(12-29-2022, 06:11 PM)Ninurta Wrote: I've heard the "smallpox in blankets" story all my life in regards to the American Indians, but have only been able to confirm one instance of it ever happening, in the 1770's at a trading post around Detroit... but that was back when smallpox was endemic, before it was "eradicated". To tear a page from that book and do the same thing to the Aboriginals in Australia in this day and time would be highly suspect, and without doubt fingers would be pointed and heads would roll.
As an aside, I know nothing about Australian possums, but American possums are truly nasty critters. They are the only animal I have seen go 3 feet up a dead cow's ass for a meal. Endangered? I don't care if the Aboriginals wipe them entirely out!
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I believe that our government did give small pox infected blankets to the Natives to kill them.
Just like they gave conservatorship over the Osage to make them wards, so they could steal their money and land, and kill them. Of course they made sure they all
had booze to make sure they never left the Rez.
Our government has always been a good old boys club. They have no problem eating their own young, ours don't stand a snowball's chance in hell.
(12-29-2022, 09:47 AM)Bally002 Wrote: I cannot grasp the reason for this assumption. Smallpox? Give me a break.
Anyway, my Australian ABC story.
Bally
I had not heard about the blankets in Australia, but I am very familiar with the story here in America and the American natives.
But after doing some quick research of the occurrence in Australia, there seems to be a lot of material to sift through.
A large number of Natives died from smallpox after Britain set Australia up as a penal colony, because they had never been exposed to smallpox before, and had no natural immunity.
How many died accidently, versus how many were killed deliberately, I guess it will depend on whom you ask.
I am sure those that were being targeted for elimination will see things a bit differently then those that were trying to eliminate them.
The human species is conundrum to me.
Maybe that is why I prefer the company of animals. So, how is Girlie Girl doing?