Benjamin Franklin was one of America's leading thinkers
and writers during its early days of independence. He wrote about many things, and one
of his essays seems to be an accurate encapsulation of his views regarding Native
Americans. In “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America” (1784), Franklin argues
that the white man tends to think of anyone who does not act as he does is a savage,
when in fact it is simply a difference in customs.
Franklin
cites several incidents to prove his point. In the Native American culture, the best
orator makes the best leader, and obedience is the result of effective persuasion. In
the white culture, obedience is ensured through prisons and punishment, something which
seems crude and base to the Native Americans.
A college in
Virginia tells some Native Americans that they are willing to take several of their
young men and educate them. The Native Americans do not answer right away, as a sign of
respect for the request, giving it proper consideration. Of course the white men see
this delay as being rude. When they finally do answer, the tribe respectfully declines
the offer. They once had some young men who received a proper white man's education and
came home worthless to their tribe:
"they were bad runners, ignorant of every means
of living in the woods, unable to bear either cold or hunger, knew neither how to build
a cabin, take a deer, or kill an enemy, spoke our language imperfectly, were therefore
neither fit for hunters, warriors, nor counselors; they were totally good for
nothing."
In gratitude for
the offer, the tribe made their own offer: send us a dozen of your young white men
and
"we will
take great care of their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of
them."
His point of view is
clear: Native Americans are not savages; they are just not the same as white men, and
different does not mean worse. He shows them as thoughtful, civil, and even refined
people; it is the white man who is often crude and unrefined.
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