h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I came here by way of post # 6 "I did a lobby".

I've always had a fascination with ancient megalithic monuments. Among those I've found most moving are the "broken altar" monuments of North America, relics of a precolonial religious war, having to do with meso-American colonial efforts of approximately the 9th century, that swept the continent north of the Sonora. The Yul Brynner film "Kings in the Sun" did an adequate job of capturing the issues. I thought Brynner's portrayal of the character of the native American excellent.

I've always thought film, if relatively obscure, a good springboard for discussions of rationality.

Question: Who was being irrational, Yul Brynner's character or the would be 'colonials'.

I'm sorry ITIWBS I have no knowledge of the film or the period so could not possibly comment.

British megalithic monumenbts I have some small experience of, but not the meso-americans.

Blessings,
Matholwch .

I expected that might be the case.

I found myself generally in strong agreement with your values statements, which is why I posted.

The character of the broken altar monuments is suggested in the concluding moments of the film, in which the meso-american altar is cast down the steps of the pyramid. An ideograph for this is a triangle at the base of an inclined line. Native American practice on the issues is to leave no trace. Not a stone standing on a stone and the environs returned to natural condition.

Of other Native American monuments, there is a rather famous one overlooking Tahquitz Canyon in the Coachella Valley, sentinel stones with traces of signal fires on them, in a location visible over the entire valley. A fire lit there was a summons for council.