well, she is actually referencing a legitimate debate that's going on about how we perceive native americans both now and historiographically. it's a total cop-out for her to erase native americans, but if what she's trying to say is that she wants to have a settling the frontier book with an actual frontier as opposed to an invasion of an area already settled by tons of sophisticated societies, then it does make sense.
in conclusion: yes, it's a cop-out. a very inappropriate statement, certainly, but i don't think it's malicious.
Now malicious race fail would be statements like:
"The Iroquois, as they were named by the French, or the Five Nations as they called themselves, hung like a cloud over the whole great continent.... War was their business, and cruelty their amusement."
[Dialogue from a Jesuit who's been scalped] "Ah, you have observed my little injuries, then! They know no better, poor souls. They are but mischievous children--merry-hearted but mischievous."
"Two men had emerged from the bushes, one of whom might have passed as a full-blooded Indian, had it not been for these courteous words which he uttered in excellent French. He was a tall slight young man, very dark, with piercing black eyes, and a grim square relentless mouth which could only have come with Indian descent."
which are the sorts of things that made me put down The Refugees. i don't care if it's the 1890s, ACD knew better than that. now that i'm rereading bits of it he does try to play with different perceptions of native americans and colonization some, but all VERY heavily colored with tremendous race fail.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2009-05-11 10:14 pm (UTC)in conclusion: yes, it's a cop-out. a very inappropriate statement, certainly, but i don't think it's malicious.
Now malicious race fail would be statements like:
"The Iroquois, as they were named by the French, or the Five Nations as they called themselves, hung like a cloud over the whole great continent.... War was their business, and cruelty their amusement."
[Dialogue from a Jesuit who's been scalped] "Ah, you have observed my little injuries, then! They know no better, poor souls. They are but mischievous children--merry-hearted but mischievous."
"Two men had emerged from the bushes, one of whom might have passed as a full-blooded Indian, had it not been for these courteous words which he uttered in excellent French. He was a tall slight young man, very dark, with piercing black eyes, and a grim square relentless mouth which could only have come with Indian descent."
which are the sorts of things that made me put down The Refugees. i don't care if it's the 1890s, ACD knew better than that. now that i'm rereading bits of it he does try to play with different perceptions of native americans and colonization some, but all VERY heavily colored with tremendous race fail.