Human Puppet

20 million Driver ants sweep across the African jungle. Weighing some 20 kg they kill all invertebrates within a 300 meter radius. They come across a slug and in a matter of minutes cooperation allows them to dry it out by piling mud all over its mucus membranes. They then rip it to pieces. A grasshopper and a cockroach flee in fear. Yet their exit is guarded by ant birds, birds that have recognized the ant feast as a means of taking easy prey trying its best to escape. Some escape, but in the end most will die. Constantly killing and devouring at the cost of maintaining the colony, the ants cooperation leads the colony on a never ending search for food.. When they consume all of an areas protein, they simply move on looking for another paradise. It is such logic demonstrated by Americans concerning the untamed west. Like an unstoppable flood we entered into another’s area and decimated their land, devoured a culture, and ruined a people. We did such a thing simply because it was our “right” and in our best interest. It was done mindlessly and organized in a frenzy which revolved around a simple concept, greed. It is the intent of this paper to demonstrate the true meaning of savageness. Can one say the acts of the driver ant are savage? Is not their decree simply to provide life to their cause? Is it not their natural purpose, divine right if you will (because they have been placed in such a position to control this realm of reality) and their duty to act in such a manner? We must step back from the onslaught of the standard view of the American West and question if the Native Americans where truly savage; we must analyze the meaning of civilized, and then question the acts of a civilized nation. In a sense savagery and civilization are interlocked in an intricate swarm. For though they are two different entities they appear as one simply because civilized nations tend to focus on economics as a way of establishing power.

As so many know, the west has been romanticized about. The cowboys upholding that which is grand about American. Defending our law against the ignorant savage pest known as the Indian. But this concept is oxymoronic in a sense. For the ones calling the other savage, are living in a nation whose progress was developed off of the savage Indian. An article entitled “The Founding Indian Fathers” which was scribed by anthropologist Jack Weatherford, describes such a situation. This article explains how the European settlers knew little about democracy. This being the result of their ancestry coming from countless monarchs whose right to rule was established by God. Upon settling in America a major concern was established; according to the Articles of Confederation some thirteen separate and sovereign states where to make up one country. How could this be true if they did not yield their own power? This problem was solved by Iroquois chief Canassatego during an assembly in 1744. He explained to the settlers how his people developed a union called the League of the Iroquois. This union united 5 principle Indian Nations- the Mohawk, Onondaga, Seneca, Oneida, and Cayuga. This organization was developed under a constitution some time between 1000 and 1450 A.D and involved these principle sovereign nations meeting on set dates to discuss issues. Thus under this concept they where unified. The League of the Iroquois intrigued many of the founding fathers, like Benjamin Franklin whose job included publishing the records of various Indian assemblies and treaty organizations. Eventually this concept developed into the House and the Senate. It is in this sense that each state holds individual power yet meets to discuss issues as a unified whole.

Assistant professor of History, from the University of Wisconsin and Pulitzer Prize winning (1932) Frederick Turner wrote numerous books about the American West. He was considered one of the leading experts on the subject. Yet through his readings one comes across ideas like

One must ask Turner if by civilization he means a society that values intangible concepts like wealth which places value on paper over recognition of culture and cooperation. Countless times we have an expert describing the West and its inhabitants as savage inferior obstacles. It is with such thinking one begins to question our own form of government. For being based off these savages in some sense, we have come to a conclusion. Greed is more important than society. It is a self replacing idea that is being demonstrated over and over again. Today this example of greed is what is leading to the destruction of our biodiversity hot spots and our own environment. It is this obsession towards money, expansion, economic power, that has become our driving force. This idea does not better or civilize an individual or society but leads to its demise. For through our lustful need to fulfill some void with tangible purpose we are removing the essence of ourselves. We are separating ourselves from the land. We use barbaric and driving means to deny concepts like equality and righteousness to help maintain our own corrupted means. Like the Driver Ants we swarm, taking everything for ourselves without regard. Then when we no longer have it, move on.

Is this Civilization, is this the Best of Civilization Proposed by Pulitzer Prize winning Jane Tompkins in her piece, “At the Buffalo Bill Museum“?
In this article she comes across a picture with a moose in it and she questions if an act of preservation is occurring. For in the picture a man from a canoe is about to shoot it.  She comes across a picture entitled “His First Lesson”, in which a horse is being tormented by some men. She can not decide what the lesson is in. To obey?, to behave?, stand still?, etc? Yet all of the subjects she mentions involve the control of life. The manipulation of movement. While in the museum she also observes the countless trophies of elk, buffalo, moose, etc. These animals all haunted by people who admired them and respected them. What are museums keeping safe for us, after all (593) Is this the Best of Civilization? This concept to control and overpower? To demonstrate warped views of rights? From this article one comes to a conclusion, people fear their existence. A point developed by Tompkins is that a museums purpose is to act as a safety deposits box. To allow the world to know we were here; it is through this idea that we find ways to express this. As pointed out the museum was all bone and claw. Is it the act of a civilized nation to focus on control?

“There will he see the field where his busy brain and thinking hand can find space and material to work, and an opportunity to rear from its virgin civilization institutions which shall bless generation yet to be.” this quote by (C.W. Dana) addresses a strong fallacy about the west. For how can one describe such an area as having virgin civilizations and institutions? The league of Iroquois was developed some 600 plus years before the invasion and settlement of America. How can complete ignorance exist.? Is this the fallacy of civilization? To be settled in a standard way.

 In nature, an organism that does not evolve goes extinct. This concept is very evident in America today.  If we do not make it a point to learn from the mistakes of the past, to recognize the value within the savage, to carry on conversation with open mind and heart.  If we do not make it a point to listen and observe the truths hidden to us because of countless blinders we accept as normal, a great many losses will result.  If we allow greed to consume us, if we accept the mechanics of tangible monetary value, our insatiable appetite will cost us a great many resources.  If we are unable to take a step back and reevaluate the reason behind why we do what we do, we are no better than a Driver Ant.  We are no better than an insect functioning off “instinctive” behavior.  Is that the definition of civilization?