Journal #2 - Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca: An Early Civil Rights Activist

QUOTE:

“Thus we often misjudge the motives of men; we thought we effected the Indians’ liberty, when the Christians were but poising to pounce” (De Vaca 48).


SUMMARY:

De Vaca is reflecting over what happens with the natives that he befriended. He thinks that he can send the American Indians back to their towns to rebuild the neglected lands, but realizes the Christians already had a different plan of conquest.


RESPONSE:

This quote is not only what Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca experiences when the Christians take control of the newfound lands; it is also a profound observation of human nature. De Vaca has been fighting to reinstate the freedom and liberty that the native Indians had before the Christians besieged them and wanted to enslave them; but his attempt is in vain. Every time the Christians are mentioned, they come across completely hypocritical, which is the way stereotypical Christians today come across as well. However, anyone who makes him or herself out to be “holier than thou” usually isn’t, which is what De Vaca is referring to when he writes, “we often misjudge the motives of men.”

Reading De Vaca’s eloquent wording is like reading a prose poem. The alliteration of “poising to pounce” introduced by De Vaca’s insight into these “motives of men” (another alliteration), presents literary and poetic techniques along with his true accounts. However, does De Vaca become more likable than, let’s say Columbus, because he is so articulate? He obviously is sincere enough to address this narrative to Charles V in hopes that some policies might be changed. Maybe because he seems to care more about human rights than the “Christians” do, he is more likable, or maybe De Vaca is easier to like because he suffered so much in his journey. Reading about the hunger he and his men suffered from, along with the natives, increases the compassion that at least I feel for them. Either way, I would much rather see a “De Vaca Day” instead of “Columbus Day” on the calendar.