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Showing posts from October, 2024

But Rather to Hell

 Recently, I was reminded of the story of Hatuey, a chief of the indigenous Taíno people in the 1500s. Struck by its power, I wanted to share his story with you. I will offer no commentary or evaluation, but rather, I will allow you to reflect upon this story yourself. I hope it impacts you as profoundly as it’s beginning to with me. -- "Taíno chief Hatuey... was from the island that later became Hispaniola. After actively opposing the Spanish colonizer’s cruelty against the Indigenous inhabitants, Hatuey organized 400 men who traveled by canoe to Cuba[. They aimed] to warn the inhabitants there and urge their resistance to the Spaniard colonizers’ genocidal cruelty. After fighting guerrilla-style against the Spaniards, Hatuey was captured on February 2, 1512 and burned at the stake." [1] The historian Bartolomé de las Casas wrote this account of Chief Hatuey's execution: "[A] Franciscan monk, a holy man, who was there, spoke as much as he could to [Chief Hatuey], in...