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Reflections
By Sharon Hopper
Yesterday my husband and I decided to go to The Gathering here in
Greenville at the Garst Museum. To say the least we were both very
impressed and awed at the information that was presented to the people
who attended. It amazed me that there was so much variety of goods and
information presented. If you liked shopping there was plenty to choose
from. If you liked historical artifacts there was an abundance on
display with knowledgeable persons to help you. If you liked history
recreated there were lots of things to explore. I especially enjoyed
the soap making. But most important was the offerings of reality as to
how and why this country has become what it is today and it was not
done without sacrifice from many fronts.
There was the tribal dance and explanations of the dances and
flags presented. There was the explanation of the Uniform of the
soldier and the differences of rank and duties explained and the order
of firing,__ why and how. There was a gentleman who told the story of
the Indian and the fight he faced from the perspective of the Indian
Nation and the struggle of the indian and the settler in their struggle
to take a place in this great nation. Unfortunately it took many many
lives for us to learn how very much alike the white man and indian
were. It was a lesson in humanity and struggle from both sides that
finally led to the treaty which was signed here in Greenville to start
the mending of hearts and ways. As he pointed out, greed was the main
factor and yet today we are struggling with the same problem in many
places in our world. Everybody seems to want what the other has and
like the indian and white man they are willing to fight for the right
to claim ownership or victory over the other.
As I was thinking about everything I came to a conclusion. We never did
really settle with the Indian because for many a decade we treated them
as inferior beings. The sad fact is this. There will always be conflict
somewhere as long as humans inhabit the earth. As outsiders in any
situation we can try to influence, but we cannot dictate to others what
they should or should not be fighting for. We often hear that it is
inhumane to kill innocent children and women, but those in the fight
are willing to sacrifice those people or they would quit the fighting.
They have to decide if the fight is a means to an end or would a treaty
of peace and compromise better serve the situation. No matter the
dispute there is always a winner and a looser, but always compromise in
the end that allows people of disagreement to live together. We are
supposed to learn from history. I wonder……Maybe the whole world has
been sleeping through history classes.
Written by Sharon Hopper
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