Who is The Real Savage?
In Chief Seattle's letter to President Pierce in 1855 he referes to himself many times as a "redman" or a "savage." This is ironic because the actual definition of the word savage is "one that is uncivilized, not domesticated, or wild." Though out his letter he prides himself as well as his people as friends of the earth and as people who are interested in securing a future for his children while he also says that the white Americans treat the land as an enemy, taking what they want and leaving the land scared and empty. He was using this as a hidden type logos. Though he never addresses it directly he is defending he and his people through sarcasm. He makes the reader stop and think who really should be called the savage. Should it be the men that advance themselves and their kind at the expense of the earth or should it be the men that live in harmony with the earth and better themselves while keeping equilibrium?
11 comments:
Personally i feel as though the savage as to be the one seems to not stand for anything by killing the wild animals just for mere amusement and not taking pride in creation.
I feel that Chief Seattle use of the words "redman" and "savage" were to describe his people the way the white Americans describe them.
He repeats many times that he cannot understand the white man's ways because he is a savage.
Like for example why are killing the buffalo a sport when they are needed for the Indians survival. Killing something just to kill it seems wasteful to the Indians.
In this example he is pointing out that the white Americans might be the ones who are the savages.
I like to think of Chief Seattle's use of the words "redman" and "savage" as a subtle stab at "white man's" so called intelligence. Although this speech was given in 1855, Chief Seattle's prediction of what our future would be is quite accurate. He said, " continue to contaminate your bed, and you will one night suffocate in your own waste" (par. 8). These words ring true for our current situation. We as a nation continue to pollute the earth at an astronomical rate and yet we still boast at how much more advanced we are than other countries. To me it is easy to see who the true "savage" was and who was the intelligent, civilized being.
I agree with what everyone else had to say about whites calling the Native Americans savages and such. I would have to also agree with brandon in that the real savages was the white man killing animals just to get rid of the indians and for the animals' fur.
Personally I think what Chief Seattle is trying to say is if we are going to give are land up it should be to people who will take care of the land and animals that are living on the land. instead of killing the living creaters that are perserved already on the land.taking the land just to take it and never making use of it is what the indian does not want to happen.
I feel that Chief Seattle called himself "redman" and "savage" to show the readers that he himself is a "savage", and he is a very intelligent person. He is trying to show that the ancient stereotypes about Native Americans need to stay in the past.
I agree with you Stephen. I reall y like how Cheif Seattle handle the situation. He reminded me of Martin Luther King, Jr. I believe the white man are the savage.
I agree with Tammy, he cares for his land and the animals and wants to see them in good hands.
I agree with Tammy. The use of sarcasm was a smart way of getting the readers to think who is the real savage. This identifies the real savage as not Chief, as it appears to sound at first, but the white americans which have no respect for the land.
I agree with Tammy. He doesn't want to give something he loves to someone who will destroy it. How would you feel if you gave your car to someone that you knew couldn't drive and then they wreck it?
I agree with walden on how Chief Seattle uses the redman and savage on describing the Americans. He says how he is the savage and the redman, but in his article he is really describing the Americans.
Post a Comment