I have been fascinated with Native Americans ever since I can remember. When I was a kid, I used to watch these old Westerns with my dad and I remember feeling sad for the Indians whenever they would die in the movies. I think as I grew older, I became more intrigued not only because of the rich history behind them, but also the idea of living completely wild on God's creation without any roads or steel or technology. Just you and the wild frontier. I think there is something truly beautiful in that life. I believe it helped the natives to see much more clearly that life was definitely bigger than just them. I recently finished a book I borrowed from my grandfather called, "Indian Wars: The Campaign for the American West". I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it to everyone. The beauty of this book is it is void of any ideology and slant. The author, Bill Yenne, takes a neutral stance, giving you the facts and letting you decide the possible injustices behind the events. The book covers most of the major wars that started when the first settlers arrived on the East Coast, to final wars on the Southwestern front. It also includes many important figures who played important roles for both the military and the different tribes. For myself, I tend to lean towards the Indians side. Now, I am not saying that Indians were this "peace-loving people" who were in perfect harmony before the evil "White Man" came in and screwed it all up. That is simply not true. Indians were hostile towards one another long before any white man showed up on North America. There were many raids that were very violent and gruesome on villages just to prove that one tribe was more dominant. The Apache's were known for raiding settlers and tribes just to gain supplies. I guess I am more frustrated with the attitudes and actions of my ancestors, the europeans. They came to a land completely foreign to them where natives had lived for thousands of years before them. They proceeded to call it their own, establish towns, establish their own government, religion, and laws. Indians were simply, "Ignorant Savages" who were in the way of their prosperity and agenda. Indians didn't believe the land was theirs to claim, but it belonged to "The Great Spirit" and He was giving it to them to live on. So, here they see this foreign people come in with a flag and claim the land as their own meanwhile trying to push them out, something is not right. Many people tried to convert the Indians to their form of Christianity. When they didn't convert, many were killed. Also, many politicians view of Indians was seen in their laws and legislation passed. In 1830, Our seventh president, Andrew Jackson, who's face is on our twenty dollar bills, enforced a law he put into practice entitled, "The Indian Removal Act". Not a joke, that is really what it was called. It was a federal law that called for the relocation of all Indians living east of the Mississippi river. What has been described as "The Trail of Tears", hundreds of thousands of Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Seminole, and Chickasaw Indians were forced to walk hundreds of miles to a reservation in what is now eastern Oklahoma. Not to mention, the many massacres that happened simply because of poor communication or a willingness to get rid of the natives. One such example is the massacre at Sand Creek, which is actually quoted in the Five Iron Frenzy song, "Banner Year". Many Chiefs were against making treaties with the White Man, but one Chief of the Cheyenne on the Northern Plains wanted peace for his people at any cost. His name was Black Kettle. In 1864, Black Kettle, going against many other chiefs, agreed to move his people to a reservation nearby and change their way of life from hunting to farming. He didn't want to do it, but he felt it was the only way to assure the safety of his people. Later, the military came in to push the Cheyenne out. Black Kettle hoisted a white flag and an American Flag up to show peace, but it did no good. The general led the army in and massacred 130 Indians. 4 years later, Black Kettle again would have his people needlessly attacked and this time he would be killed. The general who shot him was George Armstrong Custer.
The atrocities that were committed under the name of Christ, under justice seem almost to much for me to bear. This nation that supposedly held itself to the truth that "all men are created equal" was the same that forced Indians onto unoccupied land so as not to ruin the good land that the white man called his own. It's funny to me how people to this day value diplomacy and the chance to make peace through aggreement and trust. History shows that somebody's word, sometimes, means nothing. Our faith is placed in a flag to represent trust and truth. As Reese Roper says in the song "Banner Year", "A piece of cloth can't hold your faith". How can we expect peace? How can we see promise in a handshake or a treaty, when they have been broken time and time again. I guess History tells us alot we can learn. There is no symbol, no object, no word that we speak that we can trust. Our hearts are wicked and our motives selfish. We don't give a damn about anyone or anything unless it falls in line with our needs. We need Christ! Only He can bring peace. Only He can purify hearts so wicked. Only He can bring trust between people. When will we understand. I'm not talking about religion here. I'm talking about Christ. A real relationship with the one who loves us enough to die for all sins. There is no flag that covers me. No banner or symbol that I trust or bow to. No object that has my faith. His Banner over me is Love. Amen!!
"Wave your flag, Salivate
Stirring feelings of pride and hate
A peace of cloth can't hold your faith.
No flag flies, no banner waves
See the empty pole above his empty grave
No one knows where he lies
And no one knows why he had to die.
A promise is a promise, A judge of character. His banner over me is love."
