Cultural Amnesias, Changing Political Needs, and Conflicting Memories of General Pershing and the “Moro” Rebellion, 1915–2000

Abstract

In this chapter, the author argues that between 1915 and 2000 several different American generations were presented with multidirectional and competitive tales about Pershing, his use of pig burial strategies, and the need for continued occupation of the Philippines. Cultural amnesia set in as General Pershing’s command of the American Expeditionary Forces contributed to the production of hagiographic tales of how Pershing saved lives during the Great War. As various communities sent their soldiers to fight in World War II or the Vietnam War, they produced stories about Pershing that were contextualized by referring back to the narratives that were produced by the anti-imperialists and pro-expansionists. Subjugated knowledges of Bud Dajo and Bud Bagsak occasionally resurfaced but most Americans wanted to read uplifting tales.