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Dear Mr. President, Being Native Americans living in the United States as free citizens, my people and I believe we have the right to express our feelings about the manifest destiny and the horrid consequences that affected many different Native American tribes throughout history. I’ve thoroughly researched many things on the manifest destiny, and I feel that the Native Americans were grievously wronged and discriminated against because of John O’Sullivans claim of manifest destiny. None but the white men were entitled to any rights, especially owning land.
My people were wronged because of one man’s view of what was right for the country and the white race. The manifest destiny was used to strip the Native Americans of their rights, their homes, and everything they called their own because of one man’s word. Because of this, our old, young and everything in between were massacred in historic events such as the Trail of Tears. 17,000 of my own people were pushed and prodded out of our land into unwanted territories by the US Military. Almost 4,000 men, women and children died of heat exhaustion, dehydration, and malnutrition.
I question the reason that there were so many territorial issues throughout history every day of my life. Was it the color of our skin? One man changed the course of our countries view with one phrase that was believed to be appointed by God, so why did we get no chance to defend our land and our pride? All men were created equal under god, so my people and I feel that we should be able to speak our part and get the respect that we deserve that was never given to our ancestors. I feel that reparations should be made to our people, within certain limits of course.
We should be allowed ownership of our historic land and territories, and my people certainly deserve an apology. Yes we live in a more structured civilization, but our history is still very vital to all Native Americans. We may all be treated equally nowadays, but that still does not make up for the innocent lives that were taken. It doesn’t make up for the family’s that were torn apart, the women, the elderly, and the children that were dragged miles upon miles across the country into territory where we still were not welcome, and the 4,000 Indians that did not even make it through the grueling journey they were forced to embark upon.
In closing sir, I’ve expressed my views and I hope that you will pursue whatever you think is right to help my people and I. I hope you take my words into careful consideration, and look closely at the hurt and pain that Native Americans endured for generations just because of the color of our skin. Look at it as if it were your family and your race being degraded and forced to leave the comfort of your own home just because you ‘don’t belong’ or weren’t wanted there. I thank you for all of your time and attention in this matter, and hope you will contact me in turn. Thank you