November 21, 2004

• PEOPLE WHO KNOCK ME OUT
  (See sidebar for others)

  Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce

  For the second week in a row, I’m including a map, this time of one of the most brilliant military retreats in American history, that of 700 (only 200 of whom were warriors) Native Americans pursued by 2000 U.S. soldiers for 1400 miles, as they attempted to reach the tiny reservation in Idaho that was all that was left of a former reservation that had stretched from Oregon into Idaho. Joseph’s father had been a convert to Christianity and supported peace with the whites until 1863 when the federal government took back almost 6 million acres of the Nez Perce reservation he had helped set up. Then he denounced the U.S., destroyed his American flag and Bible, and refused to move his band from the Wallowa Valley or sign a treaty to make the new reservation legal. Seven years later, when he died and Joseph became the tribe’s leader, he continued to resist until 1877 when he finally began to lead his people toward Idaho. Because a few young warriors staged a raid on nearby settlements in their rage at this turn of events, the army began to pursue them. Over the long march, the Nez Perce fought with courage and skill in four major battles and numerous skirmishes. Finally in October of that year, Joseph formally surrendered with this famous speech:

  I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. Toohoolhoolzote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say, “Yes” or “No.” He who led the young men [Olikut] is dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are–perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.

  Even after surrender, Joseph and his people were never allowed to return home to the Wallowa Valley. Chief Joseph died in 1904, still in exile from his homeland, according to his doctor “of a broken heart.” Today our weapons are bigger than rifles, spears, and bow and arrow but apparently we are not sick enough yet of killing and dying. How many more years before enough of us will “fight no more forever?”
  

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  Deep Thought: “One Thanksgiving my parents did something I don’t know if I can ever forgive them for. We were eating our turkey dinner when suddenly I realized I hadn’t seen my pet turkey all day. “Where’s Mister Gobble?” I asked. Dad seemed confused. “Mister Gobble?” “Yes,” I said. “My turkey. The one I picked out at the supermarket, and then after he thawed out I made him do a funny little turkey dance. Mister Gobble.” Dad’s silence said it all. We were eating Mister Gobble! I ran crying from the table and locked myself in my room. Later, Dad knocked on the door and said he had some dessert for me. When I opened the door, I couldn’t believe it. It was a slice of Pumpkie, my pet pie!”
  Today I am grateful for: PETA
  Guess the Movie: “You know, this necklace makes me think of this totally random memory of my mother. I was a little kid, and I was crying for whatever reason. And she was cradling me, rocking me back and forth, and I can just remember the silver balls rolling around. And there was snot dripping all over my face. She offered me her sleeve and told me to blow my nose. I can remember, even as a little kid, thinking to myself, “This is love… this is love.”" Answer: Garden State, 2004.
  Towards Alternative Cities, the Green-Friendly Way
  by Marwaan Macan-Markar
  BANGKOK – Alarmed by the pace at which consumer-driven lifestyles are destroying the planet’s resources, a leading environmental body has set its sights on creating a green-friendly haven replete with houses, restaurants, shops and hotels.
  Portugal will serve as the launching pad for these planned ”eco-cities,” said officials from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as they revealed the blueprint for the ‘One Planet Living’ initiative here Wednesday, at a major conservation conference. (Rest of article here.)
  End of Day: 9:33 pm
  + = Wow what a sunset tonight – streaks of pink all over.
  - = Got to the movie Finding Neverland to late before it was sold out.

  • 12:01 pm
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