Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Whole European Distinction" by Edward Dorn is a poignant critique of historical narratives and the conflicts between Native American tribes and European settlers, focusing particularly on the Apache Wars. The poem uses the figure of Geronimo as a focal point to explore deeper themes of cultural resistance, the clash of worldviews, and the intellectual assumptions that underscore historical conquests.

Dorn begins by framing the Apache Wars as "the longest continuous run of external resistance," a statement that establishes the enduring and tenacious struggle of the Apache people against European and later American expansion. This conflict, lasting from the 17th century without "significant intermission," underscores a persistent resistance that challenges the usual narratives of quick or inevitable Native American defeats. By describing it in these terms, Dorn emphasizes the resilience and determination of the Apache, positioning them not as victims but as formidable resistors.

The poem then shifts to a philosophical reflection, stating that this prolonged resistance "can only be attributed to the superiority of Native over Alien Thinking." Here, Dorn provocatively claims that the sustained Apache resistance was due to a fundamentally different—and, by implication, superior—way of thinking compared to their European adversaries. This line challenges conventional European-centric perspectives that often portray indigenous strategies and lifestyles as primitive or inferior.

However, Dorn introduces complexity with the lines, "Yet they had not invented Mind / and as we know / their domain was by Mind over-ridden." This suggests that despite their effective resistance, the Apache were eventually overwhelmed by European strategies or ideologies, which Dorn ambiguously terms as "Mind." This could be interpreted as a critique of the European rationalist approach, which often disregards indigenous knowledge and values.

The mention of treaties where "the Native assented / to the Thinking" highlights a crucial aspect of Native American-European interactions—treaty agreements. These agreements often resulted in significant losses for Native tribes, not through lack of intelligence or strategy but through systemic impositions of European "Thinking" or legal frameworks that were alien and often deceitfully imposed on Native leaders.

The poem concludes with the reflective and somewhat resigned lines about the "Predictive Mind," suggesting that the Apache, and perhaps indigenous people more broadly, have not adopted or embraced the European-style forward-looking, strategic mindset, or "Predictive Mind." This could be seen as a critique of how indigenous cultures prioritize different forms of knowledge and temporal perspectives, which might not align with European predictive strategies but have their own intrinsic value and insight.

Overall, "The Whole European Distinction" is a meditation on resistance, cultural conflict, and the valuation of different forms of knowledge. Through this poem, Dorn invites readers to reconsider the conventional historical narratives and the intellectual legacies of colonial encounters, urging a deeper appreciation for the complexity and depth of Native American resistance and philosophy.

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