The speaker discusses the sensitive topic of missionaries and their impact on isolated cultures. They express concerns that missionaries often disrupt and destroy the existing culture and way of life of these communities, imposing their own beliefs and values instead. The speaker also references a specific case where an evangelist was killed by an isolated tribe on an island in India, highlighting the risks and complexities of making contact with such groups. They acknowledge the difficult decision of whether to make contact or not, weighing the potential benefits of sharing knowledge and improving living conditions against the risk of disrupting their way of life and potentially harming them. The speaker concludes that it is a complicated issue with no easy answer, and that total and absolute respect for the isolated culture is necessary.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. About two years ago, an evangelist attempted to visit an isolated island in the north.
2. The islanders, who had not had external contact in hundreds of years, shot arrows at the evangelist.
3. The evangelist was killed.
4. The island is one of the few in the world that has had no external contact in hundreds of years.
5. The islanders are believed to have originated from Africa thousands of years ago.
6. They live in the Andaman Islands, where other islands have had contact with outsiders.
7. In the 90s, a man named Xavier attempted to create contact with the islanders using coconuts and tools.
8. Xavier's attempts were initially met with hostility, but eventually, the islanders began to accept his presence.
9. The islanders have a unique culture and way of life that is distinct from the rest of the world.
10. There is debate about whether the islanders should be contacted or left alone.
11. Some people believe that contact with the outside world would disrupt the islanders' way of life and potentially harm them.
12. Others believe that the islanders have a right to know about the outside world and to benefit from modern technology and medicine.
13. The Indian government has put in place measures to protect the islanders and prevent unauthorized contact.
14. The incident with the evangelist has raised questions about the ethics of contacting isolated tribes and the potential consequences for both the tribe and the outside world.