Summary:
Warrior opens his article, Canaanites, Cowboys, and Indians, stating that the Christians want to help the Native Americans develop their own theologies of liberation. This may seem like “the perfect marriage,” because both parties can benefit from each other, but Warrior brings up an interesting point of why the Native American’s shouldn’t accept the Christians help. Warrior believes that the Christians are more concerned with their own itinerary instead of the Native American's concerns. He illuminates this idea by paralleling the Native American's to the Canaanites, saying, “not to listen to outsiders with their promises of liberation and deliverance.” He sums up the article by emphasizing that the Christian Liberation Theology doesn’t solve the Native American struggle.
Warrior opens his article, Canaanites, Cowboys, and Indians, stating that the Christians want to help the Native Americans develop their own theologies of liberation. This may seem like “the perfect marriage,” because both parties can benefit from each other, but Warrior brings up an interesting point of why the Native American’s shouldn’t accept the Christians help. Warrior believes that the Christians are more concerned with their own itinerary instead of the Native American's concerns. He illuminates this idea by paralleling the Native American's to the Canaanites, saying, “not to listen to outsiders with their promises of liberation and deliverance.” He sums up the article by emphasizing that the Christian Liberation Theology doesn’t solve the Native American struggle.
Questions:
1) Do you agree with Warrior’s position that the Native Americans should not seek outside help to escape oppression?
1) Do you agree with Warrior’s position that the Native Americans should not seek outside help to escape oppression?
2) In your opinion, do the Native Americans parallel the Canaanites? Why or why not?
Media:
An example of a modern event that relates to Warrior's article is how America went in to Iraq to change their government. America, an outside force, went in to Iraq to try to "make things better." America disregarded what the Iraqis wanted, and did what they wanted. This is what Warrior fears would happen if the Christians got involved with Native American oppression.
Thanks, Jason!
ReplyDelete1) Do you agree with Warrior’s position that the Native Americans should not seek outside help to escape oppression?
ReplyDeleteYes I do. Warrior feels that outside sources will always act in their own interests and not in the interests of the Native Americans that they say they will help. I feel that the Native Americans must and should take matters into their own hands when trying to escape oppression. I feel that sticking to their roots and also learning the intricacies of politics and learning how to influence it most effectively will prove to be the best path to overcoming systematic oppression.
2) In your opinion, do the Native Americans parallel the Canaanites? Why or why not?
Definitely, the story between the slaves of Egypt and the Caananites is exactly parallel to the story of the Protestants and the Native Americans. The Protestants escaped a land of oppression to seek a new home for religious freedom; however, in doing so the Protestants ended up destroying the native culture over the years. Warrior was right in comparing the two, and makes a good point for Native Americans to not trust Christianity to save them from oppression.
To answer the first question of whether there's an agreement with Warrior’s position that the Native Americans should or should not seek outside help to escape oppression, I think yes, they should seek it. Although it seems that with situations of this kind it always turns out lose/lose. I don't agree with Warrior's position to not seek outside help because I feel like oppression is something that needs to be fought with larger numbers of people outside of your own. However, it does seem that in general whether its a large scale problem or a much smaller one, the people or person who is asked to help imposes their ideologies, beliefs, etc. onto the people or person who sought their help. This is why it makes sense that Warrior would have that opinion. However, outside help is the best route to go in escaping oppression of any kind. Especially if its people who have the resources to help. Finding people, supporters to help who aren't solely concerned with their own itinerary, but also that of the Native Americans is where the challenge lies.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the first question I agree with the final response by Jace Weaver to Warrior’s original article. If the Native Americans seek to escape oppression they “must not remain silent or inactive in the face of their oppression”. Reaching out in a way that states they do not want the ideas of others thrust upon them, but rather speaking up for themselves and demanding recognition in a world where Christian ideas are so prominent would be beneficial. In relation to the second question I feel aspects of Native American history do parallel the Canaanites. Their way of life was uprooted without their consent and they have struggled to maintain their culture despite living in a land where it is no longer prominent.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Warrior's position that the Native Americans should not seek outside help to escape oppression. In order to completely escape oppression, I feel that the Native Americans should do it on their own in order to stay true to their own traditions and beliefs. I think that outside help will alter the Native American culture and weaken their ability to fight oppression. By staying faithful to their beliefs, they will only grow stronger as a community and maintain the ability to truly overcome oppression free from outside influences.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the question of whether or not the Native Americans should or shouldn't seek out help I think they should, disagreeing with Warrior. Although, the Christian's may have ulterior motives the act of speaking out about he oppression is the only way to escape it. If the African Americans didn't stand up for what was just during the civil rights movement, seeking help and spreading the word through outlets of protest such as the freedom riders we wouldn't have progressed to the nation of equality we are today. That is not to say that the Native Americans should not stay wary but they should still seek out any help they can. And to the second question they definitely make the connection paralleling the Native Americans to the Canaanites making a good argument for how the Christians will destroy the Native American culture like Protestants did before them.
ReplyDelete1) In order to achieve complete independence from the oppression that they are under, Native Americans need to obtain the capability of being able to free themselves using their own methods and ideologies instead of seeking outside help and receiving unwanted theologic practices like those of the Christians. By being able to reach their own independence without the help of the Christians, they are enabled to become a self-sustained society while preserving their spiritual beliefs.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Warrior's position on whether or not the Native Americans should seek outside help to escape oppression. If the Native Americans accepted the Christians help, the Christians would most likely force their views and ways on the Natives. Nothing in this world is free. There is always a catch. By helping the Native Americans, the Christians would probably ask for/expect something in return in the future as compensation. If the Natives helped themselves, they would not have to be told what to do by people of other outside groups. Like one of my classmates said, they would be able to stay true to their traditions and beliefs. If they try and fail, they would still have their dignities. Emiliano Zapata, an awesome Mexican revolutionary, once said, "I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees."
ReplyDeleteWarrior provides profound reasonings to claim that eventually the Christians will not be able to help Native Americans with oppression. Through paralleling Native Americans with the Canaanites in the Bible, Warrior points out that the indigenes failed because "the Canaanites trusted in the god of outsiders". It is a great metaphor, however, Native Americans are, after all, not the Canaanites. In my opinion, Native Americans need outside resources to get out of oppression. Their own power is weak. As Warrior himself says, "the time does seem ripe for Indians and Christians to be partners". Two powers combined is undoutfully stronger that one. Warrior concerns that "Christians have a different way of going about the struggles", but I think that is also a strength of outside resource because the people would have more choices in front of them to pick and choose or combine, which would likely provide better solutions to struggles. As a conclusion I would like to quote from Jace Weaver, "Indians [share] a god with, and [live] in the midst of, a foreign people, yet preserving our own identity". That is the exact spirit Native Americans should have: faith in their own culture and courage to admit others.
ReplyDeleteAs for the paralleling between Native Americans and the Canaanites, I do agree with it. They have had similar traces of history of exile and faced similar struggles against oppression.
Warrior makes strong points when presenting his argument that Native Americans should not accept the help they are given by the Christian churches. I agree with the position Warrior makes because acceptance of the help would in a way mark the "subjugation" of the Native Americans. "The liberation of Native Americans" as Warrior puts it would be stepping into a religious boundary if the Christians were to aid them that would only be the gateway to that subjugation.
ReplyDeleteThe Native Americans do parallel the Canaanites because both of them are victims; Victims in the aspect of oppression.
I believe that Native Americans should not seek outside help to escape oppression. Each religion has its own culture, trait, tradition and belief. It takes time to understand and form a religion. In the article, Warrior points out that “’Christians have a different way of going about the struggle for justice than most Native Americans.” It is difficult for Christians to help Native Americans develop their own theologies of liberation since they have different views of making decisions and models of leadership. I think Native American religions should keep their own spiritual practices and tradition to spread their beliefs to descendants. And I agree with Warrior that theology does not solve the Native American struggle. Many Native American religions concern supernatural and invisible universal force which is different from Christianity.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the first question, I do agree with Warriors position that Native Americans should not seek outside help to escape oppression. He illustrated the viewpoint that help from Christians could be beneficial and gain attention of the public however in general using outside help isn’t the best idea for gaining their liberation. Christians and Native Americans have different ideas and ways of going about things. With outside help, instead of using their own ideas for obtaining justice, liberation theologies of the Christians could be used that are not be the best model for the Native Americans to follow. By using their own ways of obtaining liberation they will be able to keep their own beliefs and ideas as well as gain the justice they deserve. Regarding the second question, I believe the Native Americans do parallel the Canaanites. In the Exodus story, the Canaanites were the people who were already living in the promise land and were seen as outsiders to those who took over the land, to be driven out or alienated. This story is very similar to the history of the Native Americans and the Protestants who in an effort to obtain religious freedom came to the new world and overtook the Native American’s land, beliefs, and customs. The Canaanites were treated similarly to the Native Americans and faced the same oppression and need for liberation as the Native Americans today.
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ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Warrior’s position that the Native Americans should not seek for help. The reason is because let’s just say the Native Americans do seek for help, in the future this could be use against them. In doing so, this could possibly lead to more problems in the future. It’s important for the Native Americans to stand up for themselves without the help of others. By seeking for help, this would give the Christians an upper hand when dealing with the Native Americans. I mean don’t get me wrong, by allowing the Christians to help the Native Americans may help them escape from the oppression, but wouldn’t this somehow allow the Christians to somewhat have control and authority over the Native Americans? It’s hard to say whether the Christians are willing to help the Native Americans with good or bad intentions/motives. I honestly don’t think it’s a good idea to get help from outsiders. Not only will it give the outsider a upper hand, but it can also have an impact on the culture and beliefs of the Native Americans.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that the Native Americans can be seen as a parallel to the Canaanites is because the Canaanites had somewhat experienced what the Native Americans are going through.
In a perfect world I would agree with the Warrior's position that the Native Americans should not seek outside influences to escape their oppression but this is not a perfect world. The oppression has already happened and the Christians aren't going anywhere any time soon. I believe that more importantly the Native Americans need to understand and not be distracted by the so called deliverance that they have received but understand that it is a deliverance bound by restraints. This parallel was exposed by the story of the Canaanites who believed to be freed but where unknowing oppressed. I believe that there is no stopping the integration of Christians and Native Americans but what is important is to go into the situation with open eyes. To understand that the God that liberated is also the same God that conquers. There are many good Christians with good intentions but their God is the underlying force that drives their theology without any room for the Native American ways.
ReplyDeleteJen, I really like your viewpoint on this. At first I thought that the Native Americans did not need outside help. Now I agree that it would be great if the Native Americans could be able to escape their oppression on their own, but this is not a perfect world. The Native Americans need someone to help them and the Christians may be the answer due to their stability in society.
DeleteIn response to the first question, i believe that looking to the Christians for help is not a bad idea for the Native Americans. That being said, i don't believe only the Christians can help the Native Americans. In order for the Natives to overcome this oppression they should look to any group who is willing to help. While the story of the Canaanites seems to be a fitting example for the Christians to use, in my eyes the Natives do not live a paralleled lifestyle to the Israelites. The Oppression that the Native's face does not include sever acts of rape and slavery. However, we have to look at the situation through the eyes of a Native American. The environment holds a great role in their religion and we have essentially taken that from them. The story of the Canaanites may seem more severe to us but for a Native, the loss of their land could seem similar. For this Reason i believe Christians could use the Exodus to help the Natives but only if they did so without the intention of converting these people.
ReplyDeleteIntriguing response Andy!
DeleteI agree with Warrior’s assertion that Native Americans should not seek outside help from anyone to escape oppression. He correctly notes the historical pattern of well-meaning organizations (religious or secular) who use “their methods, their ideas, and their programs” (Warrior, 94) to address a problem the altruists are ignorant about. The problem compounds itself when a religious institution uses their power and money, but demands religious conversion as part of the partnership. The history of Native Americans does reflect the Biblical story of what happened to the Canaanites. In the narrative, they were both the original inhabitants of a land that was conquered by foreigners. It’s inappropriate for the Exodus story to be applied to the North and South American indigenous populations because the force of Christianity is that same force of “Manifest Destiny” that hurt them in history. The perspective of the oppressed is incompatible with a god that conquers innocents.
ReplyDelete