There is something about the Indian world-view that always triggers me. It’s not about some back-to-nature idealism or some Far-West-romantism (we all suffer from it, i know :)) but there often seems to be a kind of a clear stated criticism and deep wisdom in it.
So I would like to share with you the next quote I recently red, and were I still wonder about. I know there are many many other fine quotes by the Indian people, so if you have a nice one, post it too.
Before our white brothers arrived to make us civilized men,
we didn’t have any kind of prison. Because of this, we had no delinquents.
Without a prison, there can be no delinquents.
We had no locks nor keys and therefore among us there were no thieves.
When someone was so poor that he couldn’t afford a horse, a tent or a blanket,
he would, in that case, receive it all as a gift.
We were too uncivilized to give great importance to private property.
We didn’t know any kind of money and consequently, the value of a human being
was not determined by his wealth.
We had no written laws laid down, no lawyers, no politicians,
therefore we were not able to cheat and swindle one another.
We were really in bad shape before the white men arrived and I don’t know
how to explain how we were able to manage without these fundamental things
that (so they tell us) are so necessary for a civilized society.
John (Fire) Lame Deer, Sioux Lakota – 1903-1976
Nice story Zap. Thanx. It is food for thought.
Damn I become a philosopher with this point of views, I’am also very interested in the native Americans. When I was a little child I read a lot of comics about an indian named JAKARI. Very interesting comics for children. And we played also Cowboy and Indians,… Very good years! 🙂
Very nice find, Zapata. I’m also fascinated by native Americans’ view of the things.
And I have to add that this John (Fire) Lame Deer joined our clan much before it even existed.