Prompt Cast
The Murder of Thomas Becket and the Wounded Knee Massacre: Tragic Spectacles of Innocent Lives Lost
TLDR This episode explores the murder of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, by four knights and the tragic Wounded Knee Massacre, where about 300 Native Americans were killed by the US Army. Both events highlight the ongoing suffering and delayed acknowledgement of the plight of innocent lives lost.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The episode discusses the murder of Thomas Becket and the host's personal connection to a play about Becket that he was in.
03:58
Thomas Beckett, a Londoner and former Chancellor, becomes Archbishop of Canterbury and clashes with King Henry II, leading to his exile and a tense negotiation in 1170, but upon his return to England, he is greeted with enthusiasm by the people of Kent, much to the displeasure of Henry and others who oppose him.
08:02
Four knights, who are not familiar with Henry II's character, cross the channel to Canterbury with the intention of making a mark for themselves.
11:50
Four knights seal off the city of Canterbury to prevent Thomas Becket from escaping, but he bravely confronts them and refuses to hide, ultimately being brutally murdered in the cathedral.
15:50
Thomas Becket's refusal to behave like a servant to the king and his subsequent murder in the cathedral is discussed, followed by a transition to the topic of the Wounded Knee Massacre and the subjugation of Native Americans by white settlers in the United States.
19:45
The Native Americans on the reservations are forced to adopt Western culture and Christianity, leading to a mental and imaginative collapse, while also experiencing harsh winters and droughts and relying on government rations; the ghost dance movement emerges as a messianic religion among the Lakota Sioux, offering hope for a return to their previous way of life before the arrival of white settlers.
23:54
The US Army intercepts a group of Lakota Sioux led by Bigfoot who are trying to unite with Red Cloud at the Pine Ridge Reservation, and a massacre occurs resulting in the deaths of about 300 Native Americans, including women and children.
27:51
The Wounded Knee Massacre is described as a massacre rather than a battle, and it represents the tragic climax of the Native American story in the United States, with delayed acknowledgement of guilt and a gradual realization of the scale of the event.
31:43
The Wounded Knee Massacre and the protest at Wounded Knee in 1973 are linked through the power of martyrdom and the tragic spectacle of innocent people being slaughtered, highlighting the ongoing plight of American Indians and the delayed acknowledgement of their suffering.
Categories:
History
