This is something that has authentically always pained me; the theft of this land from its Natives. It truly does trouble me knowing I am viewed as a class of people who are thieves and murderers of the worst kind. Native-Americans didn’t ask for, nor did they deserve, to have their land taken from them.
But, I’ve always wondered what this world would look like today if it hadn’t happen. It’s easy to conclude we wouldn’t be here right now having this internet discussion. I wonder if the internet would even exist; and so many other great inventions. With the abhorrent acts of the European white man (slavery, the plight of the Natives, disease, etc…), do you see something greater – a free nation – coming out of this or do you hold some deep resentment and anger over the selfish theft of this land? I ask this in complete honesty, because despite what I view as the birth of a great nation out of a horrible past, it wasn’t ‘ours’ to take. These were so-called ‘Christians’ that butchered, raped, and pillaged the people of this land. Very unChristian behavior. But they did it to escape tyranny. Was this ‘freedom’ they sought a greater good, more so than the land and people they violated? Are you, as a native-American, proud to be part of this country, or are you angry that your people were so horribly desecrated?
I have to say, as a white guy, I routinely find myself wanting forgiveness – even though my ancestor had nothing to do with it – from the Natives of this land.
