Was the Mayflower a ship of fools? or was it more like Jason searching for the golden fleece.?

The pilgrim father's set out thinking foolishly they could creat a better society, a paradise. Instead they created America which indulged in genoscide of the native population, slavery and witch hunts. Like Jason were they looking for a mythical land and just as mythical prize.

Was the Mayflower a ship of fools? or was it more like Jason searching for the golden fleece.?
Actually it is highly likely that much of the Jason myth is founded in reality - including the golden fleece. Recent studies are finding evidence of the route taken, and now have a very credible explanation for the golden fleece. But back to the Mayflower - given that they very quickly established an outlook and behaviour towards those that didn't think like them, that was pretty much the same as the one they had fled from, I think they were pretty hypocritical.
Reply:England drove them out for being violent religious fanatics.
Reply:They were more like boat people fleeing persecution.
Reply:OK Dave, Plan A went wrong, bring over Plan B from the box will ya.
Reply:And the land from which they departed indulged in Witch hunts, the Inquisition, the crusades, slavery and still deals with genocides to this day- look at Milosevic.





Yes, it's terrible what became of the native Americans, but that's what happens to indigenous people all too often. Ask the people of Tibet, or the native Aboriginal people in Australia, or villagers in Columbia. Let's not forget about the Sudan, either.





Those pilgrims succeeded in creating a better society- but better doesn't mean perfect- they might have been foolish for thinking they'd achieve utopia overnight.





On balance, America has done far more good for the world than harm- without America the Hitler wins WWII, Stalin would have continued slaughtering millions, and the billions in foreign aid %26amp; disaster relief that poor nations receive today wouldn't even exist.





That doesn't mean America hasn't done horrible things in the past, but every nation has blood on their hands- the rise and fall of governments %26amp; societies is rarely peaceful.





If you're accused of a serious crime and must defend yourself in court, which court would you prefer to have to fight for your life in? China? Russia? Pakistan? Mexico?





The civil rights movement of the 1960's violent and bloody as it was, happened in America because it's a nation where conditions existed which allowed that movement to grow and eventually succeed- unlike Tiananmen square.





America is a place where anyone has a chance at a better life- that's why so many millions of people keep coming. It's a place for dreamers of mythical dreams. Every so often, they make it to the moon...
Reply:duh.. it was a get out of jail ticket... thats all, we (I'm English) had had enough of their pathetic ideas and theories as to the how and why, and it was "leave England forever, andf dont bother coming back", (because theres a death sentence waiting for you)





so instead they arrived on the shores of the new land, and promptly began slaughtering the ingigenous population... and now, im reading michael moores stupid white men...





we'd have done the whole world a favour if we'd sunk the mayflower....
Reply:I would say they were a ship of heroes travelling into the unknown who created a society against all odds where they could practice their religion without fear of persecution.





They cannot be blamed for the actions of the generations that followed them.
Reply:The Pilgrims had very little to do with the genocide. They came to America to get away from the complex politcal machinery that causes things like genocide. They didn't foolishly think that they could create paradise. They were in fear for their lives.
Reply:The pilgrims got exactly what they were seeking: a place where they could establish a community that practiced their religious beliefs. It is true that the colonization of America had many terrible results, but that has no bearing on whether these Puritans succeeded in creating a Pilgrim theocratic community.
Reply:heya looked this up for ya and i got the information of...





The pilgrims got exactly what they were seeking: a place where they could establish a community that practiced their religious beliefs. It is true that the colonization of America had many terrible results, but that has no bearing on whether these Puritans succeeded in creating a Pilgrim theocratic community.


hope this helps hun xx
Reply:Hmmm - - - did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? The passengers on the Mayflower did not 'create' America though they did give it a boost and laid down a solid foundation. Though I entirely sypathize with the Natives and would liked to have seen a more favorable result for the Natives, still must applaud the Mayflower passengers for achieving their goal of establishing a colony on a 'hostile' shore. A thriving independent colony. They viewed themselves as Israelites escaping from bondage and it is a more apt image than either analogy offered above. They were seeking the promised land and much like the ancient Israelites they wrestled the land from the Natives.





Peace................





PS America was 'created' by a variety of forces - - - Genocide like Sh^t Happens - - -
Reply:Well we got there before the Irish. Hooray.