7 ms·

I mean if we're getting into it, "white man" basically genocided their whole population with disease. The Native Americans never did anything nearly so heinous.

dudul 6y ago
I'm not sure I understand your comment. If the genocide happened due to diseases imported from the Old World, how is it "heinous"? It happened at a time where people had no clue what diseases and immune systems were.
- Mangalor 6y ago
  Whether or not they knew they were transporting disease at the time really doesn't excuse the end result: mass genocide. And of course this doesn't authorize taking land.
  - dudul 6y ago
    It totally excuses it. Intent is key. If you have no clue what a disease, a virus, an immune system are I don't see how you can be called "heinous" for unknowingly and unwillingly spread diseases. As for lands, I don't know, lands all over the world have been changing hands since human beings learnt how to walk, most of the time after violence/war. It happened in 1500 when the concept of "nation" didn't even exist and the only way to say that a land was yours was to be able to keep it.
    - ceejayoz 6y ago
      The genocide of Native Americans extends far beyond the introduction of diseases like smallpox, in much more intentional ways.
      - dudul 6y ago
        Oh I agree. I was originally puzzled by the mention of "death by disease" as a "heinous" thing. I didn't dispute that heinous things were done.
  - umvi 6y ago
    Well, then China is responsible for mass genocide due to Covid-19 then. After all, whether or not they knew they were transporting disease to other countries 6 months back really doesn't excuse the end result.
- sulam 6y ago
  I dispute your characterization that people had no clue. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Fort_Pitt#Biological_warfare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Fort_Pitt#Biological_...
  - dudul 6y ago
    But that happened in the 18th century though, by then of course, empirical observation had played its role and a few people tried to weaponize it. I'm pretty sure accidental contamination during the 2 preceding centuries had already caused a massive decline in population.
robertlagrant 6y ago
I don't think accidental genocide is a thing.
- Mangalor 6y ago
  Genocide, accidental or not, is surely still a thing.

dudul 6y ago

I'm not sure I understand your comment. If the genocide happened due to diseases imported from the Old World, how is it "heinous"? It happened at a time where people had no clue what diseases and immune systems were.

Mangalor 6y ago
Whether or not they knew they were transporting disease at the time really doesn't excuse the end result: mass genocide. And of course this doesn't authorize taking land.
- dudul 6y ago
  It totally excuses it. Intent is key. If you have no clue what a disease, a virus, an immune system are I don't see how you can be called "heinous" for unknowingly and unwillingly spread diseases. As for lands, I don't know, lands all over the world have been changing hands since human beings learnt how to walk, most of the time after violence/war. It happened in 1500 when the concept of "nation" didn't even exist and the only way to say that a land was yours was to be able to keep it.
  - ceejayoz 6y ago
    The genocide of Native Americans extends far beyond the introduction of diseases like smallpox, in much more intentional ways.
    - dudul 6y ago
      Oh I agree. I was originally puzzled by the mention of "death by disease" as a "heinous" thing. I didn't dispute that heinous things were done.
- umvi 6y ago
  Well, then China is responsible for mass genocide due to Covid-19 then. After all, whether or not they knew they were transporting disease to other countries 6 months back really doesn't excuse the end result.
sulam 6y ago
I dispute your characterization that people had no clue. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Fort_Pitt#Biological_warfare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Fort_Pitt#Biological_...
- dudul 6y ago
  But that happened in the 18th century though, by then of course, empirical observation had played its role and a few people tried to weaponize it. I'm pretty sure accidental contamination during the 2 preceding centuries had already caused a massive decline in population.

robertlagrant 6y ago

I don't think accidental genocide is a thing.

Mangalor 6y ago
Genocide, accidental or not, is surely still a thing.