I was raised a military brat. I was born the year that Eisenhower started his presidency, and thus my early education was in the 50s and 60s. The result of the two was a deep pride of country, and an admiration of our history. As I grew older, as I studied more and as I read more I retained an admiration for our founding fathers. They were remarkable men alive at a pivotal point of history, but they were still men. Many things that happened then were the sausage of compromise. So much of our history after that point was colored by the institution of slavery and the genocide of the native populations. Those two, in my mind, make the history of the United States less than glorious. So much of our history from Vietnam onward is less than efflugent. We have a sense of global empire that bothers me deeply. Our government has basically been hijacked by the corporations and the mega-wealthy. I would love to have a sense of pride and admiration in my country again, but it does not seem to be in the cards.
In my work commute of 54 miles round trip in big city traffic this week, I have been listening to the audio book, Indian Heroes and Great Chieftains by Charles A. Eastman (Ohiyesa). In this book he included a speech by Sitting Bull that rings true even today for our society. I have included it here with Eastman’s introductory paragraph:
His bitter and at the same time well-grounded and philosophical dislike of the conquering race is well expressed in a speech made before the purely Indian council before referred to, upon the Powder River. I will give it in brief as it has been several times repeated to me by men who were present.
“Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love! Every seed is Continue reading “Sitting Bull’s Speech Still Rings True”
