Wave of Destruction

The United States of America has never treated Native Americans in the way they deserve to be treated. In its long history from gaining independence from Britain to becoming the world's strongest power, America has mistreated Native American many times. Whether it be when Pilgrims first arrived to North America, killing Native Americans for land and crops, or forcing the Native Americans to walk 2,000 miles along the Trail of Tears, this forced nomadic group has never found a place to call their own. Even when a truce was called between the US government and Native American tribes, Native American tribes were continually pushed farther and farther west until there was no more room for settlement. Just as Sherman Alexie's father speaks of America "... been trying to kill Indians since the very beginning," Native Americans have always been the hunted, not the hunters (29).

Why did they deserve this treatment? The only crime Native Americans committed was defending their land after being attacked by the invading immigrants, a crime not so deplorable in my opinion. Was it the Native Americans fault that they lived in North America first? Was it the Native Americans fault that they tried to help the Pilgrims? Was it the Native Americans fault when they tried to create equal peace treaties when war had savaged their people? To make matters worse, the perception of Native Americans is grossly incorrect. The real perception of this group of people is a community so devastated that the adults look to alcohol and the adolescents look to suicide. No matter what America does to correct its injustices against this race, nothing can be done to completely revitalize this crippled culture.