I’ve been watching the goings on for over a year now of the pandemic, peaceful demonstrations and peaceful rioting, voting fraud, voting rights, police shootings, reporting, good and bad etc, etc..
This country seems to be going around in circles chasing its’ own tail because of minorities and very loud voices!
So, with that said let us look at a little bit of history.
The history of two minorities, that highlights the disparities, and the reasons for it.
The Civil War raged from 1861-1865 and three years later the blacks were given citizenship through the 14th amendment in 1868.
The Indian on the other hand wasn’t granted citizenship until the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act signed by then President Calvin Coolidge.
The reason for the lag time of 56 years for the Indian was that America and the Indians were still fighting. Up until the 1890’s. The Indian wars were fought over land rights and the freedom to live on it.
Through the years the Indian had suffered through bloody battles, massacres, court fights and forced removals. One can argue about massacres but look at why they happened.
Once tribes were subdued and put on land of the governments choosing all was good.
For America at least but not for the Indian.
It wasn’t until much later that the original inhabitants were brought into this great thing called America! With the citizenship came resentment, and prejudice against the savage redskin.
Animosities die hard, sometimes they keep perpetuating themselves.
As with the blacks the Indian faced the same restrictions on voting rights. Interestingly enough the last state to give the Indian their voting rights was Utah in 1962. It was also the first state to give women the right to vote.
In 1962 this author was seven years old and just starting his education. It is a continual thing education and a lot of anger and soul searching. Anger? Yes, that too!
This week my wife and I watched the PBS American Experience series entitled “WE SHALL REMAIN: America through native eyes.” The story of the Indian and the white man. It could be entitled “A hunger for occupied land.”
I’ve also watched the battle over Georgia’s voting laws. Why you might ask? I’m interested in politics and watching the state where the troubles and the removal of the Cherokee’s started. Interesting stuff.
History isn’t pretty at times but it is there and it did happen that we can be sure of. The stories and who tells them is another story.
At times I get upset when I think about it. Though it has happened we must not let it stop us as a people from moving on and growing.
If we hold anger in and let it fester and hold grudges it stops us from enjoying life. We can always find an excuse or people to blame when things don’t go your way.
That bottle of despair we have drunk from is our curse. The one I wasn’t forced to drink from but took of freely at times. The blame resides on me no one else.
As for the movie I still remain alive and well and enjoying life!
There’s more to say but as with all things each person has to think and look for themselves. I leave you with these two thoughts. “How Far Have We Come?’’ “How Much better are we at living with one another?”