Hunting Parties
 

With the shooting of Scalise, the phrase is starting to take on an entirely new meaning...but that is neither here nor there.

You just cannot make these things up. The irony? Mr. Gingrich's choice of words. Back in the nineteenth century, if you said "Indian Hunting Party," you might be understood to be referring to the parties organized by white pioneers, which offered hundreds of dollars for every "redskin" scalp, as a means of "exterminating the savages."

One has to admire the man, in some paltry degree, for this bit of revisionism-by-simile. This article includes an actual photo of a newspaper clipping, about such hunts for Native American Indians:

https://indiancountrymedianetwork.co...ooking-scalps/

It reminds me of the term "Indian giver," which (I believe) originally referred to white people reneging on their promises to Indians, but later took on a meaning that made the Indians the bad guys.

Newt Gingrich's career as a public speaker reminds me of the old definition of chutzpah: the guy who kills both his parents and then says "Have pity on a poor orphan."
He has indeed made a career out of it.

Cheers,
John

Roger, your knowledge impresses me! Here is the link to a related article, for those who may be interested:

https://indiancountrymedianetwork.co...y-of-redskins/

This writer says, "“It was only five generations ago that a white man could get money for one of my grandfather’s scalps..."

Well, it was only one generation ago, that my dark, dark father was actually told, "We don't serve your kind here..." By proprietors who were no doubt making a killing (pardon the pun) off businesses which sold many a brand, exploiting Indians for their trademarks. It makes for a powerful sonnet -- but how I wish I hadn't had to write it.

No disrespect to Mr. Speaker -- but I think he might have been more sensitive and responsible, in his remarks and analogy. Way to rip the scabs off of wounds...

Jennifer