Monday, October 12, 2009

Your Holiday Curmudgeon

From Christopher Columbus' log, as quoted by Howard Zinn in A People's History of the United States:
They... brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawk's bells. They willingly traded everything they owned.... They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features.... They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane.... They would make fine servants.... With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.
Note: The entire book is hosted here at History is a Weapon.

h/t J

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