I probably wouldn't think about this

History Channels new mini series

     Today, I was watching the new Preview of the Event Series on The History Channel called "Texas Rising"  In the preview, you see the events of the Alamo, and San Jacinto. Mostly though I saw lots of people fighting Native Americans.  Which is history, I know.  I mean I can accept that watching my cultural ancestry fight and lose on Television constantly, it is just something I've grown accustom to over the years.  This got me thinking, Is the United States the only country that constantly makes shows and films, glorifying the genocide of a culture?  Are there examples of this kind of film making in other countries, where the current dominating culture makes movies about how it systematically lied and dominated a culture?

Texas Rising Main Cast

     If I were a dedicated journalist I would probably make a more in depth look into this question but this blog is merely a hobby and just a place to throw my own thoughts up about the subject.  Basically an opinion page.  I'm not trying to change the world with this.  I am just merely thinking out loud.  What got me thinking was this preview.  Watching all these white men all clad in period western clothing, dirty and weathered like REAL MEN, and seeing all these Natives whooping and running around in their paint and one would hope cultural accurate dress.  I say that because I am very unsure of what the difference between a culturally accurate Native, and a "Hollywood Indian."  I'm far from knowledgeable of my own culture.  I grew up in white suburbia, hell my father wasn't even sure about his ancestors, he grew up thinking he was Mexican because it was safer to be Mexican than to be Native.  That is how suppressed and scared the U.S. government made the indigenous population.  Terrified of it's own identity, so much so that its parents would rather lie to their children about their origins, than admit to being the first people living on this land.

Extras for Texas Rising

   

     When I see Natives depicted on films it is always one of two ways.  Silent stoic and uncaring, dangerous.  This being when they are depicted as the "enemies" of the protagonists, or just and obstetrical that must be dealt with.  The other is, they misunderstood savage, the noble race that are really full of depth and knowledgeable, if only a white man is captured by them and force to live among them to see who they really are, If that white man goes back to his own culture He is sham
ed for being a sympathizer of the "enemy."  These kinds of films are rampant thru out all American cinema.  The cliche of  "white man to the rescue." Films like "Thundarheart," "Dances with Wolves," "The Last Samurai," and "Avatar." Granted these are not all specifically about Native Americans, but the premise is the same.

Graham Greene

     As much as I am afraid to admit it, due to his more recent remarks, Mel Gibson has actually been in and made films that I feel more comfortable how the Natives are depicted.  In films like Maverick, the character of Joseph, was smart and personable, he is treated like a regular human by Maverick, and even cheats the main character out of money.

Mel Gibson and Graham Greene

In his film Apacalypto, there are no white men until the very end.  It is a film that takes place before that whole mess started.  Which is something I would love to see more of.  Not films where white men save the culture by learning about it.  A film where one Nation fights of an invading Nation.  The real struggles that happened before the Europeans showed up on the continent.  Things that show of more of the culture in aspects of now how a white man can help theses people, more of how they don't need the help of white men to solve their issues.

Saginaw Grant and Loren Anthony 'Ridiculous Six.'

     With the resent walk off of several Natives from the Adam Sandler film that when in knowing full well it was suppose to be a satire of western films.  The jokes and disrespect toward the women portraying natives, cause many of the actors to leave the set sighting offence.  This immediately puts people on the defensive saying that they will need to get thicker skin and learn how to take a joke. I think they have earned their rights to say when they are not comfortable with how something is depicted.  Jokes or not,  this culture has little left of a voice.  The biggest tyrant of the culture, the man that started it all is still celebrated in a holiday after his name.  Getting rid of Columbus day, wouldn't end that oppression but it's a step in the right direction.  The same with using derogatory terms for natives as sports teams is not "Honoring" the culture.
     All in all I will probably not be watching "Texas Rising" anyway, I find that most of Texas history to be a series of poor judgments by the white invaders into what was then Mexico, and the disrespect of yet tactical tenacity of Houston's attacking a Mexican army while they were taking their siesta.  We get mad at the Japanese for attacking on a Sunday morning while a majority of service men are at church at Pearl Harbor, but when white men do it, it is a stroke of genius.  I think I've made an ass of myself enough today.  I'll step down off this soap box.
You like me because I'm a scoundrel,
    Ian Serna