Braiding Sweetgrass
This passage is a beautiful reminder if we modeled Native people’s
cultures around the world rooted in gratitude, and connected to one another and
mother earth this nation could start to heal. There is power in reciting words
as a union proclaiming something, but the statement needs to connect with all,
and serve a purpose for good to produce fruit. When there are words that speak
to the beauty of life, the earth and creation there can be no protest as stated
in Sweetgrass. What kid or adult for that matter would refuse to stand and give
thanks to the earth?
As we know, the pledge of allegiance is flawed beyond reason no
matter the formality of its delivery. The Onondaga Thanksgiving Address was
birthed from a place of gratitude, which leads to love and admiration when
you’re thankful for something or someone.
The pledge of allegiance was created as a recommendation for
people. It was to observe in all localities the four hundredth anniversary of
the discovery of America by Columbus, on the 21st of October 1892. This was by
public demonstrations, in schools and other places of congregation. Columbus
was a thief, kidnapper, slave owner and murder. When you create things to honor
such behavior it breeds’ contempt, unjust reactions, and nothing healthy.
There was no reverence for people’s lives and cultures, lost,
stolen, and destroyed during this so call discovery of America (which he didn’t
discover). So nothing but more lies, bloodshed, unrest and mother earth’s wrath
can come from this. I pledge allegiance
to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it
stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
These
words were not written for a lot of us. We are not one nation (completely
divided), definitely not indivisible, and there is no JUSTICE FOR ALL.
We need
to take this passage from Sweetgrass and start the next movement. What could
our world become if we practiced gratitude today? Dispelling history to find
truths, righting wrongs, seeking forgiveness from one another and mother earth.
What a wonderful world we could become with time.
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