"The way to kill a man or a nation is to cut off his dreams, the way the whites are taking care of the Indians: killing their dreams, their magic, their familiar spirits"

William S. Burroughs' quote poignantly highlights the deep and insidious effect of cultural and mental warfare, rather than direct physical violence, as a means of subjugation and damage. By asserting that "the method to eliminate a male or a country is to cut off his dreams", Burroughs recommends that assaulting the extremely goals and spiritual core of a people is a more reliable approach of erasure than physical annihilation.

In this context, "dreams" symbolize the hopes, aspirations, cultural stories, and spiritual beliefs that specify the identity and existential vitality of individuals and neighborhoods. For native peoples, such as the Native Americans referenced here, dreams include not just private aspirations but also common ones, deeply intertwined with cultural heritage, conventional knowledge, and spiritual practices. Burroughs suggests that by severing these dreams, by dismantling the sources of significance and hope, oppressors can effectively annihilate the essence of an individuals without always ending their corporeal existence.

The reference of "the whites are taking care of the Indians" underscores a historic truth where colonial and post-colonial powers systematically weakened Native American cultures. This was attained through implemented assimilation, the suppression of languages, the damage of sacred websites, and the imposition of foreign religious and social structures. "Killing their dreams, their magic, their familiar spirits" paints an image of cultural genocide, where the obliteration of spiritual practices and severance from ancestral wisdom leaves a people bereft of their guiding "magic" and "familiar spirits."

Burroughs' vibrant language acts as both a critique and a cautionary tale. It underscores the concept that the vigor of any community depends on its capability to dream and get in touch with its ingrained cultural and spiritual roots. The loss of such connections can be as existentially catastrophic as physical destruction, causing a hollow continuity lacking the essence that as soon as animated an individuals. This quote triggers reflection on the significance of maintaining cultural identity and the durability of dreams versus oppressive forces.