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Post by markland on May 29, 2007 13:35:52 GMT -6
"And the portrayal of SB as an "egotistical, often brutal leader whose pride endangered members of his tribe as they suffered through famine, drought and disease" is not fully accurate and somewhat insulting."Most of SB's contemporaries saw him that way. It's perhaps time to wake up and forget the dream of the "Good Savage". SB was eve mocked by the Lakotas when he came on a boat after his surrender. I hope the movie will also depict the true Ghost Dance, which is far more violent that it is depicted in movies like "Hidalgo". Have Indians forgotten that churches were attacked on Christmas by the Ghost Dancers ? That Ghost Dancers almost killed a man to prove the reality of the "bullet shirts"? These guys weren't religious peacekeepers. It was a real, violent, uprising which was planning bloodbaths in the Plains. You really need to pick up Mooney's The Ghost Dance Religion and Wounded Knee. Billy
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Post by Banned on May 30, 2007 11:13:14 GMT -6
Are you saying that the Ghost Dance wasn't a violent movement ? According to "Eyewitness at Wounded Knee" and other accounts of the pre-massacre period, Ghost Dancer began to fire against churches, provoked panic in the Christmas parties and eventually almost killed one of their own who wanted to try the Bullet shirt.
If it's not a proof of a fanatical movement, I don't know what it is.
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Post by crzhrs on May 30, 2007 11:43:36 GMT -6
The violence you mention took place AFTER the Wounded Knee "Massacre"
Prior to that there was no violent acts committed by Indians. Most were going to the Badlands to dance and pray. A number of Sioux Holy Men did say that Ghost Dance Shirts would protect them from bullets, but none advocated violence against whites or soldiers.
I would suggest reading Mooney's excellent book. Very objective and fair to both sides.
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Post by Banned on May 30, 2007 13:47:53 GMT -6
CHRISTMAS parties, not EASTERN parties.
The 7th cavalry was called on duty because of the shootings. The affair with the bullet shirt was done before. A chief was threatened to death by the Ghost Dancers long before Wounded Knee occured.
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Post by Banned on May 30, 2007 13:48:52 GMT -6
"Massacre"
I still consider you as the pro-Indian Warren Commission, but this time, I don't know why you put " on the word massacre. It was one.
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Post by Tricia on May 30, 2007 14:13:25 GMT -6
Provoked panic at Christmas parties? So what? Remember that in the 19th Century, Christmas was primarily a drinking and make-merriment holiday ... although that concept was slowly being changed by societal do-gooders and religious fundimentalists. A drunken underclass enjoying a rare day off in a manner other than prayer was a threat to structure of Victorian culture ... far more than the Ghost Dancers.
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Post by Banned on Jun 4, 2007 10:04:40 GMT -6
Shooting at churches. It's a crime. Shooting innocent people. A crime. Shooting civilians. A crime.
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Post by harpskiddie on Jun 4, 2007 10:56:02 GMT -6
Has anyone actually seen this movie? ? I don't have HBO or the Movie Channels that show the HBO creations here in Canada - the True North Strong and Free [and this part of it broke]. Is it worth buying when the DVD comes out, or is it simply more of the PC history that Dee Brown is famous for turning out? Gordie, give my knees to the needy, and give my love to Rose........................................................
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Post by crzhrs on Jun 4, 2007 11:26:32 GMT -6
Shooting off one's mouth . . . a crime!
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Post by Tricia on Jun 4, 2007 12:03:32 GMT -6
A friend of mine who has HBO enjoyed the film. He's a history buff--though his speciality is Ancient Rome--and particularly liked the portrayal of Sitting Bull. There's something about his TiVO system that didn't allow a burn to dvd of copyrighted material ... or something like that. I'm attempting to get his permission to present his critique of the film.
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Post by Tricia on Jun 5, 2007 11:58:54 GMT -6
The following is a review of Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee:
"There is too little Custer to justify being added to the canon of Custeriana. There's no retelling of the heroics of Benteen and Reno. Sadly, Libby does not appear at all as a latter day Blessed Mother.
This plodding movie centers on the life of Charles Eastman (Adam Beach) whom after being rescued in the aftermath of LBH becomes a model of the Indian boy assimilated into white society. The portrayal of Sitting Bull is the only bright light in the production. Native American actor/director August Schellenberg plays the war chief with the stubborn sadness of a man who knows his way of life is ending and he can't stop it.
The complete Dee Brown book is much richer than the two hours produced. In reality, HBO should have made it a limited run series along the lines of Rome. The history and the intrigues would have made for good television with the effect of teaching about "ethnic cleansing" American style."
HBO subscriber, Little Rock.
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Post by harpskiddie on Jun 5, 2007 15:23:04 GMT -6
Tricia:
Thanks for posting your friend's review. It is nice to see something from somebody who has actually seen the movie. I could guess that he is correct about the time being too short for such a complex event and the issues involved. It's been year's since I read Brown's book - I think I bought it when it first came out in paperback. I didn't thnk much of it as history back then. Perhaps it's time for a re-read [30 odd years is a stretch!!].
Keep well - you are often in my thoughts...................
Gordie, I could no more stop dreaming, than I could make them all come true................................
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Post by Tricia on Jun 6, 2007 0:13:11 GMT -6
Shooting at churches. It's a crime. Shooting innocent people. A crime. Shooting civilians. A crime. Whites shooting Indians ... a crime, eh? Isn't that what happened at Wounded Knee? The single--albeit terrible--instance of your Clara Blinn doesn't whitewash or allow the entirety of the whole Indian wars ...
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Post by Tricia on Jun 6, 2007 0:22:31 GMT -6
Gordie--
Thanks for the goodwill; it's something I am trying to provoke in the greater realms of Custeriana. If I've learned anything from my husband's death, I realised I don't have time for petty squabbles ... and of course, I do more fully empathize with Libbie's perilous situation. I took some time to look at our wedding album this evening--and wondered, had I known the eventual outcome, would I have gone ahead? And yes, the twelve years of happiness is well-worth the sorrow I shall always feel ... it was the same with Libbie. She provides quite an example to the Widow McDuffie.
As for my friend's review--he's a professional contact and one of the first ones to read My Custer Book. He's quite the writer ... especially when it comes to alternative history and vampires. Go figure. Plus he was the only person in my writer's group who knew--without prompting--the name of Custer's wife!
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Post by Diane Merkel on Jun 10, 2007 18:17:43 GMT -6
He misspelled Libbie, but he is forgiven because he at least had thoughts of her.
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