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The mixed legacy of 1492 (European viruses wipe out population)
Boston.com ^ | 10/11/10 | James Carroll

Posted on 10/11/2010 3:55:41 PM PDT by Libloather

The mixed legacy of 1492
By James Carroll
October 11, 2010

IT IS commonly observed that 1492, in addition to being the year of Christopher Columbus, was also the year of the Jews — their expulsion from Spain by the same Ferdinand and Isabella who sponsored the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. But the overlap of events (actually, Columbus set sail in the very week of the banishment) has historic significance, for it was in Iberia that ancient Christian anti-Judaism had recently morphed into genetic anti-Semitism — the idea that Jews are contemptible not because of their religion, but because of their “blood impurity.’’ This notion of a group’s innate biological inferiority tragically gripped the European imagination just as the encounter with the New World occurred. It was a decisive factor in the creation of modern racism that determined so much of what came in the wake of Christopher Columbus. Contempt for Jews was practice for contempt for aboriginal peoples.

The racist myth of European superiority still shapes the story of the colonial conquest — starting with how the Caribs, Mayans, and Aztecs are remembered as never having had a chance against Spanish steel and gun powder. But it wasn’t technological genius that led to the dominance of the newcomers, nor was it their courageous soldiering, intellectual heritage, or moral superiority — much less the favor of God.

By far, the most decisive factor in the quick establishment of European control was the accident of disease. The immune systems of Western Hemisphere indigenous peoples were overwhelmed by pathogens that accompanied the Europeans, with the result that populations of so-called Amerindians were almost instantly decimated. The population of Mexico, to take one example, fell from 25 million in 1517, when Europeans first came there, to 1.5 million a century later.

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 1492; 2effenbad; ageofsail; columbus; columbusday; godsgravesglyphs; legacy
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To: Altura Ct.

The author, James Carroll, must hate to look himself in the mirror every morning.


61 posted on 10/11/2010 4:51:02 PM PDT by mas cerveza por favor
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To: Libloather

The man needs to be forced-sent to the Amazon jungle, to its remotest sections, so he can enjoy the “benevolence” and moral superiority of some of our remaining “native Americans” unblemished by European culture - for the rest of his life. Then, by his own standards, he can RIP.


62 posted on 10/11/2010 4:52:08 PM PDT by Wuli
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To: Will88

That is what it takes for a mediocre writer like Carroll to earn a paycheck in the mainstream media these days.


63 posted on 10/11/2010 4:56:26 PM PDT by mas cerveza por favor
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To: ansel12
Up to 50% of the white population was wiped out by disease from the Asians, diseases are something that is tough to whip, they still kill millions of people every year.

I read recently (some medical journal, don't remember which one) that over 50% of all deaths result from infectious disease.

In this age of antibiotics and vaccines, that number is just staggering.

64 posted on 10/11/2010 4:59:18 PM PDT by exDemMom (Now that I've finally accepted that I'm living a bad hair life, I'm more at peace with the world.)
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To: hal ogen
Let’s get this straight and clear: the “native Americans” were cultural losers who got thrown out of Asia because they were some combination of losers, , antisocial, inadequate, socially caustic or retarded. Indians were (are) freaks.

I would like to see your source for that.

65 posted on 10/11/2010 5:01:03 PM PDT by ansel12
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To: mas cerveza por favor
The author, James Carroll, must hate to look himself in the mirror every morning.

He looks the part, and reminds me of some of those liberal candidates for the US Senate in Delaware. A self-righteous, guilt-ridden white guy.

James Carroll

66 posted on 10/11/2010 5:04:40 PM PDT by Will88
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To: kenavi

And don’t forget “Signs”


67 posted on 10/11/2010 5:05:34 PM PDT by ansel12
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To: BenLurkin

Thank you Ben!


68 posted on 10/11/2010 5:06:43 PM PDT by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast ( A window seat, a jug of elderberry wine, and thou.)
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To: Libloather
The racist myth of European superiority still shapes the story of the colonial conquest

Boston.com is racist. Who besides Europeans would they ever refer to in this way.

69 posted on 10/11/2010 5:07:04 PM PDT by mas cerveza por favor
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To: Libloather
1492, in addition to being the year of Christopher Columbus, was also the year of the Jews — their expulsion from Spain by the same Ferdinand and Isabella who sponsored the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. But the overlap of events

Arguing with a liberal is like taking candy from . . . a tree sloth. But I nevertheless have to point out that the author left out one more large event of 1492: the expulsion of the last Moslems from Spain with the fall of Granada. That's what allowed the monarchs to spend money on sponsoring Columbus.

In the process, the Sloth doesn't mention that the Spanish Jews—who were among my ancestors—were collaborators and high officials in the Moorish government. I can imagine that the Spanish Catholics, after a 700-year war, might have had a bone or two to pick with the pals of their oppressors.

70 posted on 10/11/2010 5:08:17 PM PDT by SamuraiScot
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To: cripplecreek

http://www.viewzone.com/crichton33.html

“St Brendan’s Cross” aka the Celtic Cross.

In the basements of Winchester VA’s college are tablets written in Ogham which no one is allowed to see.

They *long* pre-date Columbus.

Harrisburg PA is also in possession of Ogham stones turned up by farmers plowing their fields.

Good luck getting to see them, either.

“America’s Stonehenge” in NH is aligned to Celtic astronomical observances and contains not only ogham but Phoenician writing, as well.

http://www.unmuseum.org/mysthill.htm

[You might also want to research Prince Madoc of Wales]

There will be those who discount the pre-Colombian exploration of North America but they’re usually people who are also into the myth of the “noble, peaceful Indians” cruelly slaughtered by white men.

Then there’s Kennewick man.

Many years ago I watched the “forensic art expert” recreate his face and he definitely pronounced him as without doubt, European.

Under much political/social/cultural pressure, he now denies having ever said that.
[BS...I saw and heard it when back it was not yet “politically incorrect” to utter such blasphemies]

Newer “experts” are now pronouncing him all manner of races, -except- European which I find puzzling since nobody has been allowed to complete a DNA/haplotype type test on him.

http://www.kennewickman.net/main.html

Norse and Celtic artifacts have been dug up from under extremely deep undisturbed layers of soil all over the US.

Did Columbus tote them along and randomly drop them?

Doubtful.

Across the stream from my house is a badly degraded a “cup and ring” stone, commonly found in the UK and other European locations.

Somebody dragged that here, too?
[currently, chipmunks stick acorns in the time-worn “cups” to make opening them easier]

I have a greenstone ceremonial full groove ax that is identical to those found in stone age Europe.
It was found not far from the stone on the ridge beside my house.

“Experts” simply include it in that nebulous “paleo-Indian artifact” category.

Right.

To be blunt, I believe very little that “experts” preach on the ancient history of North America.

The Mayans and Aztecs were awaiting the “return of the red haired gods” which made conquering them very easy.
The Tuatha deDaanan supposedly arrived in ancient Ireland on May day from the east to begin their reign there.

The Mayans/Aztecs may have been awaiting ~their~ return and got “red haired” Spaniards, instead.

[yeah, I’m a history heretic...so burn me]...LOL

I’m sure a flame war will ensue now but that’s my opinion.
I do not accept the current “history” of the Americas nor will I ever so flaming me is rather pointless....:)


71 posted on 10/11/2010 5:11:45 PM PDT by Salamander (I can't sleep......the clowns will eat me.)
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To: utherdoul
while I support using antibiotics and the like to augment our immune systems we’ve grown far too dependent on them. Kids and people used to get dirty and sick on occasion and build up immunity. Now people santize the immune system right out of themselves. By not being exposed to anything if your bodies hit with the right virus or disease it has no defense.

Unless we can develop better medicines thats where the new plagues are going to come from.

I agree, to a point.

I would never suggest that parents withhold vaccinations for highly lethal diseases from their kids (like diphtheria, with ~30% fatality rate), I question the wisdom of vaccinating against relatively benign diseases like chicken pox (6.7 fatalities per 100,000 cases in otherwise healthy individuals). The immune system does need to be challenged to become stronger.

72 posted on 10/11/2010 5:13:59 PM PDT by exDemMom (Now that I've finally accepted that I'm living a bad hair life, I'm more at peace with the world.)
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To: Salamander
I’m sure a flame war will ensue now but that’s my opinion.

Not from me. I wasn't here so I can't say for sure what happened before Columbus.
73 posted on 10/11/2010 5:16:27 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: Wuli

I’ve heard we taste just like pork.

[people: the other *other* white meat]


74 posted on 10/11/2010 5:16:33 PM PDT by Salamander (I can't sleep......the clowns will eat me.)
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To: ansel12

I suspect the “source” is just hatred.


75 posted on 10/11/2010 5:17:38 PM PDT by Salamander (I can't sleep......the clowns will eat me.)
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To: ansel12

Water thrown on them makes hippies scream, too.

:)


76 posted on 10/11/2010 5:18:51 PM PDT by Salamander (I can't sleep......the clowns will eat me.)
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To: cripplecreek

LOL!


77 posted on 10/11/2010 5:19:34 PM PDT by Salamander (I can't sleep......the clowns will eat me.)
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To: Libloather
> “the indigenous population of the Western Hemisphere fell by about 90 per cent”

Why has no other plague in RECORDED history been this lethal? Perhaps because the people making up these numbers are biased and can make up whatever numbers they want to prove their point?

78 posted on 10/11/2010 5:24:09 PM PDT by jim_trent
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To: Libloather
The reality is that eventually Europeans or north Africans were going to "bump into" the Americas eventually whether they were looking for new trade routes or not. The discovery that black tar on ships allowed them to sail greater distances made it inevitable.

WHEN the Americas were discovered all of Europe was going to find out and the Europeans were going to establish colonies for commercial purposes. And when large groups of Europeans came, they were going to bring diseases that would overwhelm the immune systems of the natives.

This was GOING TO HAPPEN whether it was the Spanish, English, Italians, Dutch, Portuguese or some other group. It might be PC to blame Columbus, but the truth is that the Europeans had NO WAY of knowing this would happen or preventing the spread of disease once it took hold.

79 posted on 10/11/2010 5:24:55 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: ansel12

Obvious history is my source. Cowabunga!


80 posted on 10/11/2010 5:25:18 PM PDT by hal ogen (1st amendment or reeducation camp?)
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