Thank you for pulling back the covers on our outrageous history. Murdering thieves cast as explorers, while those trying to protect their land and lives labeled savages. We need more truth and more recognition of the truly brave ones, as you said. One of my grandmothers had enslaved parents, the other grandmother grew up on a reservation. They lived to experience better lives than their parents, but I know they had incurable emotional scars.
Our Constitution exhibits our idealized beliefs. But this quote from the film Alien Nation says it best about our ideals: “You humans are very curious to us. You invite us to live among you in an atmosphere of equality that we've never known before. You give us ownership of our own lives for the first time and you ask no more of us than you do of yourselves. I hope you understand how special your world is, how unique a people you humans are. Which is why it is all the more painful and confusing to us that so few of you seem capable of living up to the ideals you set for yourselves.”
I grew up along the Platte river in Nebraska, and went to high school and College in Colorado, and you are correct Jim, I never learned about Cpt Soule. Thanks for the painful history lesson.
Jim, I really appreciate your point of view, primarily because it tracks so closely to my own. Thank you for sharing that point of view and the knowledge that informs it. For a nation so steeped in Christianity, we wildly miss on practicing some of the fundamental principles of that religion.
Thank you for pulling back the covers on our outrageous history. Murdering thieves cast as explorers, while those trying to protect their land and lives labeled savages. We need more truth and more recognition of the truly brave ones, as you said. One of my grandmothers had enslaved parents, the other grandmother grew up on a reservation. They lived to experience better lives than their parents, but I know they had incurable emotional scars.
I am afraid this is our history, as you know, which is why most of it is covered up, denied, or ignored.
Our Constitution exhibits our idealized beliefs. But this quote from the film Alien Nation says it best about our ideals: “You humans are very curious to us. You invite us to live among you in an atmosphere of equality that we've never known before. You give us ownership of our own lives for the first time and you ask no more of us than you do of yourselves. I hope you understand how special your world is, how unique a people you humans are. Which is why it is all the more painful and confusing to us that so few of you seem capable of living up to the ideals you set for yourselves.”
Sci-fi once more for the win.
Here it is in oil paint: American Progress, John Gast, 1872
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Progress
Wow. Was unaware of this work. What a conjured scene.
Jesus wept.
But ought to be pissed.
I grew up along the Platte river in Nebraska, and went to high school and College in Colorado, and you are correct Jim, I never learned about Cpt Soule. Thanks for the painful history lesson.
Tom Goff.
There are a lot of people like Soule, I am certain, Tom. They just are ignored by history, which is wrong.
Jim, I really appreciate your point of view, primarily because it tracks so closely to my own. Thank you for sharing that point of view and the knowledge that informs it. For a nation so steeped in Christianity, we wildly miss on practicing some of the fundamental principles of that religion.
Thanks, Geoff. If people of your character are reading and liking my stuff, I feel like I am doing something worthwhile.
Nothing can be so frightening as a moral mirror.