DEAR ABBY: In the Indian culture on the East Coast, you could "borrow" a tool, use it and return it in the Golden Rule tradition.
When the settlers arrived, they brought with them tools never before seen by the Indians, who borrowed them according to local tradition. When the item was returned, however, the Indian was jailed for "stealing" -- and in one case, hanged.
When the Indian would "give" an item to someone because it was praised or needed, the settlers complained when the owner wanted it back -- hence the term "Indian giver."
By the same token, Indians had no knowledge of "orphans," since a child who lost its parents was automatically cared for by relatives. As time went on, and English-style work houses were established for orphans and old widows, the Indians were not able to comprehend such callousness.
Far from being savages, the Indians had a culture that lived with the land for the benefit of all. Different, yes; worse, no! -- R.O. IN VIRGINIA