It’s the 10th of July now and all the booming of fireworks being set off and voices of ahh, and wow are silent. The voice of racism isn’t and it’s still trying to spark and set off a big boom.
The flag is even racist but I do wonder if the flag knows this or does it even feel like it is?
Hmm?
Native people for most of the country’s history have had to struggle to be recognized. This still didn’t stop them from serving in the military and some with distinction. So, what do Indians think about the flag and patriotism?
I don’t know! I can only speak for myself.
It is true that we lost the wars for the right to live on the land. The land that was considered too good for the Indian since he didn’t farm. Nor raise cattle or cut timber for building projects. Neither did he look for the shiny yellow stuff called gold! A lust for it that drove people crazy.
We do have treaties that recognize the land rights, uhh somewhat.
It is true we were not a party to the founding of America nor did we fight for Independence from merry old stuffy England. We had no need for that since England was not our homeland. Nor was France or Spain.
Some natives did join the fight while others fought for the other side. Independence was misplaced idea to them as it pertained to the colonials.
With this being said let us look at where we are today.
This country whether it is right or wrong is still our country even more so when you think about it. We are native to this country whether you call it America or something else. People were asked to name a country better than the United States, they couldn’t.
With all its’ problems between native people, colonists, and slaves: it still is a better place to live. We do have certain inalienable rights endowed to us by our creator. I was educated by it and earned a living in it, and enjoy the freedom to travel in it.
I have made friends of different races or nationalities if you will. Served in the military. Write articles about the problems because of freedom of speech. I read different parts of history some good others really dark and terrible all because of the freedom of the press.
I can vote, marry any race whether it be red, black, yellow, or white. Providing she likes me enough and wants to marry me.
There are many things that are good about this country, along with bad ones too. the bad come from misunderstanding about what is right for you.
If natives thought about what might have been if other countries had won the wars where would we be? If the Nazis had won the war, would we be here?
Am I patriotic? Up to a point then it’s just about the fireworks. When I was growing up the fourth just meant for us firecracker fights, bottle rocket fights, and roman candle fights! I don’t throw any firecrackers anymore after I almost blew my fingers up!
Them suckers have faster burning fuses and I’m not as fast as I used to be nearly 50 years ago!
So go ahead and talk bad about what’s wrong with this country! You do have that right. As for me I will stand and salute my fellow vets who gave and still give. I love this country I was born in and certainly don’t know where I would go to find a better place?
The flag it’s pretty neat red stripes for the shedding of blood for freedom. The white for peace we enjoy because of our strength. The stars for the different states and different groups of people. The blue for the heavens and the creator who blesses this country.
As the Hag sang “if you don’t love it, leave it!”
Amen