In Article 111 of the Northwest Ordinance, it states: "The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their land property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and in their property, rights, and liberty, they never shall be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity shall from time to time be made, for preventing wrongs being done to them and for preserving peace and friendship with them."

This ordinance was, of course, done away with in time. With it, "2 billion acres of Indian land" were diminished to 94 million acres, the trial of tears was born, and the indigenous populations were reduced culturally, historically, and legally, and were exposed to the most brutal of genocides. Yes, I acknowledge, due to these things, America came into being, however, I can't help but to wonder: at what price?

Perhaps I am biased as I have always felt a strong affinity for Mesoamericans and their ways of living. While it was primitive or "backwatered" to some, if we want to talk "green", that was the way it was. They were one of the most conscientiable and eco-friendly people alive while also one of the best hunters in the world. Their civilization may have contributed to the eventual loss of the North American buffalo but ours caused many creatures to go extinct-- and continues to endanger many more even today.

America speaks of immigration but 'Americans' have mostly been transplanted from other parts of the world-- whether it was Europe, Africa, or Asia (and we're not talking paleolithic times), I can't help but to feel that Native Americans were cheated a great deal out of so much. While no one truly 'owns the land', they never did. They felt it was home. That's different from the conventional approach to ownership. I rather liked their approach of life, one that encouraged people to think within their means than to become like wanton babes screaming of entitlements of 'birthright'.