Did you know that the author of Vanity Fair wrote a poem about Pocahontas? It ends:
In the woods of Powhattan,
Still ‘tis told by Indian fires,
How a daughter of their sires
Saved the captive Englishman.
Meanwhile...
So (especially for those of you who follow US politics) it turns out that Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren may be between 1/64 and 1/1024 'Native American' (though whether South, Central or North American native, it's not clear) in that DNA testing suggests she has one such ancestor somewhere between six generations and ten generations ago.
So (especially for those of you who follow US politics) it turns out that Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren may be between 1/64 and 1/1024 'Native American' (though whether South, Central or North American native, it's not clear) in that DNA testing suggests she has one such ancestor somewhere between six generations and ten generations ago.
If so, that puts her as being between (at best) 1.56% and (at worst) 0.1% Native American (i.e between 98.44% and 99.9% not Native American).
Donald Trump has longed mocked her as "Pocahontas" for her longstanding claims of American Indian ancestry (Cherokee and Delaware heritage), and it looks from his comments today as if he's feeling vindicated - especially after the Cherokees rejected her claim that the DNA test constituted "strong evidence" of Native American ancestry.
Of course, the BBC has gone with Ms Warren's take (and, yes, comments could be going better):
...with Sir Anthony of Zurcher giving us his 'analysis' and going so far as to say that, "with positive DNA test results in hand, she's pushing back".
Are they "positive" DNA test results? Don't they actually make a nonsense of her claims to have a significant American Indian ancestry? After all, the tests don't even prove that this single ancestor came from North America.
Anthony continues:
That probably won't stop Mr Trump's attacks [he wasn't wrong there!], but it will allow her to deflect the barbs and move on to what could be the top issues of an increasingly less hypothetical run - income inequality and government ethics reform.
Will it? Hasn't she actually made it worse for herself?
Well, not if the media has anything to do with it. After all, most of the media - like the BBC - will want to take her side and pretend (against all sense) that the DNA suggestion of between 1/64 and 1/1024 'Native American' ancestry amounts to 'proof' in her favour (which it doesn't).
And proof that the BBC will do that is provided by Anthony Zurcher having already done so here!
Of course, some US politicians calling each other names and slinging mud at each other isn't exactly of earth-shattering importance (or particularly edifying), but this is another sign of just how partisan the BBC is, in that they'll even try and spin this against President Donald J. Trump.
Can't they just pause, take a step back, breathe in deeply, and just start reporting the news again? Is that really too much to ask?
Meanwhile, back to William Makepeacepipe Thackeray:
P.S. Someone agrees!
Of course, some US politicians calling each other names and slinging mud at each other isn't exactly of earth-shattering importance (or particularly edifying), but this is another sign of just how partisan the BBC is, in that they'll even try and spin this against President Donald J. Trump.
Can't they just pause, take a step back, breathe in deeply, and just start reporting the news again? Is that really too much to ask?
Meanwhile, back to William Makepeacepipe Thackeray:
Who will shield the fearless heart?And. no, that Indian maid most certainly isn't Senator Elizabeth Warren.
Who avert the murderous blade?
From the throng, with sudden start,
See there springs an Indian maid,
P.S. Someone agrees!
