While constructing these pages, I have come across many web sites containing information I never knew existed. Much of this information totally changed what I learned from the American education system. Through this system and the media, both tv and movies, what was taught us about American Natives and the wild west instilled a fear in countless children.
We had a fear when watching movies about them and their leaders. People like Geronimo, Sitting Bull, and Cochise were always depicted as people with a vengence for war and hatred. Their tribes attacked anyone who dared enter their land or territory. They attacked at night and would slaughter men, women and children.
"I cannot think that we are useless or God would not have created us. There is one God looking down on us all. We are all the children of one God. The sun, the darkness, the winds are all listening to what we have to say."
School books didn't teach us much. I remember learning that the Pilgrims invited them to dinner, which is a nice way to meet your new neighbors. When setting up a colony in New York, we got what had to be the deal of the century, buying Manhatten Island off them for only $24.00 in trinkets. I remember learning about their life; how they farmed and hunted, what they ate. Terms and meaning were taught to us also. In our early years we knew what a papoose was. We knew a squaw was a mother or wife, a brave was a male.
We were taught about the Incas, and the Phebloes, all peace loving people. The tv and movie media taught us about the Cherokee, and the Apaches and other tribes, depicting them as war mongers and savages with a deep hate for the white man.
"So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, Beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people."
Today, searching through the internet, we have a wide array of information available to us at the tip of our fingers. Much of this information totally changes what we were taught as children. Our roles and theirs reverses. In many ways we were the war mongers. We came close to totally erradicating a whole civilization in our love for greed. Land and gold came before human life. We lied, we cheated and we murdered.
"If the Great Spirit had desired me to be a white man he would have made me so in the first place. He put in your heart certain wishes and plans, and in my heart he put other desires. It is not necessary for eagles to be crows."
Our forefathers considered them savages. They disagreed with the way they lived, and the things they believed including religion. Children were taken from their families and taught that what they learned from their parents and leaders was wrong, especially when it came to religion. Their removal from lands and territories was well planned and done quickly, to the point that Hitler actually planned his holocaust after our blueprints. We instilled a fear and hate of these people in Americans in that time. We then moved troops in and forceably removed them from their lands, moving them wherever we pleased, while killing many in the process. Systematically, this was done with public approval here in America, and then again years later by Hitler, in Germany and Europe.
"We also have a religion which was given to our forefathers, and has been handed down to us their children. It teaches us to be thankful, to be united, and to love one another! We never quarrel about religion."
We as a country have countless treaties with many countries, expecting them to live by their agreements. When they don't abide by their treaties we are the first to protest their actions or lack of action. We also have quite a few treaties with American Natives. In many cases it is we as a nation that don't uphold many of these treaties. To American Natives they are nothing but broken promises that this country knew they would never uphold.
"You must speak straight so that your words may go as sunlight into our hearts. Speak Americans. I will not lie to you; do not lie to me."
We, through past history have many remembrances where many Americans have died. To name but a few we have Pearl Harbor, Normandy Beach, Midway, Guadalcanal, and Iwo Jima. These places will live in history forever. To American Natives, the Cherokee Trail of Tears, Sand Creek, Wounded Knee and the Washita River will never be forgotten.
"Our wise men are called Fathers, and they truly sustain that character. Do you call yourselves Christians? Does the religion of Him who you call your Savior inspire your spirit, and guide your practices? Surely not."
Listed below are a few links I have found while searching the net. Some that I have read, makes me think twice about some of our country's policies, both domestic as well as foreign. I am not anti- American. I served this country in the Vietnam era. I believed in this country then as well as I do now. The principles this country stands for should make anyone proud but the realization is still there that in some cases we do not live by them the way we should. I hope that you will find time to check out some of these links to try to understand the plight this civilization has lived through.
"I bow to no man for I am considered a prince among my own people. But I will gladly shake your hand."
