Mormons and Aztecs (Was ATDTDA (33) - p. 927-30 - railroads)

[David Payne]

Good point about the good guys in ATD, Laura ("the indigenous, the anarchist and the mystical")...

So I see:

Bad guys = the Aztec, an invading force that moved south to Mexico (from Atzlan) as a colonizing force with a brand of mysticism that involved eating human hearts** (Mysticism as a weapon that conveniently terrified people into submission?)

Good guys = the indigenous Tarahumara (who were never fully conquered by the Aztec) -- certainly the foax who seem to have Pynchon's sympathies.

And the Mormons? Murky here...


** like Yasheem's pirate whose name I cannot recall of the top of my head?


On Thu, 22 May 2008 (14:10:19 -0400), Laura (kelber at mindspring.com) wrote:

> Interesting question of whether TRP lumps the Mormons with those fleeing from Aztlan or with those whom they were fleeing from. The good guys in ATD are the indigenous, the anarchist and the mystical. Do the Mormons fit into any of these categories? The convoluted beliefs of the LDS might classify them as indigenous, although their present role as solidly Republican conservatives who didn't admit African-Americans into their church until 1978 counters any view of them as oppressed. The Mormon church is very hierarchical, although fringe elements of the religion oppose the US government's interference on the polygamy issue. Still, not a hotbed of anarchism. Mystical? Is the Book of Mormon mystical? Is the Bible? As a hardcore atheist, I'm not qualified to speculate.




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