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Suddenly large percentages of the Native Americans were alcoholics. It's a small point but this isn't true. Native Americans had beer and liquor extending bac

by r0s 16y ago

Suddenly large percentages of the Native Americans were alcoholics. It's a small point but this isn't true. Native Americans had beer and liquor extending back beyond written history. Here's an example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulque http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulque There are many more, and the effect on Pre-Colombian society is also documented. I think this pervasive myth is derived from unconscious euro-centric moralizing. The first accounts of American and European contact are quite interesting, for anyone interested I recommend the accounts of Cabeza de Vaca: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81lvar_N%C3%BA%C3%B1ez_Cabeza_de_Vaca http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81lvar_N%C3%BA%C3%B1ez_Cabe...

stcredzero 16y ago
Native Americans had beer and liquor extending back beyond written history. Only certain native groups had alcohol prior to European contact. As far as I know, the Inuit did not, and alcohol is still a devastating problem. Also, hard liquor is a different level entirely. Europeans in Europe had a hard time dealing with it at first. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gin_Craze http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gin_Craze
- r0s 16y ago
  Inuit society is unique in general. I think alcoholism among Native Americans has more to do with genocide and poverty than culture shock. Most indigenous Americans were exposed regularly to very strong entheogens, including alcohol. Precedent that may of been lost after several generations of European cultural decimation, granted. The Inca used "regular" liquor by imbibing and rectal absorption, arguably leading to a similar level of drunkenness. Again I think alcoholism among Native Americans falls along class lines, the same for every ethnic demographic in America.
  - stcredzero 16y ago
    The Inca used "regular" liquor by imbibing and rectal absorption, arguably leading to a similar level of drunkenness. I would find such an activity invigorating, doubtless, but this bit of data doesn't do a thing to eliminate "culture shock." (Unless we can find a historical account of how smoothly such an innovation was adopted by Inca society, and even then, this should be met by much skepticism.)
    - r0s 16y ago
      You're right. Frankly I think rates of alcoholism among native populations from the 1600s to today would be the best measure of this idea. This would need to be compared to other subjugated demographic groups, perhaps in other areas of the world at the same time period or similar cultural circumstance.

by r0s 16y ago

stcredzero 16y ago

Native Americans had beer and liquor extending back beyond written history. Only certain native groups had alcohol prior to European contact. As far as I know, the Inuit did not, and alcohol is still a devastating problem. Also, hard liquor is a different level entirely. Europeans in Europe had a hard time dealing with it at first. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gin_Craze http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gin_Craze

r0s 16y ago
Inuit society is unique in general. I think alcoholism among Native Americans has more to do with genocide and poverty than culture shock. Most indigenous Americans were exposed regularly to very strong entheogens, including alcohol. Precedent that may of been lost after several generations of European cultural decimation, granted. The Inca used "regular" liquor by imbibing and rectal absorption, arguably leading to a similar level of drunkenness. Again I think alcoholism among Native Americans falls along class lines, the same for every ethnic demographic in America.
- stcredzero 16y ago
  The Inca used "regular" liquor by imbibing and rectal absorption, arguably leading to a similar level of drunkenness. I would find such an activity invigorating, doubtless, but this bit of data doesn't do a thing to eliminate "culture shock." (Unless we can find a historical account of how smoothly such an innovation was adopted by Inca society, and even then, this should be met by much skepticism.)
  - r0s 16y ago
    You're right. Frankly I think rates of alcoholism among native populations from the 1600s to today would be the best measure of this idea. This would need to be compared to other subjugated demographic groups, perhaps in other areas of the world at the same time period or similar cultural circumstance.