Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rich Sioux History,
By
This review is from: Crazy Horse And Chief Red Cloud: Warrior Chiefs- Teton Oglalas (Paperback)
A Very Honorable Tribute. Thankfully, this rich history has been brought forth. Mitakuye Oyasin.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fascinating and important book by an Oglala Sioux author,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Crazy Horse And Chief Red Cloud: Warrior Chiefs- Teton Oglalas (Paperback)
Very few histories have been written from the Indian perspective, and therefore this book fills a large gap in our understanding of the nineteenth century and the relationship between Indians and their enemies, the European invaders who determined to relieve them of their most treasured possession, their land. Ed McGaa, also known as Eagle Man, has provided a very valuable resource for those of us who sincerely want to understand our Indian neighbors. ("Neighbor" here is intended to indicate that we share this nation and its history with a race we know little about.) As a small boy, I played "Cowboys and Indians", little knowing that I was playing out a one-sided story based only on my own childish ignorance: cowboys and Indians were arch enemies and always wanted to kill each other. Further, the cowboys were the good guys and the Indians were the bad guys. I did not realize, as a child, that there are two sides to every story. For 45 of my 65 years, I have understood just how wrong my good guy-bad guy understanding was: much of the time, it was the white man who was the bad guy. Today, however, having read two important books telling "the rest of the story", (the other was "Custer's Fall, The Native American Side of The Story" by David Humphreys Miller) I find I would very much like to set down with the author and get to know him as a personal friend. I know that he is a military veteran, a marine, and that, to me, makes him a hero. Not a native American hero: just a hero. Even as a Vietnam veteran, (U.S. Air Force) I find that, like he does, I respect warriors. Mr McGaa, if you should happen to read this review, I would like to say "thank you for your service". I say all that to indicate that I see little difference between Mr McGaa and his people and myself and my people: we both love our nation and we both are proud of who we are.In his presentation of the lives of Crazy Horse and Chief Red Cloud, the author is justifiably defensive. The Indian has been lied to and lied about as much if not more than any other people in American history. I am appalled by the lies that the white man told in an effort to steal Indian land. I am even a little ashamed that as Americans, many histories seem to revel in the theft of Manhattan Island from the Indians for a fraction of its value. I am actually as ashamed that we revel in it as I am that we stole it. Then, too, I am ashamed that my profession, that of a pastor for almost 40 years, spiritually abused the Indian in an effort to evangelize him. It doesn't matter that I am Baptist and it was the Jesuits who cast away all Christian standards of behavior in attempting to win the Indian to faith in Jesus Christ. (My characterization, not his). Just the fact that it was those who should have known that they represented the Prince of Peace, Jesus, who were acting like the Prince of Darkness, Satan, in their behavior makes me sick at my stomach. How could they not realize that real conversion must be voluntary and not either coerced or threatened out of another person? Can you tell that Mr McGaa made me very angry? No, not angry at him, but angry at my own race and my own profession. The author is a very credible voice reminding us that we must live what we preach or make ourselves out to be liars. The book was written first in the Lakota language, and then translated. It is, therefore, sometimes difficult to read and understand. When I grumbled that he needed a better editor or translator, my English teacher wife reminded me that it is not the task of a translator to correct the grammar of an author, but simply to translate what he wrote. The art of translation is sometimes an imprecise science. Point taken. In short, this is not an easy book to read. If you have a sense of justice, it may make you angry like it did me. There is no justice for the American Indian at the hands of his invaders. I know of no one, myself included, who would suggest we give it back and go back to Europe. If you are, as I am, an evangelical, you may be occasionally distressed at his insistence on the correctness of his faith. And why not? After all, we are convinced of the correctness of ours! And, you may be distressed at the realization that in our ineptness, we threw away a golden opportunity to show the gentleness of Christ-like evangelism. Whatever your perspective, I think everyone interested in history would benefit from hearing Mr. McGaa's voice. We owe him at least that much. Note on published editions: First Editions have no pictures or maps. The sixth edition which I read has extra material of interest to any reader, including pictures. Five stars for importance of subject, the authors willingness to speak his mind and the quality of the story telling.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
|
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
