Looking back at J.B. Clark we can see that he could discuss the 'appropriation' of the lands of Native Americans so directly because in his youth that appropriation was in full final swing and because US triumphalism and sense of moral entitlement blinded his contemporaries to the monstrous nature of what was happening. The Franks had settled on underutilized land in the initial phases of their move over the Rhine and into the Roman Empire. William of Normandy had conquered England and killed Anglo-Saxons, but he had not killed non-combatants on any significant scale. While after the Civil War the USA consciously sought to destroy the main means of existence of the plains dwelling tribes and reduced their numbers to a small fraction of what they had been. But the vast majority of US citizens thought that this was necessary and right. Today the vast majority of US citizens consider the ongoing appropriation of their wealth by the FIRE sector of the economy to be necessary and right. Another 'appropriation' is in process.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."