The Name of War

When a people feel superior to a neighboring population, they treat the others with disdain and are likely, if the opportunity presents itself, to take advantage of them. If conflicts erupt between two such groups, either side or both will regard the other’s concerns as venal or moronic and unworthy of consideration.

In these situations, both sides feel frustrated, and war becomes more likely. When war breaks out, each group regards the other as the instigator, either by forcing the issue or by an outright attack. The two sides also see each other as bad, wrong, and inferior, and thus not entitled to fair or respectful treatment, especially in war.

The English colonists’ disrespect and distaste for their Algonquian neighbors leads to the settlers’ becoming unfair in dealings with them. This exacerbates problems between the groups until the Indians, who are outnumbered, feel their culture in peril, and have had much of their land taken already, strike back. The English, convinced that they are the superior party and have done no wrong, are aghast at the vehemence of the Indian attacks. Blaming their opponent, the settlers break their own rules of warfare to answer the Indian attacks with equally savage reprisals.