Oh, for (fill in the blank)'s sake....

[Adam Levenstein <cleon42@xxxxxxxxx>]

OK,

So Hunter demonstrates his opinion, with rather
uncharacteristic condescention that whoever doesn't
believe everything in Native American
religion/philosophy is ignorant and
ethnocentric/racist. (Yes, I'm filling in the blanks
with "racist" - because I believe anyone who "looks
down" on Native Americans for the reasons Hunter
ascribes to me *is* a racist.)

Well, Hunter, I really wish you'd be a tad more
rational. You're normally much better than this.

As for "ignorant," well, I have a degree in
Anthropology. It's not much - my foci were on
paleoanthropology and Mesoamerican archaeology. No,
I've never lived in a Native American community. I
won't debate the point. I'm sure you have a much
better personal knowledge of your Nation's culture (I
don't know which Nation you belong to). At the same
time, your involvement is an emotional and personal
involvement, which is evidenced by your repeated
attempt to slam the tag "ethnocentrist" (Louis has
taken it a step further to "racist") on everyone who
questions the validity of your religious beliefs.

The claim that I am "mocking" Native American beliefs
is either completely unjustified or simply a
misunderstanding of my position (or, possibly, the
result of one of my posts getting out of hand - that's
happened before). A preliminary reread of my posts
show no sign of "mocking" NA beliefs.

I don't believe (heh) in "mocking" people's beliefs.
But I'm treating them as just that - *beliefs*. Not
*facts*, *beliefs*. There is a difference.

There is no reason for me to assume that simply
because Native Americans have been subject to inhuman
relocations, mass murders, torture, and various other
abuses too numerous to mention, that their beliefs are
any more valid than anyone else's.

The Palestinians and Kurds are oppressed - I'm not
about to go out and embrace Sunni Islam. I don't
believe the Biblical "Exodus" ever happened - that
doesn't make me Anti-Semitic. I don't believe in Jesus
- that doesn't make me look down on every Christian
who's working for what is right and just. And yes,
I've met quite a few. (In fact, I found a paper online
written by an old friend of mine in the Pittsburgh YS
about liberation theology. Wish I could find the URL
again.)

Similarly, I don't believe "oral histories" are any
more valid than any other form of multi-generational
storytelling. That doesn't make me ethnocentric.

I'm amused by your claim that I'm acting like a
"fundamentalist Christian," considering you are the
one taking all your "oral histories" as absolutely
100% true, and I am the one questioning the accuracy
of those "histories." Rather like I question the
accuracy of the Bible.

It reminds me of every time I argue *against* the YECs
(Young-Earth Creationists) being able to teach their
legend as "science" being called anti-Christian.
You're calling me "ethnocentric." Who really is acting
like the fundamentalist, Hunter?

Oh, and incidentally - physical facts, in the evidence
spectrum, come before "histories" - written or "oral."

Adam



=====
Adam Levenstein                          cleon42@xxxxxxxxx
ICQ: 17125158

And now, for something completely different.

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com/