Jacky Smith
Aug 23, 2017 · 1 min read

Hmmm do they count as “American”? Their religious practices were illegal until 1972, for example. They don’t seem to be granted the same sort of civil rights as others — at Standing Rock, people who were arrested were herded into police dog kennels in the open air without proper clothing, in December in North Dakota. Their identities were written on their skin in indelible ink. And most of them are now being found not guilty when finally taken to court, or the cases are being dropped.

I’m not saying more First Nations people died in the Civil War, but certainly more people were slaughtered in total in military action against First Nations than died on both sides in the Civil War. That slaughter continues to this day.

And I am questioning your statement that the Civil War was the conflict that defined America.

As far as I’m concerned, the genocide of First Nations is the war that defines America. It’s how it obtained its territory and its very existence, and it should shame the nation to this day.

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    Jacky Smith

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    Activist with an interest in good food and good company.