right and wrong.
this was for my english class, no lie. :)
“The going on” was written much differently from “the setting out”. While “the setting out” was mainly about the Kiowa’s history and old stories of creation, “the going on” focused more on the tribe’s outlook on life and how one should live it. To be honest, “the going on” really kind of pissed me off. I mean, maybe it was because I am a girl or because I am not a big fan of conniving plots and sneaky schemes, but the morals of the Kiowa did not please me at all (if they can even be called morals). From the beginning of the twelfth story to the eighteenth, there was one moral that resounded throughout the chapter - wit and cunning.
XII. This first story talked about a couple who were suspicious of all the meat their child was bringing outside. When the “enemy” walked in, he admitted to originally planning to kill them, but the food kept him and the others from murder. The “enemy” asked for food for all of them and would show mercy in return. The couple, however, did not agree. They smartly planned an escape and ended up watching their enemies burn to death.
My first reaction to this story was that it was totally messed up - very different from all the fairy tales and stories I read as a child (okay, I still read them sometimes). Fairy tales usually went like this: A poor, revolting creature would ask a prince or princess for something. The prince or princess would of course be reluctant and refuse with a cold heart. The creature turns out to be magical and casts a curse on the prince or princess who learns their lesson and become kind, showing mercy to those who were in need of it. Long story short, kindness was rewarded. In this case, however, intelligence and suspicion was rewarded. The family’s reward for their genius plot? Hearing their enemies scream to their flaming deaths.
XIII. The story following wasn’t all that just either. Although the story starts out innocently with a background on the awesome arrow-making powers of the Kiowa, it quickly divulges into a man and his wife in a tipi. He catches something at the corner of his eye and tells his wife in their language to speak normally. He finishes the arrow and pretends to practice it, all the while asking if the enemy was a Kiowa and should respond now. When no response came, the man shot the arrow through the “enemy’s” heart.
Alright, so this story wasn’t as messed up as the first one of this chapter, but nonetheless totally cruel. First of all, it is assumed the person outside is an enemy. Second of all, he was killed without a word - what if he was a saint? A Samaritan? Or worse, ME?! I would have had no method of understanding them, protecting myself, or even begging for my life (which would end in an instant). My heart would bleed to death and that would be it. Again, the Kiowa only pride the smart man and his ingenious tactics. It’s not even about the stupid arrow anymore, it’s about the hunter and his brilliant instinct to kill.
So it really makes me question what was right or wrong in their society?
What is different about our society’s morals?
Does it make us right? And them wrong? Or the other way around?
Did we have a right to impose our “right” values onto their culture?
And don’t even get me started on how they treated the “evil” women…
~C.C.
p.s. I didn’t mean to offend anyone, if I did.