Friday, January 15, 2010
Thoughts on Mr. Boudinot
So, Mr. Boudinot. I realize he is a pretty dubious figure in regards to Indian history and he is doubtless to blame for the death of many, many of his people. This, though horrifying, isn't cause for his immediate dismissal. As I see it, Boudinot thought there was no other way for reconciliation. He knew the desire of his people, that they would remain on their land and fight, and he knew that the Georgia militia would act on this with extreme force. It is reasonable then, if one were in his position, to act as he acted. He knew, when signing a treaty with the United States Government, that he was signing his death warrant. He knew that his people would forever see him as a traitor yet he signed regardless. It is, of course, impossible to know what would have happened if that treaty was unsigned but I imagine he believed the very existence of his culture to be at stake. It is possible that, without Boudinot, there would remain very little, if not none, of the Cherokee culture that the United States is blessed with today. I know that this view of Boudinot is not a very popular one, and I honestly don't know if it is the truth, but at the very least it is possible that this was his reasoning. He wasn't dumb, it seems obvious that he cared for the Cherokee people (his texts, though offensive and belittling, could easily be a coup to the U.S. Government) and that he was working towards their continued existence. I think this could possibly be the explanation for his horrendous actions. Humans all have the capability to mistakes, especially under extreme pressure. Boudinot's mistake cost 4,000 Cherokee lives but I do not believe it was made out of disrespect or malice. I believe it was out of desperation and a wish to see his culture survive.
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I like this post. I'm frankly surprised that so many people seem to be so sympathetic. I sort of assumed everyone would be like, "Naw, f that guy -- why are we even reading him?" I think you are right that he was under an amount of pressure that we cannot possibly understand. I wonder, though, if the continuance of the Cherokee people is at all attributable to him or if it is the sole response of the very people he seemingly sold out. Also, some people did manage to survive in NC, so there is at least some reason to believe that a resistance could have been mounted. I don't know, obviously. It's hard to judge people in their own time. You might check out the blog, "Ideas on Indians," which considers the same questions.
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