Reflection of Ch 18

I have seen the famous image of evolution, where the ape eventually evolves into human, but I have never seen it as the "Progressive Development of Man" shown on pg 883. What a terrible way to portray the races of human beings. It's quite discerning that there was such a notion that Europeans were the elite and evolved and native Americans, Africans and Asians were depicted on a lower scale such that of animals. I always wondered if we homo sapiens did evolve from apes then why aren't there still traces of evolving taking place. I realize that this was over many many years, but wouldn't it still be happening? The theory of evolution from animals makes more sense after reading this chapter as I realized that it was most likely based on this notion of one race holding superiority and viewing others as savages and not based solely on scientific fact.

Going hand in hand with this is overly used expression of "survival of the fittest" which again without realizing where this saying derived from, one may use it as a motivational statement or as an answer of common sense. It's disgusting that this term was used to bring a sense of justice to the Europeans as the natives were dying from disease and being over taken. There is so much wrong with this part of history and the ways of thinking that the conquerors had. The text speaks of the British not speaking English to Blacks due to fear. I think fear is what empowered them to act this way and shaped thoughts and actions of this era. From then till now this notion of "Superior Civilization" is sadly relevant today. Along with the fact that the oppressed today are still treated as lazy and feared. Ironic that then and now these are the people that tilled the lands per se. How can they be deemed lazy when they are not those that are leaning on assistance of machines or other to do the heavy lifting and dirty work.

What really shocked me was reading the word exterminated to describe the killings of native Americans. Most are aware of the history of this country, but to exterminate makes me think of roaches or termites, not humans. People of today are appalled by the actions of terrorists, but in my opinion equal actions by the Europeans were accepted. Appalling. Maybe we should say that to be civilized is to be conquered or conquering. In the past and present the stronger have preyed on the weak. Today, the oppressed are the not the natives but the immigrants coming to the country. They are used for cheap labor that makes are country thrive. Just as the cheap African labor of yesterday with limited social and political integration. Haven't we learned anything from the past? I almost had hope when I read that the Europeans felt it their duty to educate the natives, isn't this what human nature should be? Shouldn't we all have a duty to educate and serve those in need? There should not be any "superior civilization" we all should be the "superior civilization".

I had to look up what Sati, Widow Burning was and yes, it is what it sounds. This chapter touched on a lot of issues from the impoverished to what was done to women. So for some, in that day, to be a woman may have meant to get circumcised (mutilated) to marry a man then to willingly or unwillingly get burned to death if he dies. Wow! I am most grateful that I am a woman of today and am excited and eager to see the shift that I believe is coming for women and status in America.

All of this is, in my opinion, is a result of agriculture. Agriculture shaped civilization and seeded the Global Economy. How we manipulate the food we grow has led to overpopulation and global warming. Because of man's greed, taxes were imposed and women's work increased. Natives and now immigrants of today are oppressed in order for agriculture and the global economy to keep up. Where will it end? Which generation will make the leap to bringing the world together and sustaining the world we live in? Steps are starting to take shape, but civilization is not leaps and bounds ahead of yesterday in the destruction of our resources or people.