by Ric Martens

Created on: March 16, 2010

 The history of humanity is also a history of movement. For as long as humans have been on the earth, they have moved and settled almost everywhere on the planet. This movement has been much more of a benefit to humanity, than a curse. This does not mean that every single time one group of people settled in an area it was done correctly, but more often than not, settling in distant lands was a boon not only to the people who were settling, but also to the groups who were already there.

 One of the main criticisms of settling distant lands has little to do with the fact people settled in a particular area, but more how the settling was done. This complaint perhaps finds it's most accurate mark during the period of European and American Imperialism. Beginning with Spanish Conquistadors European expansion has caused millions of native deaths, gross exploitation, and disenfranchisement practically everywhere in the world. While this may not have been the purpose of settling an area, it was the result of these actions and it is a lesson that humanity can learn from.

 One of the greatest problems those involved with early European expansion had was an overwhelming arrogance. Many people who hailed from the countries of Europe believed themselves to be superior to the natives they encountered. They often viewed those they came in contact with as savages and in many cases viewed people of native descent as non-human. Due to this belief, European settlers (and later Americans as they expanded westward) did not see anything wrong with treating the various people they encountered poorly.

 There is no argument that European expansion did a great deal of harm. Yet, this does not mean that the actual act of settling in distant lands is wrong. In fact, without expansion, any group of people will start to face a variety of problems ranging from inbreeding to starvation. Also, any real form of technological exchange becomes almost impossible. It is these things that must be considered when making any argument against people settling elsewhere in the world.

 To start with, humanity as and always will be a migrating species. Our history is resplendent with the knowledge that we have moved about the planet since we first arrived. How else can a person explain the appearance of cultures all over the globe. These people were not wrong in settling distant lands, they were doing what was necessary.

 No matter where a person is on the globes, the basic

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