While the phrase may be considered a bit taboo and politically incorrect now, “Indian Giver” is commonly used to refer to someone who gives a gift, and then later wants it back. The phrase originated with the early European settlers from their dealings with the Native Americans. The Europeans found it strange and insulting when the Natives would give them a dog, or beads, and then a few days later, expect the gift back.
It would be easy to simply categorize the “Indians” as “uncivilized”, which is precisely what the settlers did. However, if you take a moment to look beneath the surface, you will find that what some construed to be an insult was actually a simple misunderstanding.
You see, the early explorers thought they were receiving gifts from their new American acquaintances. On the other side, The Natives believed they were engaged in bartering (“You give me this, I give you that”). This misunderstanding led both sides to find the other’s behaviour to be petty and impudent, and perhaps was the root for the many issues that would eventually arise between the two parties.
If only the two had taken the time to learn to communicate. Oh, what could have been avoided!
Often times what we perceive to be a slight or an insult is actually just a simple misunderstanding. If we’re patient though, and we take the time to learn to communicate with the other party, we discover that rather than being outright rude, we were simply operating under different assumptions.
In all your relationships, have patience and a listening ear. These are gifts that I’m sure the other party would gladly give back.
It would be easy to simply categorize the “Indians” as “uncivilized”, which is precisely what the settlers did. However, if you take a moment to look beneath the surface, you will find that what some construed to be an insult was actually a simple misunderstanding.
You see, the early explorers thought they were receiving gifts from their new American acquaintances. On the other side, The Natives believed they were engaged in bartering (“You give me this, I give you that”). This misunderstanding led both sides to find the other’s behaviour to be petty and impudent, and perhaps was the root for the many issues that would eventually arise between the two parties.
If only the two had taken the time to learn to communicate. Oh, what could have been avoided!
Often times what we perceive to be a slight or an insult is actually just a simple misunderstanding. If we’re patient though, and we take the time to learn to communicate with the other party, we discover that rather than being outright rude, we were simply operating under different assumptions.
In all your relationships, have patience and a listening ear. These are gifts that I’m sure the other party would gladly give back.
