Commerce in the absence of friendship spells the doom of civility, our heritage in fact.

Several of the themes I have touched on in this blog involve the character of Minneapolis as a city, and the culture and manners of the people who live here.  Here is an excellent essay on some of the early influences on this area, particularly the impact that British policies and attitudes had in our relations with the Native Americans here.  We take the tragedy and folly of the 19th century treatment of Native Americans as a given, but this essay reveals that a far different outcome might have resulted from the French holding on to the area.  The key word is friendship, and the deeper moral dimension it brings to matters of trade and commerce.  Read this.  It is important, and timely.

http://minneapolisobserver.blogspot.com/2010/11/currency-of-power.html