Blog #5

A common theme in the texts of Sigourney's "Indian Names" and William Apess "An Indians Looking Glass for the White Man" is reform. Although the tones of the two authors vary from mild to harsh, the two authors show a desire for reform within the states. Apess argues that the treatment of Native Americans is unjust and he uses biblical references to back up his argument. "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer, and no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." He also uses the argument that different races often intermarry and therefor bring both cultures together into one, so why not learn to accept the differences? Apess brings up a great point that Jesus was born a Jew and because of that, was a person of color. White supremacy was a growing concern and they believed that Christianity was a white dominated religion when in fact it is founded upon people of color. Signourney is arguing that the massacre of the Natives and their lands and their names is the reason for American success. Each author provides legitimate arguments about the treatment of Native Americans.