The title of this column is taken from a letter sent by Christopher Columbus to Ferdinand and Isabella, explaining how he had found “many islands filled with people innumerable, and of them all I have taken possession for their highnesses, by proclamation made and with royal standard unfurled and no opposition was offered to me.” (emphasis added)

Recently, a non-Native writer named Jay Taber accused me on a website of having “attacked” Dina Gilio-Whitaker in my March 23 critique of her March 10 column, “Moving from Sovereignty to Autonomy.” While I usually dismiss such unsupportable claims, my failure to do so in this case might result in my accuser blustering, like Columbus before him, “and no opposition was offered to me.”

Ms. Gilio-Whitaker and I have been acquaintances for years, and she cordially responded to my critique of her article, writing, “Good research requires the ability to consider all points of view and we do this through vigorous debate. Thank you, Steven Newcomb, for the challenge.” That is hardly the response of someone who believes that she has been “attacked.”

Importantly, my non-Indian accuser conveniently failed to quote me directly, anywhere in his article. In my experience, when strongly disagreeing with someone, it is most compelling to quote that person’s own words. His substitution of his words for mine indicates a fear of engaging in exactly the kind of debate that Ms. Gilio Whitaker welcomes. His is the height of sexism, pretending to come to the aid of his ‘damsel’, when she is neither in distress, nor needs his assistance in intelligently defending her position.