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Where is America’s self-respect and humanity?




 

 

Americanism refers specifically to the “attachment or allegiance to the traditions, institutions, and ideals of the United States.” Believe it or not, I was coercively immersed in this ideology during my schooling. When I dropped out of high school in 1965, I actually believed life had a bright future for me, even with my highly observable indigenous traits.

My indoctrinated sense of duty led me to sign up for the military. I served under this biased “Americanism” banner in that unpopular war in Southeast Asia in a tiny country called the Republic of South Vietnam. In retrospect, I sincerely thought I was doing the right thing. On an affirmative side, the fact that I had been deceived became a powerful impetus for me to find the truth.

In the tradition of Americanism, as taught to us in the formative years of our lives, this new nation called and we answered. Within ten long years, three million youth served12-month tours (on the average) and about one-third endured the extremes of combat. In the end, most were disparaged and made to feel shame and defeat, which many endured all their lives.

Although half the nation abandoned us, my white brothers-in-arms are in a better situation to find pride and honor in their service. As a native person, I cannot, especially, when I look to the historic atrocities committed by this government and it’s military against my ancestors. In fact, the resulting attitude dominates society today with an obvious right-wing twist. Within this realm, Native Americans are actually perceived as Toka (enemy) since we are treated as such. This was accomplished with a biased American history. In other words, it was written to benefit Euro-Americans only. This explains the fact that I was pushed back out the door the minute I set foot on the continent at Seattle- Tacoma Airport back in 1969. They forgot about what we did for them.

Yet, I am expected to conduct myself in that familiar 1940s “American” way. In all honesty, I have tried all of my veteran life to find something I could be proud of. The only respect and honor I feel is for those who gave their lives there. They believed in “Americanism,” just like I did.

Since that time, this ideology has been truly awkward for me as a native person. Essentially, the European immigrants have their “new world.” They wanted to have a good life, enough land to live on, a house where their children could be raised and to feel free and protected. So, they appropriated the land my ancestors lived on for centuries to meet their exclusive American dream.

American history (still) teaches millions of youth that North America is a divine gift to European immigrants and settlers. I am not a part of that because I am indigenous to this land. As a native person, I have always felt excluded. It has been awkward to salute the symbol of this biased ideology. I would rather salute the men who gave their lives believing and supporting “Americanism.”

The National Anthem leaves me uncomfortable. The story this song of praise tells does not apply to me as a native person, just like the written history of this new country. The feeling is similar to hearing the horrendous Hollywood-created chant, seeing the disparaging “tomahawk chop and their idiotic mascot, all synonymous with the Cleveland Indians baseball team.

There are countless situations or events in this country that justify my feelings. Although the formative years I spent at a parochial boarding school successfully assimilated me from “savage Indian” to a “civilized” American, I always uncomfortable. Simply, I don’t feel the same pride and enthusiasm as my white peers any more. Is this what people mean when they say colonized and decolonized?

Anyway, as a young man, I learned of the fact that my people (Natives) were actually omitted from American history books and thus contemporary society. Whatever was offered in that history was clearly altered to augment this biased ideology. We are always portrayed as mindless warlike primitives in those texts. Our worldview and culture and languages are obscured and obliterated.

The epitome of deviousness is with children’s books. These works incessantly promote the new country’s prevailing stereotypes. Millions of children read them and react subconsciously to them, including “Indian” children. I believe this was intended to subjugate natives. We are certainly burdened with some extremes like alcoholism, suicide, and a variety of abuses.

According to researchers, various indigenous nations entered into 12 nation-to-nation treaties with the British Crown from 1722 to 1774. From 1778 to 1871, the United States entered into more than 500 treaties with sovereign indigenous nations. However, the United States outright violated, nullified or amended all of their treaties. I know of people who refer to toilet tissue as “treaty paper.”

What all this boils down to is the fact that these treaties were used by the new regime to expand its territory at any cost, including the killing of peaceable natives. American history is also a document of American’s callous deviousness, treachery, and dishonesty. Many natives today are aware that this new government can do whatever it wants, even outside of the law.

A most vital piece of information regarding this atrocious “Indian” treaty history is that violations do not nullify them. Essentially, when a criminal violates a statute, it does not nullify the law. Rather the perpetrator’s integrity is removed.

The Magna Carta (1215), the U.S. Constitution (1778) the Northwest Ordinance (1787), and the Supreme Court have continually maintained this “law of the land” principle.

One piece of history that persistently excludes me as a native person is the revered Declaration of Independence (1776). The second to last grievance listed outright belittles Native Americans. Millions of American children are shown this document and learn that the original inhabitants of this continent are “merciless Indian savages” who kill indiscriminately. This is how we are perceived today.

Lastly, Christians were indoctrinated to believe that this ideology originated from God. Actually, Pope Nicholas V (a man), wrote a Papal Bull (1452) declaring war against the Ottoman Empire (non- Christians) and encouraged their “perpetual servitude” and/or slaughter. This was extended to the Americas by Pope Alexander VI (1493).

Until this “great country” honors it treaties with my people and acknowledges its atrocities, and treats natives like the humans that we are, I can never enjoy freedom. Think hard about why you think I am your enemy? Muster up some self-respect and honor yourself by learning the truth.

(Ivan F. Star Comes Out, POB 147, Oglala, SD 57764; 605-867-2448; mato_ asula2@outlook.com)


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