When reading about the Encomienda and the Spanish, it reminded me of two things: One, missionaries in the current time, and two, the injustice against illegal immigrants in the United States. I know that when missionaries go abroad to help those that are impoverished, that they mean well. But it is wrong to have an ulterior motive when wanting to help others. The expectation that "If we help you, you have to practice our religion," is an insulting one, especially to the individuals who are accepting the help. This "holier than thou" view reminds me of the motives of the spanish that I read about, in a much less cruel way. But it is still unacceptable.
I also was reminded of the treatment of illegal immigrants in the US. We treat them with no respect, like they are less than us, but they do all of the work that keeps us well-fed and comfortable. These immigrants are taken advantage of by their employers, are paid less, and still don't complain. The same people who moan about immigrants "taking American jobs" eat the strawberries that are picked by these immigrants. Plus, who will do these jobs if the immigrants weren't doing them? The fact is, no one wants to do these jobs unless they are forced to. It's easier to turn the other cheek and complain then to put yourself in another person's viewpoint.
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