Look at the parts of the world that don’t have empires, don’t have kings. The Native Americans have Coyote. The aboriginal australians have the Rainbow Serpent. The Polynesians have Maui. Not tyrants.

Now look at the parts of the world that do have human tyrants. The Greeks have Zeus. The Egyptians have Ramses. The Mayans had Kukulkan. People worship gods that resemble their own leaders and their own natural environment.

The only exception to drag’s theory is Asia. China had huge empires, but Buddha isn’t a tyrant. Maybe the Jade Emperor is; drag doesn’t know as much about Tao as drag would like. Anyone got reading suggestions for getting into Taoist mythology? (Other than Journey To The West. Already love that story)

    • IMNOTCRAZYINSTITUTION@lemmy.world
      8·
      7 days ago

      they are subject to the tyranny of the US federal government, and I’m sure there are people within their territory that would not consider their tribal governments to be representative of their needs

      I think it’s an interesting coincidence that you chose that group because I used to live in an area where several different haudenosaunee nations had reservations. there are many hardships that they endure because of the federal government but also because of poor management or corruption in their own governments.

      edit to add: if we include their pre colonial history, the haudensaunee were like any other culture. they had conflict with their neighbors. they had conflict with each other. they engaged in warfare against other groups for reasons including feuds, control of land, the capture of slaves.