The truth about California Missions. Just as bad as Canadian Residential Schools

My own post about this from 2015. https://globalcitizenblog.com/visiting-spanish-missions-in-california/ “Within the missions is a terrible truth — that they were little more than concentration camps where California’s Indians were beaten, whipped, maimed, burned, tortured and virtually exterminated by the friars.The California Indians did have a culture, but they never got a chance to contribute it to…… Continue reading The truth about California Missions. Just as bad as Canadian Residential Schools

Montaillou – Life in a Medieval Village

I just finished Montaillou by Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie.  This took me over half a year to finish not because it wasn’t great, but because I have two young boys and thus free time is non-existent. I learned of this book in a Reddit post and quickly bought it as it is right up my…… Continue reading Montaillou – Life in a Medieval Village

The ISIS takes a page from Spanish Conquistadors!

While reading my Lapham’s Quarterly I came across the “Requerimiento” (Requirement).  This was a written declaration of sovereignty and war, read by Spanish military forces to assert their sovereignty over the Americas.    “It was used to justify the assertion that God, through historical Saint Peter and appointed Papal successors, held authority as ruler over the entire Earth; and that the Inter…… Continue reading The ISIS takes a page from Spanish Conquistadors!

Christianity and its non-Christian Origins

I saw this post on Google + and it was so good I had to borrow it.  I have re-posted here so that I’ll always have it.   Written by:  Yonatan Zunger – from Google + Since I’ve heard that there’s some kind of religious festival going on this weekend, I thought it might be…… Continue reading Christianity and its non-Christian Origins