Letter: Give Seminole Tribe a seat on 450th panel
Posted: July 21, 2011 - 11:00pm
Editor: With all the hoopla (but no funding yet) for the 450th anniversary of St. Augustine, a few things need to be remembered.
At the introduction of the 450th Commission last Monday, of all the illustrious personages assembled on the stage, only Mayor Joe Boles mentioned the indigenous peoples of this area. Thankfully, a representative of the Seminole nation addressed the commission and requested a place at the table.
Hopefully that will happen. Also, let's remember that Menendez, like most of his Spanish conquistador colleagues, was a cold-blooded killer. He attacked Fort Caroline, killing almost everyone there, then he systematically executed Ribault and about 300 other escaping shipwrecked French Protestants at Matanzas saying: "I do this not as to Frenchmen, but as to heretics." (Can we have re-enactors recreate the murder of Ribault and his crew as the Frenchmen beg for their lives?)
Let's also remember that the Spanish Inquisition, although almost at the end of its reign of terror, was still being exercised, under papal decree, by the king of Spain. One may also question the value of the Spanish missions, on both coasts, relative to their effect on the native populations.
The Catholic Church brutally imposed its will on the New World. I hope that if the current Pope and the king and queen of Spain do participate in the 450th anniversary, they will show some remorse and compassion for the many victims of their historical onslaught.
PS. In keeping with the celebration of "our" Spanish heritage, why not officially revert to the original name of the place: San Agustin (a la San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Santa Fe etc.)
PPS. This is not an attack on the Catholic Church; this is history -- what we're all about in St. Augustine.
Vaya con Dios.
1 comment:
1- I remember when trips to visit the Seminole Tribe were being made, introductions by Dana Ste. Claire, who had "connections." It was the biggest news since sliced bread.
2- Everyone went on and on and on, but there was never any agreement or development. What happened? WHO disgraced the City of St. Augustine and HOW? The Tribe withdrew. We have heard nothing of or from them in years.
3- "Tapestry," an exhibit with a budget of $250,000 -- a quarter of a million -- in planning? If it is, are indigenous peoples represented? And let us SEE that budget, line-by-line. I would love to know what we are paying $250,000 for.
4- If, as many have concluded, something big and untoward occurred in the sovereign nation of the Seminoles of Florida, then, please, let US reach out to them. Undo whatever went wrong. Don't ask them to underwrite anything, just to participate because THEY are part of our story. We NEED them.
5- Hey, Alan, good to see you. I hope you don't think the French would have spared the Spanish. Blood-letting, claiming land for one's royal and country -- the Spanish won this one. Things could have gone another way, but did not.
Adieu, mon ami.
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