On Wed, 14 Feb 2007 22:38:41 -0600, Chevy Apache wrote : > Native Americans misrepresented > http://media.www.tnhonline.com/media/storage/paper674/news/2007/0 2/13/Commenta > ry/Native.Americans.Misrepresented-2714733.shtml > > My recent visit to the US Post Office in downtown Durham > left me outraged by the blatant misrepresentation of our > early pioneer settlers. Displayed upon the walls above > the service counters is a mural that pays tribute to > the numerous positive traits our ancestors possessed that > enabled them to create a new life for us in America. > > But displayed among them is a falsehood so great that it > offends me and strikes sadness in my heart. Depicted > beside representations of our ingenuity and strength > is a painting of a Native American Indian preparing to > torch the home of the newly settled Europeans with the > inscription "Cruel Adversity" below. > > The insinuation that early European Americans suffered > cruel adversity at the hands of the native inhabitants > is a tragic lie that perpetuates the American historical > myth of the friendly whites against the merciless Indian savages. > > While in fact, American pioneers were responsible for > committing the largest act of genocide in the history > of the world, slaughtering and enslaving 100 million Native Americans > (compared to 6 million Jews in the WWII Holocaust) > > within a century of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World. > In has been well do***ented that our young government > systematically removed the native people from their homes > and tortured or killed those who refused to cooperate. > > Government bounties were advertised to encourage settlers > to kill the native inhabitants and, in one of our first acts > of biological warfare, blankets infected with small-pox > were intentionally gifted to the Indians. > > It is bad enough that we attempt to minimize these atrocities > in our history books. It is shameful and inexcusable to > take any pride in the actions of our white settlers that > resulted in the murder of 95 percent of the original > Native American population. ######################################## With God on Our Side Bob Dylan 1964 - The Times They Are A-Changin' .. . . Oh the history books tell it They tell it so well The cavalries charged The Indians fell The cavalries charged The Indians died Oh the country was young With God on its side. .. . . In a many dark hour I've been thinkin' about this That Jesus Christ Was betrayed by a kiss But I can't think for you You'll have to decide Whether Judas Iscariot Had God on his side. So now as I'm leavin' I'm weary as Hell The confusion I'm feelin' Ain't no tongue can tell The words fill my head And fall to the floor If God's on our side He'll stop the next war. - Bob Dylan; Copyright © 1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music
