Cowboys n' Indians

I came back from this book signing of an author whose roots are deeply-set into native american soil. I felt both illuminated and disappointed about how my race destroyed but also learned from many different tribes on different soils about how to 'love your land and heritage'. I recalled learning in American History class about the "Trail of Tears" plight, this song mentions it and how I found this song was the seeking in me for some justification on why? Why one race felt it necessary to control and undermine the hope of another race . . .

My first introduction to a real-live Indian was this inspiring author. His name is Sherman Alexie and no he is not Cherokee, he is of the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indians. Hegrew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, WA, about 50 miles northwest of Spokane, WA. There are approximately 1,100 Spokane Tribal members who live there.

When he visited Cleveland, there was still snow on the ground and he would joke about how deep the snow got on 'the res', the city practically forgot about you out there and well you made many snowpeople ! His enthusiasm about fixing what is wrong on many reservations is well revered by his numerous fans across the great plains. He is an award-winning and prolific author and occasional comedian. Much of his writing draws on his experiences as a modern Native American. Sherman's best known works include The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, Smoke Signals, and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. One of my favorite "indian' movies was Smoke Signals, taken directly off of Sherman's book, Smoke Signals. I have read "Flight"and found it creative.

In Flight, Alexie divulges that everyone has secrets. In comparison to Europe's Cherokee, all Indians have suffered greatly at the hands of other men. The plights of each Native American has been roughdemonstrated both in prose and song. Mr. Sherman Alexie is brutally honest and comes at you with unplumbed humor and passion for living. His zest is what Europe sings about. The pain the lead singer took me into was equally compounded by what I listened to earlier in the day.

I was lucky to have found this song by Europe, never knew it existed and I loved "Final CountDown". It just goes to show that one literary artist can bring you to a lyrical artist therefore proving the universal language of song, is heard everywhere.

Info on Mr. Sherman Alexie was copied from here: http://www.f allsapart.com/biography.html

Here is to the Cowboys n' Indians who dance in my circle of life !