American Ignorance

I am Alone, pgs 383-384, He has filled graves with our bones, pgs 385-387


I found both of these speeches to be very interesting. To tell you the truth I am not a big American history fan but the more I read, the more interested I get. As I read both of the speeches, you could sense the emotion that was spilling out of both the tribe leaders. I know both these speeches were written a time or two later but the emotion of the Indian leaders obviously made an impression.

As I read through both of the speeches, I got upset at how the white government thought that they deserved to acquire land and material objects at the cost of human life. I know that that idea has been around for centuries but to come to an unknown land and tell the inhabitants that they have to give it up "just because" was just ignorant. As I read "I am Alone" I felt for a man who had compassion, humility and kindness. On page 384 Cochise tells of his grandfather basically saying that all mankind be accepted with friendship. Here is the leader of a great and powerful tribe just opening his arms accepting all who pass by. I felt that Cochise was a very smart but broken Indian. As I read his speech, he talks of his people fighting in several wars. Here is a man who will fight for freedom to the point of annihilation but at the same time realize that if this war with the white government does not stop, not one of his people will be left. At the end of his speech I got the sense that this was a broken man just by his tone. Cochise is tired of the war, tired of the time it is taking to establish a treaty, tired of fighting, in a general sense, with the white man. Cochise knows he has lost not only the war but their freedom. So in the end he basically bows to the whites thanking them for what they are willing to give the tribe.

On the other hand you have Charlot, who is covered with anger and rage. I think that his speech tells it in a nutshell. White man came, took, and now wants to tax us. What Charlot knew was that the white man wanted to basically kill off the unknown foreigners that they could not control. Indians did not live by white mans rules so that made the white man afraid. Charlot wants to get his point acrossed to his people by giving them very descriptive imagery of what the white man did. Not only did the white man take our land by force after quiet threats of war, they kill our people for acts of kindness. White man knows nothing but greed and violence.

Even though both of these speeches were written well after the actual speeches had been presented, and that we are not sure of their accuracy, I have a new found respect for our native American Indians.

The more I think about these speeches the more I can relate them to todays enviroment. They are very parallel to each other. Back then the government was trying and forcing their will upon people that they did not understand. They needed to control them so that they could predict every move that the tribes would make. Today, I feel it is the same way with our so called diminishing middle class. The middle class makes this country what it is today. This country was built on the backs of the industrial age hence "Blue Collar Workers". I find it ironic that we get the crap taxed out of us and now we have to bear the burden of 12 trillion dollars. The only variables that changed are the people. Whether you are an indian or middle class joe, the government wants and will get the control they so desparately desire. Governments fear the unknown!!!!! Just a thought.

Foundation is a stronghold!

From letters from the Earth, Mark Twain, pgs 307 - 318

I found this article to be very interesting. Coming from a strong belief in Jesus Christ makes this article even that much more interesting. The reason I say that is because I wonder sometimes what the angels and archangels think about. How our Almighty Father in heaven handles the day to day business per say. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, have you ever wondered how Jesus deals with satan who is constantly knocking on his door, asking Jesus for permission to purposefully tempt and trap all of us humans? Satan wants to show Jesus how weak we humans are and that we really don't love Jesus at all. How far from the truth satan really is. If you know a little about satan, you know that all he wants is to kill, steal and destroy. He does not care about you personally or what you have done, he cares that you live an eternal misery just like him. As I read though the article, Twain's descriptive imagery of how satan sees humans, and also how Twain shows satan's hatred for God was remarkable. You cannot help but have this picture painted in your head. Mark Twain does a remarkable job of this. Just my opinion!

I don't know if Mark Twain was having a bad day or a bad year but we all go though season's in our life were we doubt things. It could be religion or something as simple as your job or marriage. Personally I think that when Mark wrote this he was going though a difficult time in his life and he just wanted to express himself on paper. He felt that was the most powerful way to communicate. I agree and take it a step further by saying that we all need to be careful what we say and what we write down, because if other people read what you were thinking that day, even though it was not really how you feel but rather just am impulsive thought, the reader could and sometimes do take it for truth. The last thing you want to do is lead someone down the wrong road. That could have been the underlying reason why Mark Twain's daughter, Clara, did not release this article to the public.

When you read this you get a sense that maybe Mark was not happy with God. But if you take a step back, I think that Mark was mad about something in his life but he was trying to show you that satan, under no circumstance, cares for you at all. Satan pretends to be friends with Micheal and Gabriel, but in essence, if satan hates God for making humans, then he hates everything that God is. God creates the laws of nature and humans out of love. He creates humans out of his own image. Satan is jealous, he wants all of Gods attention on him. God is and always will be the ultimate love. I think that Mark was trying to show us that we will doubt but the other road is laced with deceit and poison. We all have our trials and tribulations, we just need to lay them at the feet of Jesus. I give you all my eternal wisdom.

Are you ready?

Emily Dickinson, poem 479 and 591, p86-87

I found both of these poems to be interesting because so many of us dont think about death until there is a tragedy. Whether a loved one or friend or just maybe an earthly catastrophy, until then we all just go about our business everyday with no thought about the fact that as soon as you are born, your internal clock is ticking backwards so soon to hit 0. When we put that into perspective, we hopefully realize that life is short and that we need to make the most out of every minute. As I was reading each poem, I kept thinking of my family and how we have no idea when death will come knocking. Because we have no idea, I dont want to miss out on anything that my daughter does. I want to see her facial expressions as I ask her to eat trees and want to see her throw herself on the ground when she is mad. I want to hear her cry at 2:30 am and the laughter as I tickle her. I want to make the most out of every minute I have here on earth.

Emily's tone in both 479 and 591 were peaceful. In 479, Emily knew that death was inevitable but she did not wait for it. Her words in 479, "Because I could not stop for death - He kindly stopped for me" show that she was living in the moment. Even though this poem is about a person right after the moment of death, the bigger picture here is that life is very important and that we should make the most out of it, but not to put our riches in things that you cannot take but in their legacy whether that be their family or friends.

In poem 591 as you read though it you realize that there is no fear. That person has their affairs in order and that they are ready for that peace that they will feel when they see there "King" or maker.

I think there is a relation between poem 479 and poem 591. Obviouslly they are talking about death but more importantly the connection here is that death will come and wait for no one. Do you want to leave this world full of regrets or do you want to see your "King" knowing you did your best.

Death is coming!!!

What?

Hope
This
Works
Well
Enough
For
A
Start.