Dear Daily Camera Editors:
In a submission to your Tuesday, May 17 edition, Kenneth Cohen says that the military’s assigning to Osama Bin Laden the code name “Geronimo” was an example of persistent stereotyping of native Americans. While it is true that Indians have served our country honorably and well as code talkers and in many other ways, “honorable” is not an adjective I would link to Geronimo. As documented in historian Marc Simmons’ book Massacre on the Lordsburg Road, Geronimo and his Apache cohorts were responsible for the murdering of dozens of innocent people, including both and native Americans, Mexicans, and even their own kin. This was especially true of Geronimo’s subtribe, the Chiricahua, known to be vengeful, arrogant, brutal and merciless. Far from being the exaggerations of a biased white press, the Chiricauhan atrocities have been recounted in the testimonies of surviving Apaches, including Geronimo himself, who came to regret the killing of children. Geronimo as healer? I don’t think so.
For me, this is personal: on a March day in 1883 in a remote part of southwestern New Mexico, an Indian band led by Chiricahuan chief Chato happened upon Judge H. C. McComas, his wife Juniata, and their child, Charley Ware McComas. The parents were slaughtered, their naked bodies left to rot by the side of the road. The band then made off with five-year-old Charley, whose fate since has never been determined with certainty, but who was likely “assimilated” into the tribe. Why is this personal? Juniata McComas was the sister of Eugene F. Ware, my great-grandfather. The Ware name passed through generations to me – it is my middle name.
The problem, from my perspective, is not that Geronimo has been the victim of negative stereotyping, but that he and others of his generation have benefited from positive stereotyping: native Americans of his era are romanticized in literature, art, movies, and sanitized histories. Author Simmons put it well: “There exists,” he writes, “an unfortunate tendency today to engage in sentimental reflection and selective indignation, imagining that the noble Indian was living peacefully in his small Garden of Eden when bumped from Paradise by acquisitive and immoral intruders with pale faces. The truth of the matter is that native life was hard, brutish, and dangerous in the extreme and that, more often than not, war was the centerpiece of tribal life. In the matter of savagery, there is enough guilt for all sides to have their full share.”
The dark history of the Apache should not, of course, taint the picture of native peoples today, any more than the dark history of white Americans should taint the picture of their descendants. The past of virtually every race and ethnic group in the world is colored with periods of shame. While it is incumbent for all peoples to view their history honestly, it is equally our responsibility to not blame contemporaries for past transgressions; but rather to embrace each other as fellow passengers on this planet and continue humankind’s march toward a much brighter, more harmonious future.
Spencer Ware Nelson
Broomfield
Pingback: Pterker
I love meeting utile info, this post has got me even a lot more information! .
Hey There. I found your blog site using msn. This is a really well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the article. I will definitely return. online poker
Hey There. I found your website using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the article. I’ll certainly return. 500 rublei
Fantastic goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too excellent. I really like what you’ve acquired here, really like what you are saying and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to keep it smart. I cant wait to read far more from you. This is actually a great web site. Many thanks, Free Online Poker
I am glad to be a visitor of this perfect internet blog ! , regards for this rare details! .
A regular stroller is the most common type. It has 4 wheels and a sturdy frame. Most standard strollers have reclining seats that permit employing the same unit for your child from infant to toddler. Strollers that convert to automobile seats are convenient for traveling. The stroller need to have excellent suspension to help keep your baby’s ride comfortable and smooth.
A regular stroller is the most common sort. It has 4 wheels plus a sturdy frame. Most standard strollers have reclining seats that allow utilizing the same unit for your child from infant to toddler. Strollers that convert to vehicle seats are convenient for traveling. The stroller should have quality suspension to keep your baby’s ride comfortable and smooth.
Ugg Boots are special as they help people make an impressive fashion statement because of their unique design after the difference Genuine uggs are made from sheepskin and imitations made from wool should be avoided at all costs Ladies, care for yourself and wrap your feet in womens Ugg boot Normally, certain thing with superb durability and solace is expensive Next click on ‘online retailers But at that time, the civil aviation industry in the eighth five-year period, the pilot’s training plan every year around 600, overcapacityAn genuine pair is essential merely because genuine ugg boots sheepskin could be only found on genuine items Trusty jeans along using the hottest skirts could be each matched with this style
Excellent web site. Lots of helpful information here. I am sending it to some pals ans additionally sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks to your sweat!
Depending on yourself to make the decisions can actually be upsetting and frustrating. It takes years to produce confidence. Its not the sort of thing that simply just happens.
more than you know eddie vedder lyrics
mentirosa check this out baby
Hi! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog. Is it tough to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? With thanks
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a doubt donate to this fantastic blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about this site with my Facebook group. Talk soon!
Pingback: Michaele Nwachukwu