or to think people, thousands of miles away and centuries later, will accept it, or much of anything else tending to present what were common thieves and murderers as valiant men addicted to the truth. Actually this isn’t very different from what the United States has done in Iraq and is now doing elsewhere. There too they have “notaries” write down their excuses for themselves...likewise blaming the natives for any bloodshed...as if it is a crime to defend your country, homes and families. As far as battlecries...such as the “Alah-u-Akbar that we hear tell so much about...how’s this? “...he sounded the well known battle-cry, ‘St. Jago, and at them’”! ....”AT THEM”!???????? --------------------- |
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