LETTERS

Correcting ‘big liars’

In response to John Carlson’s Dec. 3 column “Correcting big lies in America.”

In his article he defines genocide and compares “Hitler’s Final Solution” of “The Jewish Problem” as an example, but implies that no such thing occurred to Native Americans. Unfortunately, it is sadly ironic he would use such an example since Adolph Hitler based his ideas on his final solution from America’s genocide of the Native Americans.

I’m also concerned about what appears to be Carlon’s iconoclast Michael Medved, and his credentials regarding Native American history other than “being a resident of Mercer Island and host one of America’s most popular radio programs.” No offense, but Bozo the clown is one of the most popular clowns in America, but I would not necessarily want him teaching history in our schools. In fact, I would suggest that Medved is doing a great disservice to not only Native Americans, but also young Americans in portraying our history much differently than what it was.

For example, such statements as “unwarranted attacks on Indians were condemned by the U.S. Government.” Who does he think he is fooling other than perhaps the foolish? Has either Medved or Carlson ever heard of the Trail of Tears or the 1700 mile pursuit and surrender of the Nez Perce tribe by the U.S. Calvary, led by General Nelson A. Miles because they were being forced onto reservations by the U.S. government.

I wonder when Medved last drove through an Indian reservation.

Then there was General Tecumseh Sherman’s declaration that all Indians not on reservations, “are hostile and will remain so until killed,” or “it would be wise to invite all the sportsman of England and America for a grand buffalo hunt and make one grand sweep of them all.”

Our government did end up offering rewards for American citizens to slaughter the buffalo knowing that the plains Indians would starve without this food source, and they did! And let’s not forget Wounded Knee. The list goes on and on.

This all came about due to our government’s labeling Indians as “savages,” and why? Because of our greed. The Native Americans stood in our way of the resourses such as mining, timber, etc.

So Mr. Carlson, I guess our definitions of genocide differ just a bit, or perhaps our observations. To quote the Spanish born American philosopher George Santayana, “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

I would much rather take credence in these words than live in denial.

Mark MacDonald, Kirkland