In her recent Opinion page column on Indian casinos, Lisa
Pampuch, the typical
”
political correct
”
Libertarian,
”
liberal,
”
maintains
”
American history is replete with mistreatment of indigenous
people: Broken treaties, forced relocations, destroyed cultures and
on and on. Those
”
political correct
”
today keep preaching this mantra. Oh, we must
”
give back
”
for our
”
imagined
”
wrongs.
Dear Editor,
In her recent Opinion page column on Indian casinos, Lisa Pampuch, the typical “political correct” Libertarian, “liberal,” maintains “American history is replete with mistreatment of indigenous people: Broken treaties, forced relocations, destroyed cultures and on and on. Those “political correct” today keep preaching this mantra. Oh, we must “give back” for our “imagined” wrongs.
However, dominant cultures always surpass the lesser (aboriginal). Don’t get me wrong. I’m no racist. I believe we should tell the truth and all minorities should come together as Americans in this great country.
The truth: Iroquois skinned alive their captured from battle. Athabaska chiefs killed their slaves to line a ramp for visiting chiefs to bring their canoes up on the beach without touching sand. The Plains Indians journeyed out each spring to capture horses from other tribes, obviously viciously killing their neighbors.
As our Pilgrims ventured west, when the opportunity arose, the indigenous Indian pillaged and killed the covered wagon pioneer. Occasionally, they captured children, killing the rest.
After such an Apache escapade in Texas, these Apache Indians took a boy and girl sometime around 1836. The San Antonio City Council heard that the Apaches had these children and tried to negotiate.
They found that for some infraction the Indians had cut off the little girl’s nose. This gave them more impetus to get these children back to civilization. Finally, they negotiated to get the boy back with some bribe.
Nevertheless, negotiation for the girl continued. Finally, the San Antonio council had had enough. They called the Indians to come in; no matter, the Apaches killed the girl. The citizens were so angry, they killed every Apache they could find.
The Public Broadcasting System shows the Ken Burn’s historical movies. One such maintains that it took all of Gen. Crook’s army, stationed in Arizona, to capture Geronimo. Not true. Another “political correctness” fallacy. Fact: Indian tribes were just that. So, Gen. Crook paid several Indian tribes to go after Geronimo. And, they did. In fact, captured him in Mexico. (See “On The Border With Crook” by John G. Bourke.)
All the above, I have found through reading history, written at the time. Not by some uninformed “politically correct” assertion.
No, I don’t think we owe Indians anything. Also, I think they should be and are part of the American culture.
In 1950, I experienced Marine Corps boot camp with my lifelong friend, Milo Yellowhead, Apache, Grant’s, N.M. We, Milo and me, Marines, went to the Korean War, together.
No, we don’t owe Indians anything. And, we certainly don’t want Las Vegas next to Hollister.
Burton F. Anderson, Morgan Hill
