The Eurpean Moment in History (Post #12)

          What I found the most striking about this chapter was the idea that the industrial revolution and the progress of technology colonial views and racial differences actually intensified. How is it that the enlightenment ideology of humanism and equality, that was becoming so popular and widespread at the time, were completely ignored in the treatment of migrant workers and those who could be viewed as “technologically simple”. With this new form of racism Europeans also used “science” to relate, or validate, ideas about racial differences. It really upsets me that at a time of such progress Europeans, and other developed countries, reverted back to primitive ideals of racial superiority. Progress at the expense of others, especially entire cultures and peoples, is never justified. Europeans felt the natural laws enforced “survival of the fittest” and they used this ideology to justify wars, death, and the mistreatment of migrant workers. It never ceases to amaze me that if you give someone just the slightest bit of power it tends to completely change their behavior, ideas and attitudes towards other, less powerful, individuals. For whatever reasons the industrial revolution began in Europe and led to many new technologies and markets, including machine guns and weaponry, but that does not justify European’s actions towards other cultures that were not as technologically advanced. There always seems to be this idea of “making savages civilized” but who is to say what is considered civilized? Just because certain cultures don’t use fancy machines and have advanced weaponry doesn’t mean they are not civilized or that their not advanced; what matters most is in the eye of the beholder. I actually value Native population’s connectedness to nature over westerner’s connectedness to technology; the important thing in life is to respect and appreciate the values and ideas of others. It makes me ashamed when I learn about some of the practices throughout American history, the deception and manipulation of those less “civilized” populations and the exploitation of resources and people. True humanistic and enlightenment ideas would argue that each person, despite the differences in their beliefs, is important and valuable; because of this they deserve equality and freedom.