On this Memorial Day I will remember the Native Americans & the Slaves.

[Philosoraptor]

No one ever mentions them. They who lived here first. They who were wiped out by invaders from another land. They who are still here in great numbers, kept down, ignored, betrayed, forgotten, written out, buried over. The thousands of tribes, their names forgotten, their struggles, their sorrows, swept away by the advancing hoards.

And I will also remember the slaves, who's blood, sweat and tears helped to build what we now call America. They fought and died for this nation, and received none of it's benefits. America can never repay them for what was done to them, but I will always remember them, and thank them.

There is no Memorial Day for them. But there should be.

[hfojvt]

1. their names are all over this country

Dakota, Huron, Iroquois, Pattowatomie, Kiowa, Iowa, Sauk, etc.

Ira Hayes and the Navajo code talkers are remembered today, at least in theory.

Also, not true that nobody ever mentions them, unless you means, nobody mentions them on Memorial Day.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061030-16.html

[kasseri]

2. "There is no Memorial Day for them. But there should be." Thank you. n/t

[newyawker99]

13. Hi kasseri!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[dipsydoodle]

3. A comment

which is both appropriate and thoughtful.

[Swamp Rat]

4. me too

[Forkboy]

5. Nice,and welcome,thoughts Philosoraptor.

[madokie]

6. as will I

My great granddad had up to as many as 20 some slaves at different times during his lifetime and his son, my Granddad, fought with the north to free those slaves, myself I am a proud 1/8 Cherokee. So I come by it naturally :hi:

Edit to add:

My granddad was born in 1840 my dad was born in 1897 myself in 1948. I'm from a line of long livers, ;-)
have a younger sis and bro too

[bdamomma]

7. after watching the HBO titled I buried my heart at Wounded Knee

it seems like we have always been savages, we pushed the Indians off their lands and threw them on reservations, all in the name of greed and process, government during the 1800's was more concerned developing their railroad system, cutting right through the Dakotas.

[Clark2008]

8. And then we had the nerve to call THEM "savages."

Ironic, isn't it?

(Cherokee/Irish "mutt" that I am.)

[malaise]

9. and the only thing that has changed in the model

of conquest for greed is that they can kill many more today.
When a country's supposed 'national interest' means killing the human beings for their resources, something is seriously uncivilized with that group of people.

The "white man's burden" remains a threat to every other race on the planet. Racism, religion and the assumption of superiority over others are humanity's enemies.

[Forkboy]

10. I remember watching the movie I Will Fight No More Forever

I was 7 or 8 and my sister a few years older.But even at that age it hit me and her both pretty hard.She was bawling by the end.The movie,and her reaction,both made an impression on my young mind.

1877

I WILL FIGHT NO MORE FOREVER

(Surrender Speech)

by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce

I WILL FIGHT NO MORE FOREVER -

I am tired of fighting.

Our chiefs are killed.

Looking Glass is dead.

Toohulhulsote is dead.

The old men are all dead.

It is the young men who say no and yes.

He who led the young men is dead.

It is cold and we have no blankets.

The little children are freezing to death.

My people, some of them,

Have run away to the hills

And have no blankets, no food.

No one know where they are-

Perhaps they are freezing to death.

I want to have time to look for my children

And see how many of them I can find.

Maybe I shall find them among the dead.

Hear me, my chiefs, I am tired.

My heart is sad and sick.

From where the sun now stands

I will fight no more forever. - -

THE END

[Brewman_Jax]

11. Let them be remembered

they fought over there for an ungrateful country that denied them their rights over here and would gladly forget them...if it could.

They fought for the hope that the Great Experiment would live up to its most cherished creed: That all are created equal.

Let us not forget them.

:patriot:

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. They who were the first to feel the pain of our property rights laws.

Talk about being the victims of adverse possession...