n a t b s » The Past

Land of the Spotted Eagle V

Andrew — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:08:22 +0000

Let me tell you a story of early days: Meat was once low in the village and a number of hunters went out to bring in some buffalo which were, at that particular time, scarce. Only three animals were found to be divided among every person in the camp. Even the hunters who could have availed themselves of a feast did not do so, and though the portions were small, everyone was served.

Now, hunger is a hard thing to bear, but not so hard when all are sharing the same want in the same degree; but it is doubly hard to bear when all about is plenty which the hungry dare not touch. Sentences imposed upon those who, through hunger, take for their staving bodies, are to me inconceivably cruel, even to my now altered and accustomed viewpoint. For one man with full stomach to heap more misery upon one with an empty stomach is savage beyond compare. Perhaps I sense the degradation all the more, having tasted the sweetness of the life of my forefathers.

-Luther Standing Bear

Land of the Spotted Eagle V

Andrew — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:25:48 +0000

Two lovely legends of the Lakotas would be fine subjects for sculpturing — the Black Hills as the earth mother, and the story of the genesis of the tribe. Instead, the face of a white man is being outlined on the face of a stone cliff in the Black Hills. This beautiful region, of which the Lakota thought more than any other spot on earth, caused him the most pain and misery. These hills were to become prized by the white people for reasons far different from those of the Lakota. To the Lakota the magnificent forests and splendid herds were incomparable in value. To the white man everything was valueless except the gold in the hills. Toward the Indian the white people were absolutely devoid of sentiment, and when a people lack sentiment they are without compassion. So down went the Black Forrest and to death went the last buffalo, noble animal and immemorial friend of the Lakota. As for the people who were as native to the soil as the forests and the buffalo — well, the gold-seekers did not understand them and never have. The white man will never know the horror and the utter bewilderment of the Lakota at the wanton destruction of the buffalo. What cruelty has not been glossed over with the white man’s word — enterprise! If the Lakotas had been relinquishing any part of their territory voluntarily, the Black Hills would have been the last from the standpoint of traditional sentiment. So when by false treaties and trickery the Black Hills were forever lost, they were a broken people. The treaties, made supposedly to recompense them for the loss of this lovely region, were like all other treaties — worthless. But could the Lakota braves have foreseen the ignominy they were destined to endure, every man would have died fighting rather than give up his homeland to live in subjection and helplessness.

-Luther Standing Bear

What is Progress?

Andrew — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:08:34 +0000

True, the white man brought great change. But the varied fruits of his civilization, though highly colored and inviting, are sickening and deadening. And if it be the part of civilization to maim, rob, and thwart, then what is progress?

I am going to venture that the man who sat on the ground in his tipi meditating on life and its meaning, accepting the kinship of all creatures, and acknowledging unity with the universe of things, was infusing into his being the true essence of civilization…

-Chief Luther Standing Bear

Bad Trekkin’

Andrew — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:55:59 +0000

Star Trek has to be one of the most popular mainstream visions of a utopian human future. It sees our current path, and basically extrapolates one of the better outcomes. In this utopian world, science has basically solved every problem. There is no scarcity, of energy or materials, and medicine has cured most disease. Surely, we would all agree that such a world is a general ultimate goal of the path we’re on. But there’s something else that’s interesting about that world; the people aren’t human. I mean, sure, they’re biologically human (except for the aliens), but what I mean is that they’re not emotionally human. They’re too rational, too regimented. Too perfect. Ron Moore saw this, and tried to inject some humanity into the characters (Family). But I guess my point is, our system is so unnatural, so alienating of our basic nature, that in the perfect vision of our ideal future, we cease to be people. We’re perfect cogs in the machine we built, but we’re not people. This is the path we are on, and this is the source of most problems. It’s the reason the situation normal is all fucked up.

I’M ALIVE!

I’M A HUMAN BEING!!!!!