Editor,
Whenever any debate about immigration comes up I can’t help but think of the Native American people. Why is it that I don’t hear Natives droning on and on about people needing to “go back where they came from?” After all, were they not the original people to inhabit this land that we now call the United States of America?
Recently, Native Americans who were peacefully protesting the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota were attacked by members of a private security firm with attack dogs and pepper spray. Jimmy Carter said, “The measure of a society is found in how they treat their weakest and most helpless citizens.” If his words are true, then our society is failing miserably in how we treat the original peoples of this land.
One of the protesters stated the reason why thousands of Natives had camped out to protest the new pipeline. Standing Rock Sioux Chairman David Archambault II said, “These grounds are the resting places of our ancestors. The ancient cairns and stone prayer rings there cannot be replaced. In one day, our sacred land has been turned into hollow ground.”
Greed seems to be driving this project forward in spite of the fact that the destruction of sacred Native American land will take place. As the courts get set to rule on whether or not this project will go forward, people of conscience should sincerely hope that the private security forces who have so cowardly attacked innocent men, women and children will show some restraint.
Native Americans deserve respect like all people, and let’s not forget that they were the original people of this land, period. If these sacred lands in North Dakota are ultimately destroyed in the name of greed, then one may safely conclude that we are a morally bankrupt people who have not learned from our past mistakes.
Muhajir Romero
Daily Lobo reader
