Replies to '01/05 "Am I Cursed?"'

Hello Whispering Eagle, 

I just wanted to say that it is true we don't have to go too far to find extreme poverty in the US, but what I think Terri was saying is that we ( you and me, not our ancestors) are very lucky to live here.  We have a choice to pull ourselves out of poverty, I can give you many names of people that have done it in the US, one being Oprah herself.  I think that we as a society on the whole are so lucky to have freedoms that other countries could never even dream of!  #1 being freedom of religion, freedom of speech (although I believe some take too much liberty with this), and so so many others.  There are still places in this world that you can be killed for being a Christian, it's not something from yester-year, people are still be persecuted for what they believe.  I am just giving this example because I wear my faith out on my sleeves and am not ashamed to tell you about what I believe.  I am so glad I can tell you and not be harmed in the process. 

I have been to many reservations in my life, living in the midwest and traveling around the states you are bound to travel close to one or through one.  But I also have a sister-in-law, that is as close or even closer to me than my own sister, that is a eye doctor on one of these reservations.  I hear from her all the time about the depression she sees in people.  I know that this has come from a long line of mistrust of white people and from the terrible things we (my ancestors) did to you (your ancestors), but I also believe that everyone in this country has a choice to pick themselves up by their boot straps and live life to the fullest.  I am really trying not to sound insensitive, because I really don't want you to take this as any kind of maliciousness. 

I just feel that people in the US and Canada have so much more to live for than anyone else does in the world.  The US was founded on Godly principles and I believe it is our duty to the world to live our lives to be of service to those who are in need.  To whether it be someone in our own country that needs a helping hand or to those who are truely starving in the world for everything that we sometimes take for granted, whether it is governmental health care or the best doctor money could buy. 

I also want to challege Dr. Phil to see if he could help those who live on reservations.  I think he could do some good to bring this issue to the forefront, although it's probably another hot botton issue. 

Amy Jayne 

Dear Whispering Eagle, 

Firstly, I think you missed the point of what I was trying to get at, which is, stop, take a look at what you have and this country is very wealthy.  And now in reply to your statement of being poor, being a descendant of the Cherokee, which most of my dad's family still live in Oklahoma, at the end of the trail of tears, many of my dad'sfamily do live on a reservation.  Secondly, I have almost been homeless by the age of 5, my family had no food, and yes we were helped by people we didn't know and couldn't repay.  I know about hand-me-down clothes from other peoples children and I was happy to have "new clothes" from them.  I could survive poverty, alcoholism, physical abuse, I watched my mother beaten many times.  My mother, my sister and I had run away from a very bad abusive situation only to be found and brought back.  So, please, before you make a statement about being pushed down and not being able to survive, know the person you are speaking to before you put your foot in your mouth (so to speak).   

I am sorry that you took such a negative view of my thoughts, I was just trying to remind people, stop whining and take a look at all the good you have in your life.   

Sincerely, 

Terri