Yes, “we” were once at war with the indigenous people of this land…that’s part of our history. Likewise, they were occasionally at war with each other, and I’m quite certain that everyone in the USA comes from a race or nationality that was run roughshod over by an invading army at one time or another. That’s just the way history has played out.
I’ve interviewed Native American soldiers who served in the US Army during Korea and later wars. While many of them still carry around a lot of angst over the history of our various peoples, they were still willing to fight and die for this land as it currently stands. Take, for instance, the Standing Rock color guard I mentioned earlier. I was proud to see them standing at the memorial services last Memorial Day. Was it because of their skin color or race? No. Was it some sort of “white guilt” or a wave of political correctness whelming my soul? No. It was pride in these fellas who are actually members of a “nation within a nation” as it were.
While I recognize that the tribes are sovereign, I have to admit I’m confused as to what that means at the bottom line. Regardless, these men served on our behalf. Sure, there are still individuals harboring prejudice against each other’s race…but I still say we’ve come a long way from the days depicted on those elevator doors. The USA still has some promises to keep, but I’d rather face the hurdles with optimism rather than bitterness. Easy for a white guy to say, sure…but I still just see people as people. If all we ever did was hate anyone whose ancestors wronged our ancestors, you couldn’t find two people in this world to get along. I prefer healing.