Recalling the Wounded Knee massacre this 235th anniversary saw Congress establish a special status for the land on which that occurred, and where the victims are buried. At the same time, it triggered afresh demands by “tribal leaders” to take away all combat decorations awarded to the soldiers who were involved. This is little more than yet another attempt to erase history. The rightness (or wrongness) of the cause in which they fought does not negate the courage that those men displayed.
The same thing applies to the tens of thousands of AmerInd warriors who fought wars against the United States, Texas, California, and even Mexico (and many of the States and communities) from 1776 to about 1925 or so. Even those who committed atrocities against enemy troops and even civilians. It is done, it is over, and no one has a time machine to go back and prevent or mitigate the evils.
But this leads to another thought or two, regarding the fate of people and of nations.
Consider the modern AmerInd nations (or tribes). The BIA, a federal agency, recognizes 574 such entities. More than ten for every State on average. In addition, there are dozens (if not hundreds) of non-recognized tribes that have some sort of historical and cultural heritage. Many (recognized or not), if not most, of these nations fought against the United States, individual States, and in accordance with their culture and upbringing, committed what today are considered unspeakable atrocities. But each of those AmerInd nations has a heritage that goes back hundreds of years, if not thosands.
Preserving that heritage is a prime concern to many members of those nations, to their leaders, and to the advocates and activists for them. (Keeping in mind that many of those advocates and activists are not themselves with any AmerInd ancestry and not enrolled in any nation.)
There is a strong and often well-funded collection of cooperative efforts to preserve the culture, customs, language, and spiritual beliefs and practices of these groups of people. Sometimes this cultural heritage dates from long before the large-scale interaction with Europeans initiated by Admiral of the Seas Christopher Columbus. In many tribes/nations, the heritage they are now trying to preserve developed in their last days before full defeat and submersion in the “conquering” culture of Western Civilization. (That is, so-called “Settlers” or “Colonists” or “American” society – according to some, the source of all evils on 21st Century Earth.)
These 574 nations have an enrollment (citizenship, in essence) of more than 9.1 million American citizens: people who are also citizens of a State, the Union, as well as one or more AmerInd nations (tribes).
No doubt some of the tribes do not have some kind of advocacy group and/or some project trying to preserve their culture. But each year, hundreds of millions (probably billions) of dollars are spent in efforts to preserve their ancestral languages, rituals, rituals and rites, traditional arts and crafts, and even their ancestral organizations. While some of that money comes from taxes on, and donations by, those 9+ million enrolled members. Or from non-AmerInd sympathizers and fans, religious groups, civic organizations, and even tourists. Most of that money comes from Americans who are not enrolled. Who do not live in or near, or visit or travel through AmerInd lands. (Primarily, reservations.) Through taxes taken from the general American people and their businesses, either directly by State, local, and Federal government threats of force, or indirectly and voluntarily through “stupid taxes” on gambling and similar ways of getting fools to part with their money. That is, subsidies. That money is furnished in addition to welfare payments and services, and in addition to money dedicated to honoring treaty obligations.
Make no mistake. Many of these customs and concepts, organizations, and ways of thinking are not just fascinating but admirable. (Not all, by any means: the case in any human culture.) The preservation of history is an important part of human society.
But we submit that modern Americans who are not members of (or affiliated in some way to) those tribes do not deserve to be punished by having money stolen (or swindled) from them for that preservation. Absolutely not!
No more than we American taxpayers should be expected to forcibly “donate” money via the FedGov (or any private or religious or cultural entity) to preserve or restore the traditions and cultures of any other ancient or recent society. Why not funnel money to preserve the traditions of the Vikings who raided Europe for centuries? Or perhaps the warriors of Islam who overran Spain and Portugal in the 700s AD? Or of the Angle and Saxon tribes who invaded and conquered England? Or perhaps those Ten Tribes on the Tiber whose legions conquered the Celts of France and England?
After all, as the anti-Columbus crowd remind us, modern Italian-Americans are descendants of the imperialist Romans just as much as they are of the medieval Italians (and Spaniards and Portuguese). Why should we not pay for the sins of our ancestors, regardless of when and where? And regardless of how often they were the abused or the abusers? Conquered or conquestadors?
That way lies madness.
One more point to consider, and perhaps to discuss in more detail next year.
If the Americans had not conquered and shoved their ancestors onto reservations, had not assimilated AmerInd peoples into what we laughingly call 21st Century American civilization? None of those ancient tribal customs would have survived. What, are you shocked? Look around. What is left of ancient Irish culture? Of ancient Scots society? (They were tribes, though we call them clans.) Or for that matter, any other ancient European or Asian tribal culture? Or even much of African and South Asian tribal traditions and heritage? All have naturally changed to something totally unrecognizable to an ancient tribesman or woman. All gone. Only a few traces left.
Think about it.
About TPOL Nathan
Follower of Christ Jesus (a christian), Pahasapan (resident of the Black Hills), Westerner, Lover of Liberty, Free-Market Anarchist, Engineer, Army Officer, Husband, Father, Historian, Writer, Evangelist. Successor to Lady Susan (Mama Liberty) at TPOL.
The Price of Liberty 
Customs, traditions, and liberty
Recalling the Wounded Knee massacre this 235th anniversary saw Congress establish a special status for the land on which that occurred, and where the victims are buried. At the same time, it triggered afresh demands by “tribal leaders” to take away all combat decorations awarded to the soldiers who were involved. This is little more than yet another attempt to erase history. The rightness (or wrongness) of the cause in which they fought does not negate the courage that those men displayed.
The same thing applies to the tens of thousands of AmerInd warriors who fought wars against the United States, Texas, California, and even Mexico (and many of the States and communities) from 1776 to about 1925 or so. Even those who committed atrocities against enemy troops and even civilians. It is done, it is over, and no one has a time machine to go back and prevent or mitigate the evils.
But this leads to another thought or two, regarding the fate of people and of nations.
Consider the modern AmerInd nations (or tribes). The BIA, a federal agency, recognizes 574 such entities. More than ten for every State on average. In addition, there are dozens (if not hundreds) of non-recognized tribes that have some sort of historical and cultural heritage. Many (recognized or not), if not most, of these nations fought against the United States, individual States, and in accordance with their culture and upbringing, committed what today are considered unspeakable atrocities. But each of those AmerInd nations has a heritage that goes back hundreds of years, if not thosands.
Preserving that heritage is a prime concern to many members of those nations, to their leaders, and to the advocates and activists for them. (Keeping in mind that many of those advocates and activists are not themselves with any AmerInd ancestry and not enrolled in any nation.)
There is a strong and often well-funded collection of cooperative efforts to preserve the culture, customs, language, and spiritual beliefs and practices of these groups of people. Sometimes this cultural heritage dates from long before the large-scale interaction with Europeans initiated by Admiral of the Seas Christopher Columbus. In many tribes/nations, the heritage they are now trying to preserve developed in their last days before full defeat and submersion in the “conquering” culture of Western Civilization. (That is, so-called “Settlers” or “Colonists” or “American” society – according to some, the source of all evils on 21st Century Earth.)
These 574 nations have an enrollment (citizenship, in essence) of more than 9.1 million American citizens: people who are also citizens of a State, the Union, as well as one or more AmerInd nations (tribes).
No doubt some of the tribes do not have some kind of advocacy group and/or some project trying to preserve their culture. But each year, hundreds of millions (probably billions) of dollars are spent in efforts to preserve their ancestral languages, rituals, rituals and rites, traditional arts and crafts, and even their ancestral organizations. While some of that money comes from taxes on, and donations by, those 9+ million enrolled members. Or from non-AmerInd sympathizers and fans, religious groups, civic organizations, and even tourists. Most of that money comes from Americans who are not enrolled. Who do not live in or near, or visit or travel through AmerInd lands. (Primarily, reservations.) Through taxes taken from the general American people and their businesses, either directly by State, local, and Federal government threats of force, or indirectly and voluntarily through “stupid taxes” on gambling and similar ways of getting fools to part with their money. That is, subsidies. That money is furnished in addition to welfare payments and services, and in addition to money dedicated to honoring treaty obligations.
Make no mistake. Many of these customs and concepts, organizations, and ways of thinking are not just fascinating but admirable. (Not all, by any means: the case in any human culture.) The preservation of history is an important part of human society.
But we submit that modern Americans who are not members of (or affiliated in some way to) those tribes do not deserve to be punished by having money stolen (or swindled) from them for that preservation. Absolutely not!
No more than we American taxpayers should be expected to forcibly “donate” money via the FedGov (or any private or religious or cultural entity) to preserve or restore the traditions and cultures of any other ancient or recent society. Why not funnel money to preserve the traditions of the Vikings who raided Europe for centuries? Or perhaps the warriors of Islam who overran Spain and Portugal in the 700s AD? Or of the Angle and Saxon tribes who invaded and conquered England? Or perhaps those Ten Tribes on the Tiber whose legions conquered the Celts of France and England?
After all, as the anti-Columbus crowd remind us, modern Italian-Americans are descendants of the imperialist Romans just as much as they are of the medieval Italians (and Spaniards and Portuguese). Why should we not pay for the sins of our ancestors, regardless of when and where? And regardless of how often they were the abused or the abusers? Conquered or conquestadors?
That way lies madness.
One more point to consider, and perhaps to discuss in more detail next year.
If the Americans had not conquered and shoved their ancestors onto reservations, had not assimilated AmerInd peoples into what we laughingly call 21st Century American civilization? None of those ancient tribal customs would have survived. What, are you shocked? Look around. What is left of ancient Irish culture? Of ancient Scots society? (They were tribes, though we call them clans.) Or for that matter, any other ancient European or Asian tribal culture? Or even much of African and South Asian tribal traditions and heritage? All have naturally changed to something totally unrecognizable to an ancient tribesman or woman. All gone. Only a few traces left.
Think about it.
Share this:
About TPOL Nathan
Follower of Christ Jesus (a christian), Pahasapan (resident of the Black Hills), Westerner, Lover of Liberty, Free-Market Anarchist, Engineer, Army Officer, Husband, Father, Historian, Writer, Evangelist. Successor to Lady Susan (Mama Liberty) at TPOL.