Life was a lot slower and simpler in the fifties and sixties.
Written By: Gary Wonning
Suddenly, we are once again facing the issue of how the American Indians were treated in the early part of our American history.
Needless to say, things could have gone a little better than they did when the white man first discovered and settled this great land.
I know many came here before Columbus, so he wasn’t the first, but no one else came back to settle and as a result, Columbus got all the press. That is the way it is, so be it, you can’t change it, deal with it.
In reality, the American Indians
You can slice it any way you want, or spin it to suit your needs, the basic reason Europeans came to the new world, aside from the fact it is human nature to seek out new lands and explore to find out what is on the other side of what we know, was to find new sources of wealth. the Turks were invading Europe and winning. The Europeans needed money to fight them. In one sense it was a matter of survival.
Yes, we gave the Indians small pox, but they gave us syphilis and tobacco, probably an even trade.
Things were a lot different then, most people treated others rather harshly, the whites were cruel to whites and the Indians were cruel to other Indians. Violence in America didn’t arrive with Columbus. Most American Indians didn’t belong to Greenpeace, the Audubon Society, or Peta.
They farmed out the land, killed off all the game and moved on, most were nomadic. That doesn’t make them bad people, it was just what they knew and thus that is how they lived. There is nothing wrong with killing an animal and eating it, that is part of their mission in life. The animals are evolving just like the rest of us.
The Indians lived a pretty meager life, they didn’t even have horses until the Spanish
They were doing the best they knew how, and so were the early explorers. It was a clash of cultures, and there isn’t any reason for anyone to suffer white guilt. In most instances, I believe both parties had noble intentions. They just didn’t have the knowledge available to do better, I think that in many instances things aren’t much better today.
You can’t have two cultures, one who wants to roam and go where they want and a culture that wants private ownership of land trying to occupy the same country.
Which culture actually advanced civilization and overall made things better?
Just like in many other areas, the natives lived here for thousands of years and never advanced their culture on iota.
I don’t believe God placed us on earth to not advance, we are here to grow, learn and improve our lot in life.
If we don’t grow, improve our society and remain strong, we will suffer the same fate as the American Indian.
Cathedral Rock in Sedona Arizona
Having said that, there are many ways we owe the American Indian much, there were times they helped us greatly. The Iroquois form of government was a model for our own government.
In George Washington’s daily prayers, the Iriqous “Spirit Woman” came to him and showed him how the United States would develop and where the major cities would be, thus providing encouragement in his struggles.
Without a doubt, if things would have transpired differently, we could have learned a lot from each other, and it isn’t too late.
Neither of us learned the lesson the first time, but there is no time like the present. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could combine our modern technology with their knowledge of the spiritual world?
Most of us don’t want to spend our lives riding a horse and chasing buffalo, or shivering on a cold winter evening in a TeePee, so our culture has improved over the centuries from what it once was.
The United States was destined to become the great nation that it is. Could it have been done differently, or better? Sure, but it wasn’t.
It’s time for us, and the American Indian to stop being a victim, learn from the past and move on.
The Aborigines of Australia and many other native cultures suffered the same fate. In spite of governments trying to help by giving handouts, that hasn’t helped, it has only made them dependent on government.
The Australian government built homes for them, but because they had lived in the bush for thousands of years, many slept behind the homes on the ground.
There are tremendous opportunities in the United States for all races, creeds, colors,etc. Anyone can succeed if they have the ability and the desire.
Many white people move from the homeland of their ancestors for a better life, The American Indian has the same opportunity.
We all do, if the place you are living doesn’t provide the opportunity and lifestyle you desire, someplace else will. America has everything, all wrapped up in one country. If you can’t find your place or your destiny, it’s your problem, not society’s.
Common Sense for the modern era
Wisdom lost through the ages, common sense is no longer common.
The author has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.
His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.
He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.
He has published several books about his adventures.
For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.
Your comments are welcome
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