American Indian I

Entire nations were eliminated, others were routed and forced onto unfamiliar land, we must never forget.

Reunion at Wounded Knee by Kevin McKiernan.

(CLEVELAND) - For all of the talk about being American and taking exception to issues involving migration, etc., many of us forget that only a small number of people actually really trace their heritage to this great nation.

They are people who in spite of all of the abuse and genocide, have remained and taken back a great deal of control.

The United States Cavalry was not here to make friends with the natives.

Entire nations were eliminated, others were routed and forced onto land that was much worse than what they were accustomed to.

There was abuse and death from so many sources, with disease high on the list, matched only by the cruelty of a society committing genocide on a native population.

In the winner-loser sense, the United States "won" a lot of land that belonged to people who were here first. In many ways that is simply how it happened, and sometimes that type of war for land mentality is quickly and easily accepted.

The plight of the Native Americans however, unfortunately, is not one of those stories.

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There’s only one real true American,
A human being here from the start,
Although existing of many tribes,
All nations made whole from each part.

Unlike the movies, the Indian never started the fight,
Only retaliating to save and protect property rights,
Now realizing profits from ventures on tribunal owned land,
Along comes the U.S. Government sticking out its hand.

Even going to court in a lawsuit the attorneys are prepared,
Claiming land that is non-taxable the tribes should pay a share,
Are the powers that be going to collect the monies for the needy?
Or like everything else distribute to the Washington Greedy?

Was the Indian really thought of after the death of Sitting Bull?
Only when billions of dollars casinos on their land began to pull,
How does the government attempt to collect on property they stole?
From original owners a miniscule fraction of a fraction of the whole.

Land that was stolen because some prospectors found gold,
The value of which Indian tribes were never informed or told,
A government that feels it is constitutionally entitled, oh how bold,
Acres not returned to the rightful owner but illegally leased or sold.

This always happens in politics so I kinda, sorta, understand,
But, the American Indian was born and raised on this land,
Long before any explorer or Christopher Columbus in 1492,
We're crying about illegal aliens? The foot’s in the other shoe.

I thought about this due to the fuss made about a certain Prophet,
What kind of idiot thinks it’s OK to make fun of Muhammad?
Millions in property damage and several lives have been lost,
And this form of idiotic behavior champions what type of cause?

Why slight Islam or any of the other secular religious nations?
Whatever happened to hey, how be you, greetings, salutations?
Intentionally disrespecting others beliefs while slamming the door,
You are surprised sects are outraged seeking revenge through war?

Yes, there’s the knucklehead claiming it’s protected by free speech,
When I was growing up that’s not what the school system would teach,
You simply could not afford to yell fire in any crowded movie theater,
And you certainly can’t make fun of an Icon Prophet in any newspaper.

We celebrate Lincoln and Washington on Presidents day,
But it’s not right to honor Martin Luther King Jr. some still say,
How many Presidents have taken time to champion the needy?
Oh yeah, did early America ever honor any Indian peace treaty?

It was the Navajo Code Talkers, who fearlessly turned the tide,
Without them World War II, would’ve been won by the other side,
In an American society where Indians were degraded and smeared,
Yet, for this country in a war not theirs, they still volunteered.

American statesmen are honored on ones, twenties, fifties, fives, tens,
With the largest denomination being donned by Benjamin Franklin,
This is what puzzles me and I wonder if anyone really will know,
Why was an Indian's head on a nickel more famous for the Buffalo?

It’s 2009, there is a lot of animosity towards illegal immigration,
This from the ancestors who actually stole the American Nation,
Obviously many don’t read the bible, to them just so you’ll know,
Galatians 6: 7, the United States is reaping exactly what it sowed.

Upon their arrival the Indians welcomed Pilgrims into their tents,
Killed the braves, raped squaws, to the reservation kids were sent,
Then they went out, bought, beat, raped and murdered the slaves,
Now they’re hell bent out of shape because Hispanics want in today?

And, the Africans not murdered or mutilated were eventually sold,
At the center of the market place many times paid for by Indian gold,
Oh, it’s OK for illegal aliens in sweat shops, factories, farms or fields,
Way under minimum wage in jobs we don’t want, what’s the big deal?

Ruthless tactics by the King of England is why the British left there,
Likewise all foreigners because they were also being treated unfair,
Centuries later Haitians, Hondurans, Cubans and others want to go,
To the land of opportunity just like the Hispanics, north of Mexico.

1492 upward the “Doctrine Of Discovery” was used to deal with tribes,
European countries and the United States were now legally justified,
It was just an early politically correct way to switch the truth with lies,
Initially not militarily strong, by experience they were deceitfully wise.

Was Thomas Jefferson having problems with drafts for the Constitution?
Ok did attending several Indian Tribunals actually help with the solution?
If every treaty had not been broken and the Indian was not mistreated?
What are the chances poems & articles like this would ever be needed?

Yeah! This is the great America, land of the free and home of the brave,
That could be challenged by the latter Indian version deep in the grave,
Army victory? What else to expect with guns versus bows and arrows?
Common sense, fair as ten million eagles against one million sparrows.

Boys assigned to the reservation the English Language they had to speak,
And those caught speaking their native tongue were pulled aside and beat,
Italians, Japanese, Chinese you name it they still converse in native tongue,
The tribal voice is lost to most American Indians thanks to the butt of a gun.

As for the girls, well everyone knows what happens after planting the seed,
I am thinking of a term used, you know a phrase to describe it. “Half Breed!”
Do you think I’m just blowing smoke, making it up, ha would you like to bet?
Hey don’t believe me then check it out at the library even better the Internet.

I am not being cynical, resentful or saying it just happened to Indians, relax,
Cultural destruction was also forced upon Negro's, African American Blacks,
How many adult Indians do you know who speak the language of their tribe?
There aren’t too many whom are familiar with customs & know you know why.

8/10/09 Kids are not allowed access to school @ San Felipe Del Rio,
Kelt Cooper says, 'We have a law. We have a policy. We follow,”
Well, if the United States had kept and not broken every single treaty,
What are the chances no Mexicans or Indians would ever be needy?

01/01/10, The Hal Lindsey Report asks, “Does the flag still wave?”
He delivers quotes that our so-called, “founding fathers” did say,
Talking about Religion, the Constitution plus Christians but wait,
What do they have in common with land spilled blood would take?

Choctaw, Kiowa, Chipewyan, Tanaina, Chickasaw, Dakota Sioux,
Real history will truthfully establish there were many, many more too,
Long before any form of Religion, Constitution or Christians arrived,
This land we now call “America” was only inhabited by Indian Tribes.

Not one good thing of value was given, the government lied and took,
If I wrote more about this injustice it would not be a poem but a book,
Indian land & goods were apprehended, confiscated by want not need,
May this have been the first real example of good old American Greed?

For whomever reading this thinks it’s plain old hogwash & none of it is true,
Go back to the film archives, Candice Bergen, Peter Strauss in, “Soldier Blue,”
A vicious slaughter of Cheyenne Indians the, “Sand Creek Massacre of 1864,”
Although this is only one movie filmmakers could have made hundreds more.

There were 18 Medals of Honor awarded to members of the US 7th Calvary,
For the massacre of 350 men, women, children waving a white flag in 1890,
They had surrendered and were unarmed at the battle of then Cankpe Opi,
Led by Big Foot mostly widows & children it is now know as Wounded Knee.

After World War II, there is a movement by many politicians to do all they can,
Restoring honor and dignity to the Japanese right here in American not Japan,
02/19/1942 Executive Order 9066, now many are sorry wanting to lend a hand,
Restoring the lost with apologies not in their country, on American Indian Land.

Reparations, “The Civil Liberties Act of 1988” supplied payment and here is why,
Well, “race prejudice, war hysteria and a failure of political leadership” okay lies,
Indians here were lied to, their land and gold was stolen, destroying a way of life,
Natives to this soil are wronged as those from 1,000’s of miles are treated right?

We give millions to and praise athletes, who are MVP,
Acting stars who make movies that our children can’t see,
Those in the know recklessly hire unqualified next of kin,
When in the heck are we going to honor the American Indian?

by Luke Easter

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Luke Easter is a poet who writes about things that are very close to the heart of Salem-News.com. Another former U.S. Marine, Luke heals the world with an approach that reaches people on a different level, one known for centuries, yet too often forgotten in the one we live in.

We live in a world of social & economic injustice. The main reason for founding America in the first place was to relieve the oppression of the King of England. Patrick Henry said it best, “give me liberty or give me death.” And yet, all too often death seems to be the only way out. Why is there such a high suicide rate especially among teens, in the land of the free & the home of the brave? What makes headlines? Good news? Ha! More depressing stories than anything else. I feel poetry takes an edge off the hurt of bad news while still delivering it but in a, “glitzy” sort of way. Giving a different perspective. Kind of like slap in the face as opposed to a knife in the back. At least with the slap you’ll live to see another day and you will know whom it’s from. I wasn’t here for the beginning of the world but at 59, I just might be here for the end.

Even though it’s still a knife, rhyme poetry helps to dull the blade. And that’s my job. You can write to Luke Easter at: lyricsfromlucas@aol.com