Created Equal

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” (U. S. Declaration of Independence 1776)

Having watched hundreds of 'Cowboys and Indians' movies throughout my life, what I have seen in most instances are the native American Indians vilified as "bloodthirsty savages" and the white settlers and U. S. Calvary were the "good guys" who were the ones being attacked by the "savage" Indians.

But in reality, the native American Indians—who were here first by the way—vastly outnumbered, over time, had their lands stolen, property confiscated, were killed off, and those who remained were herded like cattle and contained onto Reservations.

This is how the West was won.

How is your conscience with that? 

Mine is not okay.

From the beginning of the European colonization of the Americas, Europeans often removed native peoples from the lands they wished to occupy. The means varied, including treaties made under considerable duress, forceful ejection, and violence. 

The first effective Indian reservation was established for the Powhatan tribes in 1658.

It has been said that for much of North America, the American Revolution was more of a battle against the Indians than a war against the British. So when the war was brought to an end with the 1783 Treaty of Paris, the treaty was generally understood by American officials to strip the Indians of all property rights east of the Mississippi River. The treaty was seen by Americans as a confirmation of their conquest of Indian land.

The passage of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 marked the systematization of a U.S. federal government policy of forcibly moving Native populations away from European-populated areas.

One example was the Five Civilized Tribes, who were removed from their native lands in the southern United States and moved to modern-day Oklahoma, in a mass migration that came to be known as the Trail of Tears. Some of the lands these tribes were given to inhabit following the removals eventually became Indian reservations.

In 1851, the United States Congress passed the Indian Appropriations Act which authorized the creation of Indian reservations in modern-day Oklahoma. Relations between settlers and natives had grown increasingly worse as the settlers encroached on territory and natural resources in the West.

Reservations were generally established by executive order. In many cases, white settlers objected to the size of land parcels, which were subsequently reduced. A report submitted to Congress in 1868 found widespread corruption among the federal Native American agencies and generally poor conditions among the relocated tribes.

Many tribes ignored the relocation orders at first and were forced onto their limited land parcels. Enforcement required the United States Army to restrict the movements of various tribes. The pursuit of tribes in order to force them back onto reservations led to a number of wars with Native Americans which included some massacres. The most well-known conflict was the Sioux War on the northern Great Plains, between 1876 and 1881, which included the Battle of Little Bighorn. Other famous wars in this regard included the Nez Perce War.

To this day there are approximately 326 Indian Reservations in America.

And yet our own Declaration of Independence proclaims; “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

"All men are created equal."

But our nations history seems to prove otherwise.

Now imagine a completely different history.

Imagine that you were here first. And a much larger population of foreigners started immigrating here from a distant land. And they kept coming, and coming, by the tens of millions. Taking your land. Seizing your property. Killing off you "savage natives" who were only protecting your land and homes and families. Herding you into reservations meant to contain you so they could enjoy what was once yours.

Two thousand years ago Jesus said:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

And,

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:44-45)

The history and actions of America are hotly defended today as that of a "godly Christian nation."

How is it then that our forefathers left an oppressive nation and came here to live as free men and freely practice their religion apart from tyranny, and yet they themselves became the oppressors?

God will hold this nation accountable.

“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)

Gracious Lord, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.