So here we go again...except that this particular episode focuses more the Hopi prophecies, and how they supposedly tie in with the Mayan Baktun 13 countdown. This sort of voyeurism into the traditions of Native American, perhaps gets to me the most! On the one hand, Natives are completely ignored and live is impoverished world of invisibility, on the other, white people have a tendency to put Native sacred belief on a kind of pedestal that they think they have the absolute right to stare at any time that they want. Shows like this one does just that. Though I appreciate the decision that some Hopi tribal members made to talk to these people, after all it is their belief system. But a few years back, some guy claiming that he understood Hopi beliefs so well that he could see all kinds of ancient contact with aliens; he managed to get an much respected tribal elder into a conflict with his own people over the issue, basically destroying the elder's credibility in the Hopi traditional world. Which is a big and deal and huge shame, because the Hopi have managed to preserve more of their culture than many other, much larger native groups!
Over at the History Channel's website they have a good article on Columbus as Governor!
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