The Speech of Chief Red Jacket to the White Man
Friend and Brother, it was the will of the Great Spirit that we should meet
together this day....
Brother, this council fire was kindled by you. It was at your request that we came
together at this time. We have listened with attention to what you have said. You
requested us to speak our minds freely. This gives us great joy; for we now consider that
we stand upright before you and can speak what we think. All have heard your voice, and
all speak to you now as one man. Our minds are agreed....
Brother, listen to what we say.
There was a time when our forefathers owned this great island. Their seats
extended from the rising to the setting sun. The Great Spirit had made it for the use of
Indians. He had created the buffalo, the deer, and other animals for food. He had made
the bear and the beaver. Their skins served us for clothing. He had scattered them over
the country and taught us how to take them. He had caused the earth to produce corn for
bread. All this he had done for his red children because he loved them. If we had some
disputes about our hunting ground, they were generally settled without the shedding of
much blood.
But an evil day came upon us. Your forefathers crossed the great water and
landed on this island. Their numbers were small. They found friends and not enemies.
They told us they had fled from their own country for fear of wicked men and had come here to enjoy their religion. They asked for a small seat. We took pity on them, granted
their request, and they sat down among us. We gave them corn and meat; they gave us
poison in return.
Brother, our seats were once large and yours were small. You have now become a
great people, and we have scarcely a place left to spread our blankets. You have got our
country, but are not satisfied; you want to force your religion upon us.
Brother, continue to listen.
You say that you are sent to instruct us how to worship the Great Spirit agreeably
to his mind; and, if we do not take hold of the religion which you white people teach, we
shall be unhappy hereafter. You say that you are right and we are lost. How do we know
this to be true?
We understand that your religion is written in a book. If it was intended for us, as
well as you, why has not the Great Spirit given to us, and not only to us, but why did he
not give to our forefathers the knowledge of that book, with the means of understanding it
rightly. We only know what you tell us about it. How shall we know when to believe,
being so often deceived by the white people?
Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If
there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why do not
all agree, as you can all read the book?
Brother, we do not understand these things. We are told that your religion was
given to your forefathers and has been handed down from father to son. We also have a
religion which was given to our forefathers and has been handed down to us, their
children. We worship in that way. It teaches us to be thankful for all the favors we
receive, to love each other, and to be united. We never quarrel about religion....
Brother, we do not wish to destroy your religion or take it from you. We only
want to enjoy our own.
together this day....
Brother, this council fire was kindled by you. It was at your request that we came
together at this time. We have listened with attention to what you have said. You
requested us to speak our minds freely. This gives us great joy; for we now consider that
we stand upright before you and can speak what we think. All have heard your voice, and
all speak to you now as one man. Our minds are agreed....
Brother, listen to what we say.
There was a time when our forefathers owned this great island. Their seats
extended from the rising to the setting sun. The Great Spirit had made it for the use of
Indians. He had created the buffalo, the deer, and other animals for food. He had made
the bear and the beaver. Their skins served us for clothing. He had scattered them over
the country and taught us how to take them. He had caused the earth to produce corn for
bread. All this he had done for his red children because he loved them. If we had some
disputes about our hunting ground, they were generally settled without the shedding of
much blood.
But an evil day came upon us. Your forefathers crossed the great water and
landed on this island. Their numbers were small. They found friends and not enemies.
They told us they had fled from their own country for fear of wicked men and had come here to enjoy their religion. They asked for a small seat. We took pity on them, granted
their request, and they sat down among us. We gave them corn and meat; they gave us
poison in return.
Brother, our seats were once large and yours were small. You have now become a
great people, and we have scarcely a place left to spread our blankets. You have got our
country, but are not satisfied; you want to force your religion upon us.
Brother, continue to listen.
You say that you are sent to instruct us how to worship the Great Spirit agreeably
to his mind; and, if we do not take hold of the religion which you white people teach, we
shall be unhappy hereafter. You say that you are right and we are lost. How do we know
this to be true?
We understand that your religion is written in a book. If it was intended for us, as
well as you, why has not the Great Spirit given to us, and not only to us, but why did he
not give to our forefathers the knowledge of that book, with the means of understanding it
rightly. We only know what you tell us about it. How shall we know when to believe,
being so often deceived by the white people?
Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If
there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why do not
all agree, as you can all read the book?
Brother, we do not understand these things. We are told that your religion was
given to your forefathers and has been handed down from father to son. We also have a
religion which was given to our forefathers and has been handed down to us, their
children. We worship in that way. It teaches us to be thankful for all the favors we
receive, to love each other, and to be united. We never quarrel about religion....
Brother, we do not wish to destroy your religion or take it from you. We only
want to enjoy our own.
12 Comments:
wait! rochwen!
darn it! i wish i'd stayed on longer!
me too. Anyway... Cool post!!!!!!!!!!
oh, took me FOREVER to make the connection- the innocent can never last and wake me up when september ends.... I'm a little slow. :)
and i have no view to the outside world.
kapow!
why is no one coming to our sites any more???
No idea. SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWEEEEEEP!
peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeoW! PEEEEEEEEEEEEEOW!
KAAAAAAAAAAPOW! GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPUF!
PFFFFFFFFFFFFFSHHHHHHHHHHH!
because i don't have time to breath anymore!!!!yikes!!!
oh, wow, i just read the post. i think i might cry now. i think i might go write about it now.
good idea. NOT about the tears, the writing.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
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