“For there exists between the two as great a difference as between savage and cruel races and the most merciful, between the most intemperate and moderate and temperate and, I might even say, between apes and men.” Sepulveda makes explicit points through his whole excerpt, with reputation, that the Indians are barbaric, half-men, not capable of learning, and in-human. He believes that the Spanish are superior to the Indians and should be able to rule over them as they please to show them the right way of living as they believe to be the only way. Sepulveda uses the observations he makes of the Indians as his justification towards his believes and arguments. He observes that “…these half-men. In whom you will barely find the vestiges of humanity, who not only do not possess any learning at all, but are not even literate or in possession of any monument to their history…nor do they have written laws, but barbarian institutions and customs.” He makes clear statements that he believes the Indians have no “proof of human cleverness” and are just mere dirt on the bottom of the shoes of all humanity.
Las Casas claims a different central argument, one that is quite the opposite of Sepulveda. He claims that “the Indian race is not that barbaric, nor are they dull witted or stupid. They are so skilled in every mechanical art that with every right they should be set ahead of all nations of the known world on this score.” He believes that the Indians should be treated just as the Spanish are treated. Casas supports this argument by calling out at Sepulveda saying “[do you] think that the war of the romans against the Spanish was justified in order to free them from barbarism? Did the Spanish wage an unjust war when they vigorously defended themselves against them?” which reviles that Sepulveda’s ideas are merely irrational for even his society. Feeling as if the Spanish society in some aspects is exactly like the Indians, so what makes theirs so justified and the Indians seen as inhuman. He closes with how he truly views the Indians “For they are docile and clever, and in their diligence and gifts of nature, they excel most peoples of the known world…”
After stepping in to the view point of both Sepulveda and Casas, I find that Sepulveda’s argument is more compelling all though I do not agree with it. When is expressing his point of you he uses things like strong adjectives, repetition and a strong tone. I do however not agree with his views of the Indians. He claims that because they don’t do things the way he was taught to do them that they are wrong. He is too closed minded towards his views on Indians. Casas is more open to allowing the Indians to thrive as who they are with the exception of converting to Catholic religion, this expectation I do find to be a little close minded because, the Indians have their own religion that they believe to be the correct way of doing things just like Catholics, Muslims, and etc. I do agree with all of Casas’ claims, but I think that they should be able to express their own religion freely, those who would like to convert have that choice but those who do not wish the same are not forced to. Overall Casas is more open minded towards the Indians customs which is what I more strongly agree with.