areon wrote:As I suggested read on some people like the Iroqouis(sp?) Confederation.[
It's Iroquois, and was, as the name says, a confederation of different tribes, including the Seneca, Mohawn, Oneida, Cayuga, and Onondaga.
areon wrote:
They controlled a lot of territory and were stable until introduced to Western powers.
Sort of true, but it was hardly an entirely peaceful union. There is a reason they put up a very significant fight against whites. They were constantly battling other groups.
The women grew the crops, etc and took care of things, while the men went off to fight and do religious stuff. (more or less)
areon wrote:
Some others are the tribes that have the bastardized names like Pueblo and Sioux.
That you would tie these with the Iroquois rather means you don't know all that much about them.
It's not restricted to Native Americans either, there are many instances in the Pacific such as the Aboriginee(sp). Their contact with other islands neighboring them wasn't just a single tribe. They also aren't exactly the same in speach and culture but have found a balance.[/quote]
You have a rather idiolized view of native cultures. Ironically, this is probably as, well racist/condescending as people who think they are all evil. Native tribes, like any other large group of people are mixtures of good and bad, stupid, intelligent and plain crazy pieces. Any society that persists has to form a balance with the world around, of a kind. However, that hardly translates into peace or sharing in all cases.
areon wrote:
Their are so many other examples that I'm sure that mankind as a whole could learn from. Just remember that people aren't evil or greedy automatically and shouldn't be judged either. It's hard to see this atmosphere when we are brought up to thrive in it and to not question it either. Yes, 'modernized' nations have technology, medicine, and affluent luxuries to live in. But why is there such a high percentage of people who have to suffer to make this system work? My last point is that while Natives would commonly fall and embrace drugs, new behaviours, or weapons from us when contact is made, very few of them immediately want to move into the western fold. It takes time to 'civilize' them and convince them that our way of life is better. Their might be a reason for this other than the condenscending answer of "They are too stubborn and ignorant to accept our superior ways."
It is true that we could learn a fair amount from Native Tribes, but peace is not necessarily what we would learn. Those cultures have been rather idolized in history. There is absolutely a lot we can learn about many things. Diet, crops, ways of dealing with nature. The general concept of considering future consequences. However, idolizing any people is a mistake.
