Interests

I came across this list of  ”Native American Ten Commandments”, and while it obviously did not exist before contact with Europeans (there was, by no means, a unified Native American religion) I still find it very interesting. I spent a little bit of time trying to find an origin of this list, and while I couldn’t find a reputable source, the most believable story I found was, it was a simple act of rebellion against the oppression set by Europeans and Christianity. Honestly, I think it was very effective, not only do these Indian commandments make a lot of sense, it puts the Judeo-Christian commandments to illegitimacy through the logic of creating an alternative that is a much more sustainable and achievable standard of ethics and morals. And while a deity is mentioned in the Indian commandments, it is presented in a way that is much more subjective and interpretative. Anyways, here is a comparison:

American Indian “10 Commandments”

1. Treat the earth an all that dwell theron with respect
2. Remain close to the Great Spirit
3. Show great respect for your fellow beings
4. Work together for the benefit of all humankind
5. Give assistance and kindness wherever needed
6. Do what you know to be right
7. Look after the well-being of mind and body
8. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good
9. Be truthful and honest at all times
10. Take full responsibility for your actions

Judeo-Christian 10 Commandments

1. I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
3. Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.
4. Honor thy Father and thy Mother.
5. Thou shalt not kill.
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
7. Thou shalt not steal.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.

“Liberty enlightening the world,” indeed! The expression makes us sick. This government is a howling farce. It can not or rather does notprotect its citizens within its own borders. Shove the Bartholdi statue, torch and all, into the ocean until the “liberty” of this country is such as to make it possible for an inoffensive and industrious colored man to earn a respectable living for himself and family, without being ku-kluxed, perhaps murdered, his daughter and wife outraged, and his property destroyed. The idea of the “liberty” of this country “enlightening the world,” or even Patagonia, is ridiculous in the extreme.

Andrés de Morales (n. 1477-f. 1517), fue un cartógrafo y navegante español.

Participó en algunos de los viajes de Cristóbal Colón a América. Posteriormente en el 1500 fue piloto de la expedición comandada por Rodrigo de Bastidas y, entre 1504 a 1506 formó parte de la expedición de Juan de la Cosa a Tierra Firme, en la que exploraron y descubrieron toda la zona desde el golfo de Venezuela hasta Nombre de Dios.

En 1508, Nicolás de Ovando le encomendó explorar La Española y dibujar un mapa de la misma, el cual se ha conservado hasta nuestros días. Luego el obispo Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca, le solicitó que preparara una carta de navegación marítima de la costa de Brasil. Esta carta fue utilizada por mandato real en el litigio con Portugal.

Morales se dio cuenta de la existencia de las corrientes oceánicas que existen en el Océano Atlántico, a las cuales denominó ‘torrentes del mar’. Si bien realizó numerosos trabajos para la Casa de Contratación de Indias, recién se incorporó a la misma en 1516, cuando fue nombrado piloto de la Casa, cargo que desempeñó hasta su muerte en 1517.

Roughly Translated:

Andres de Morales (b. 1477 -f. 1517 ) was a cartographer and navigator Spanish .

Participated in some of the voyages of Christopher Columbus to America . Later in 1500 he was pilot of the expedition led by Rodrigo de Bastidas and between 1504 to 1506 was part of the issue of Cosa to the mainland, where you explore and discover the whole area from the Gulf of Venezuela to Name of God .

In 1508, Nicolás de Ovando entrusted explore the Spanish and draw a map of the same, which has been preserved to this day. Then Bishop Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, asked to prepare a letter of shipping off the coast of Brazil . This letter was used by royal mandate in dispute with Portugal .

Morales became aware of the existence of ocean currents that exist in the Atlantic Ocean , to which he called ‘torrents of the sea’. While numerous studies conducted for the House of Trade of India , recently joined it in 1516 when he was named pilot of the House, a position he held until his death in 1517.

The first Moralez to the new world, and quite possibly my ancestor. He accompanied Columbus on his third voyage to the new world (1498)

He also was very involved with the mapping of the new world (supposed author of un mapa de La Española (1509)) and established the theory of the Atlantic currents. 

Although, when it comes down to it, he was probably an asshole.

Examples:

xefe (modern Spanish jefe)

Xeres (modern Spanish Jerez)

oxalá (modern Spanish ojalá, cf. Portuguese oxalá)

dexar (modern Spanish dejar, cf. Portuguese deixar)

fazer or facer (modern Spanish hacer, cf. Portuguese fazer)

dezir (modern Spanish decir, cf. Portuguese dizer)

lança (modern Spanish lanza, cf. Portuguese lança)

passar (modern Spanish pasar, cf. Portuguese passar)

foces “sickles”, fozes “throats/ravines” (modern Spanish hoces in both cases)

coxo “lame,” cojo “I seize” (modern Spanish cojo in both cases)

osso “bear,” oso “I dare” (modern Spanish oso in both cases)