4 ms·
Specters of a Civilization
- rdtsc 11y ago> In addition to the fatal scourge of measles and smallpox that decimated other Amerindian groups, the Selk’nam were singled out in the 1890s for a campaign of genocide: Romanian engineer Julius Popper paid bounties for Selk’nam heads and ears and organized hunting parties to clear them from the territory to make way for miners and ranchers. Never heard of Popper before. Saw the reference to Romania and thought, oh great, another terrible thing about Romania. What have they done now... Anyway here is the wikipedia entry on him: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Popper https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Popper
- amuresan 11y agoWhy do the independent actions of one man incriminate a whole people? I'm not sure this was your intention, but your answer feels full of prejudice.
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- rdtsc 11y agoIt doesn't but many independent actions and bad news items does form an opinion. And if it is prejudice, well I am just a bit critical of my own country, because I want it to be better and have a better image. The rule of thumb though, is if there is any external news about Romania, chances are it is negative and before I read I think "Oh, what have they done now...".
- kjs3 11y agoRead the article. It wasn't "independent actions of one man" any more than Eichmann was singularly responsible for the Holocaust. He was the ring leader of an eager mob who systematically exterminated a people. Your answer feels full of apologetics, revisionism and denial.
- amk_ 11y agoIf you missed the link in the article, the recent profile of the young man from Chile who learned the Selk'nam language and is now the last remaining speaker is worth a read: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/03/30/a-loss-for-words http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/03/30/a-loss-for-word...