choppergirl wrote:I thought it was obvious, a biting critisism that all the White European Squatters in America were all illegal immigrants (or descendants now thereof), with the radical right... ever clueless about American History... or any history at all really... hypocritically trying to pass laws to keep... illegal immigrants out.
Yes. Your intent was obvious. But it's not an accurate view of the history of life on this planet.
1. All living things occupy space and they all defend that space for their own survival.
2. All living things naturally procreate to the extent that their environment will tolerate.
3. All living things naturally extend their range and thus their chances of survival.
4. All living things tend to defend other living things with the closest genetics.
That's about it. Put those rules in a simulation with enough detail, and you'll get something that approximates the history of life on this planet.
Every creature on this planet - from a blade of grass to an African elephant - is in a constant battle for territory. The native Americans (if that's politically correct to even say these days) were also in constant battles with each other over territory. In fact, they sometimes made alliances with the technologically advanced European settlers to gain advantage over their native rivals. The notion of controlling territory was not invented by the European settlers or even by humans. It is part of the competition for survival in all ecosystems with limited resources - which is all ecosystems.
Species that successfully defend their territory survive, and those that don't will disappear. Every living thing defines shells of volumes of physical space that it controls. The smallest of these volumes is their own bodies. Next is their immediate surroundings within striking distance of predators or rivals. Next might be their range of food sources, and so on. The creation of tribes and governments and nations and borders is NOT a uniquely "white" or uniquely European phenomenon. It is fundamental to the existence of all life.
Humans have the ability to verbalize and define these volumes. We call them our "personal space" or our "homes" or our "cities" or our "nations". We also have the ability to define rules for entering each of these spaces. We make and adapt those rules for the same reasons that all living things define and defend their territories: for our own best interests. That is the fundamental right of all living things.
Of course the effort needed to constantly defend territories takes its toll, and individuals or groups often do better by making agreements which (when honored) reduce the amount of effort needed for that defense. Neighbors will make agreements to aid each other in defending their territories. Those neighbors grow into tribes, and cities, and states, and nations. The agreements grow into cultures and even religions. It's all as natural as life itself. It was happening in pre-Columbian America just as it was happening everywhere else around the globe.
The native Americans lost their land because they were either unable or unwilling to effectively defend it against the white Europeans. That may be sad, but it's a fact of life. Maybe they didn't recognize the threat (as I fear with AI). But if the Europeans hadn't come, then the Asians or Africans surely would have. It was just a matter of who developed the various technologies of exploration (and of war) first.
As for the accusation that my own ancestors were "illegal immigrants", I am pretty sure that is false. My grandparents came from Europe through places like Ellis Island, and they applied legally and were accepted as legal citizens. They followed the rules. They learned English and they assimilated into the "melting pot". They also came in small enough numbers (at least per country) that they did not significantly skew the culture or language of the nation as a whole.
The bottom line is that any group of people at any level (your family, your town, your state, your nation) has the ability to establish the rules by which they want to live to the extent that they are willing and able to enforce those rules. Those rules can encourage or discourage expansion of that group to the extent that the group wants (or doesn't want) to be expanded and potentially diluted. That's as natural as a beehive or a herd of bison. Judging from the results of the recent election, the current "beehive" known as the United States has collectively decided that they want to slow the rate of immigration - specifically illegal immigration. Why wouldn't they have that right?
As for you not supporting borders at all, that's good to know for anyone needing a place to live. Please feel free to post your address.
