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

[Bekah]

On May 22, 2008, at 11:58 AM, David Payne wrote:
> 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...

The Mormons were probably refugees up until the post Civil War and  
mining boom.   The railroad reached intercontinental status in 1869  
near Provo.   And in 1875 or so  they declared polygamy outdated (or  
something like that) so they could join the Union as a state.  At  
some point - (???)  the Mormons were no longer refugees and became  
the invading force.  Some moved as refugees to Mexico (as has been  
noted earlier) but most returned later.

Theologically the Mormons are sympathetic to the American Indians -  
regard them as Lost Tribes or something.   Realistically they were  
just about as imperialistic as anyone - first they want a little  
colony,  then they want the mineral rich kingdom.

Refugees or Trespassers - yes,  it's all very murky indeed.

Bekah