Posted on 06/02/2004 6:53:16 PM PDT by in2itagin
By David Yeagley FrontPageMagazine.com | June 1, 2004
I’m still an American Indian patriot. Even after watching CNN’s 90 minute program featuring the May 29 dedications of the new National WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.,
I’m still an American Indian patriot. Even after watching CNN’s 90 minute program featuring the May 29 dedications of the new National WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., I still love this country, more than ever.
No, I didn’t hear one mention of the American Indian. No one acknowledged themore than 190,000 living American Indian veterans, who represent nearly one out of every ten Indians. I didn’t hear any praise for the unique contribution Indians have made in all war efforts of the twentieth century.
I heard instead repeated praise of black, Hispanic, and Japanese Americans and their contributions to the war effort, and American society in general.
Indeed, the featured musical moment of the program, was given to a black female, Denyse Graves, mezzo soprano opera singer. They could have chosen Barbara McAllister, a tall Cherokee mezzo, who is older but well-known in New York opera circles.
Barry Black, the black chaplain of the U.S. Senate, gave the benediction. Apparently there no longer any living descendents of the “white” Sons of the Revolution who can pray; no, Black’s skin gave him special authority. Barry Black didn’t mention the name Jesus Christ. Would that name have blurred his image?
After the program, Paula Zahn interviewed Martha S. Putney, a black female historian. Putney talked about black female contributions to the war effort. Paula apparently didn’t know Indian women veterans exist.
One got the impression that backs now constitute the core definition of what it means to be an American. Somehow, they have become the quintessential carrier of American values. The memorial service was like an ethnic pride parade in Washington, another Million Man March.
But what is the image of blacks – at least as expressed by so-called black “leaders” – in this country? The demagogues proclaim the message: “America wronged me. You need to make it right. You need to put me on a pedestal, along with the greatest heroes of ‘white’ American history.” The image of blacks is a complaint, a cry for “equality.” It is a plea for acceptance, and an expression of utter dependency.
This isn’t patriotism.
So, what is the Indian image? Before white liberals distorted it into another version of “I’ve been wronged” and added new images of casino corruption, vice, and greed, the Indian image used to be about bravery, self-sacrifice, and independence. The great Indian warrior never needed “equality,” applause or acceptance.
Maybe CNN still regards the Indian like that; they certainly offered none.
After the CNN program, I realized, as never before, the American Indian is not part of the modern media image of America. The National WWII Memorial program proved that. The Indian warrior image is out – even at such moment, at such a memorial service for soldiers. Blacks, “Hispanics,” and Japanese are America’s new warriors now; the media says so.
For me to call myself an American Indian patriot is a real stretch at times like this. How can I love the country so much, when it insults me in return, and instead honors people who never won anything in battle against the American Indian?
It’s simple: America is the most grand and beautiful country in the world – and it’s built on Indian land. I instinctively claim America as my own. Never mind media images: the foreigner’s society that developed here is like an adopted son, that’s all. He washed ashore here as a lost infant. We Indians raised him. He grew into the mightiest of the earth. As an Indian, can’t I be proud?
But for me to love America, I must overlook the Indian holocaust. I must “wink” at the horrors of yesterday. To have a positive outlook on life, I must immediately forgive my enemies today. This I must do, like no other race in America must do. American Indians were destroyed on our own land, in our own home. More is required of us, spiritually, than of any other people.
Indians must be superior. Just the basic feeling of loving America requires a miraculous transcendence of other races. If we do not achieve this, we consign ourselves to abject tragedy and disquietude. We are Ghost Dancers, forever.
Perhaps I should be grateful that CNN and the program planners did not include the Indian. That doesn’t just mean that Indians are excluded, or that America simply can’t manage its collective guilt toward the Indian. It might mean that America has an unspoken feeling that Indians really are superior. We are on a higher plane. We are unmentioned because we are not seen in the nether regions where the media dwell.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. David A. Yeagley is a published scholar, professionally recorded composer, and an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Liberal Studies. He's on the speakers list of Young America's Foundation. E-mail him at badeagle2000@yahoo.com. View his website at http://www.badeagle.com.
ping...article by one of your locals...
Good article. We met some amazing Indian vets when we lived in Oklahoma.
And then went home and worked, just like my great-uncles in Missouri did. We had some veterans speak to our homeschool association up in Tulsa, including one last surviving Comanche Code-Talkers (from the European front).
The vets are always happy to talk to children. My kids have been taught to shake the hand of anyone they meet in uniform, or with VFW hats, etc., and say, "Thank you for serving, Sir!"
There are many 'black' people with indian heritage FWIW.
I learned about this stuff in school. All very interesting but he seems pretty angry IMHO.
Anger is a powerful motivator. Does the writer have a valid point? Growing up on Indian reservations as a youth, I have met 'true Americans'.Lets give some credit to this indigenous peoples.
True ... I expect he's angry because he sees American Indians falling into the "perpetual victim" trap that's made life so difficult for Blacks. He prefers the image of Indians as fighters ... who wouldn't, with any sense?
There is a considerable overlap between Indians and Blacks, dating back to the 18th century. I have a video on the subject.
I've always given credit to people who deserve it. No one had to give me a lecture on tribal peoples' military contributions. Not saying he shouldn't be angry but it's not as if many tribal people have been pushy like everyone else. To me, it seems as if he's almost resentful of black people for where they are. Black people had to fight for what they have in case he didn't realize it.
The Navajo code talkers deserve a special commendation, but it can never come from a dedicated liberal medium like CNN. They are commies, not Americans.
I guess but to me no one is special. We are supposed to be all Americans aren't we? Everyone wants their own memorial.
It's interesting to me that this old man who lives in the middle of nowhere in the hills of Northern California once killed Germans on a beach in France during one of the most momentous moments in Western History.
Simply amazing.
I agree, not from CNN. It'd be a spectacle.
To me, everyone is special, and we can honor the contributions of different cultures.
We should recognize the unique contribution of the Tuskegee Airmen, for example, because of the hardships they overcame in order to fight, and because of the results they achieved. We can also honor the American Indians, for their very substantial contribution to our national security. This was a big deal in Oklahoma!
What I understood from the article was that the author felt that blacks were singled out during the Memorial celebrations as a "victim lobby," ... "We'd better give them special attention, or they'll whine!" He doesn't want Indians to have that mentality.
Maybe it's just what you read into it.
Not saying he shouldn't be angry but it's not as if many tribal people have been pushy like everyone else.
I think Genocide would tend to slow one from being as pushy as the black population. While I am not condemning the black movement in any way, I think it speaks volumes that the Indian nation has perservered in such a dignified way.
My great-uncle was in the Pacific War; he won't talk much about it, but he has a long row of medals.
He worked in the fertilizer factory when he got home, and now he's a famous bingo caller, and caught the largest catfish in the county in the last 20 years.
What those old men went through is almost beyond description ... and then they went home and had commonplace lives, mostly. It's just amazing.
Maybe you're right. I hope.
I grew up in Lawton, just south of Fort Sill.
There were Comanches, Apaches, Anadarkos, Caddos, Kiowas and some other tribes in the immediate area. The Comanche code talkers came from there, and they did in Europe what the Navajos did in the Pacific. I have a picture of them somewhere in my files. They were brave men who did a great job.
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