Kit Carson: Western Hero or Genocidalist?

[hgc]

Sure you can, what about Buffalo Bill, George Custer, Davy Crockett, Sam Houston, Jim Bowie, George Patton and Audie Murphy?

As far as I know, Audie Murphy only ever killed other soldiers, in combat, who were trying to kill him. I'd give him a pass in the questioning-the-heroics-of-killers game.

And he wasn't a half-bad movie cowboy either.

 

[Darth Rotor]

Western hero?

You can't be a hero for killing people. Sorry.

So, let's see, Sergeant Alvin York wasn't a hero?

DR

 

[hgc]

So, let's see, Sergeant Alvin York wasn't a hero?

DR

First of all, York is played by Gary Cooper in the movie. It doesn't get more heroic than that. I believe that York is considered a hero more for capturing a large number of enemy single-handedly than for killing them.

 

[sackett]

Sure you can, what about Buffalo Bill, George Custer, Davy Crockett, Sam Houston, Jim Bowie, George Patton and Audie Murphy?

I'm not sure that Buffalo Bill ever killed anybody. I used to believe that he rubbed out Yellow Hair, but quite recently I read a supposed direct quote of Cody's: "Hell, I never shot him! For all I know, he died of old age!" I hope not; Yellow hair needed rubbing out.

Audie Murphy got to be a hero by doing nothing but kill people. He wasn't good for anything else. Man was Cuchalain to the life.

 

[hgc]

Audie Murphy got to be a hero by doing nothing but kill people. He wasn't good for anything else. Man was Cuchalain to the life.

The business end of this six-shooter says spell that Cúchulainn.

 

[Lensman]

From everything I've read & heard about him, Custer started out as a friend & champion for the Native Americans, but his political ambitions got the better of him & he became their worst enemy. He also became his own - who but a blithering idiot would leave behind the weapons that the Sioux most feared & then disobey his CO's orders & attack a superior enemy force in order to further his own ambitions?