The Plight of the Indigenous Peoples of America

Not one Indian Native of America should be living like this.

Ever been to an Indian Reservation? Well, then…you know what you’ll find. High unemployment rates, suicide rates much higher than the national average, a high mortality rate, abject poverty. These are the First Peoples of America. They were here first and yet, their situation is such as this. Why? What happened with respect to the land treaties? The plight of the Indigenous Peoples of America is so bad that the United Nations sent a special rapporteur, S. James Anaya to lead an inquiry, the first of its kind. What he found was a range of social ills, high rates of poverty, alcoholism, domestic violence and low educational attainment.

According to S. James Anaya, “these are a product of what’s been referred to as intergenerational trauma spanning decades, really centuries, since the founding of the country and before.” So, he’s certainly not stating that the Indians have no complaints, au contraire. And what was done about his findings? S. James Anaya stated that, “we asked to meet with members of Congress, and just didn’t get a positive response.” No surprise there! Why should they respond? Their coffers are filled with ill gotten gains, mostly from lobbyists with an agenda. Can the Indians who live on reservations in squalor tote a briefcase filled with money and get their agenda across? Do I really need to answer that? So, if we have no problem with people whose land was stolen from underneath them living like they do, what does that say about us? Aren’t we a ‘christian’ nation? Do we not ‘care’ for our fellow human beings? How we treat each other does not bode well for how this country will continue to thrive. If we are to continue down a ‘me, me, me’ path, then we will soon find ourselves not liking what the future holds for America. We cannot continue to be fine with certain segments of the population living like they are in a third world country without there being serious consequences. America thrives when ALL thrive, not when many are basically struggling to merely survive amidst hopelessness, homelessness, poverty, hunger and fear.

I am in no way, wishing for the downfall of America, but we’ve got to realize that we are all in this together. It is all very well and good to claim that you are religious, to go to church on Sunday and pay your tithes and donate some clothing and canned goods, but we can and should do better than this.

Many people who came to this New World, did so because of religious persecution. How can we then turn around and persecute others and see nothing wrong with that?

The following poem sums up my feelings:

Whom The Christians Destroy!

Once upon a time, this land was yours to roam.
And so the ‘christians’ came and then just stole your home.

They labeled you a ‘savage’. Put you on a reservation.
Exposed you to disease and every type of degradation.

Peace with them was possible if you’d only stay your hand.
Did they not round you up and then just take your land?

You fought them back on this and gave it all you had.
Your weapons were no match, what happened next was sad.

The treaties that were broken are still no good today.
Your children kill themselves. They do not laugh and play.

Yet, these ‘christian’ crooks are rich in worldly goods and such.
Do they care about your plight? Really, not so much.

Some live like kings and queens and think their shit don’t stink.
But ask them for a slice of bread, at you, they’d simply blink.

So bide your time and wait, for soon we all shall see.
They’ll be not above your plight, their greed won’t set them free.

They’ll damn themselves to hell because that’s where they do believe
all sinners and their ilk and those they can’t deceive,

will burn throughout eternity, a time that knows no end.
It’s just the place for them and for those they call a friend.

They’re hypocrites and thieves and liars, one and all.
And just like Rome did burn, America, too shall fall.