native american patriotism?

note:  all images and underlined text are hyper-linked so simply click them for additional reading/viewing/listening.

i have a once-close friend from my childhood, who is indigenous (adopted and raised by two white parents) and is now completely dedicated to the marine corps--he somehow conflates his u.s. military experience with being indigenous and concludes that it's "warrior culture."  however,  the u.s. military  isn't anything like being an indigenous warrior.  the u.s. military is nothing more than the weapon used to maintain u.s. imperialism.  just as police officers in the u.s. serve and protect corporations and the rich, the u.s. military protects corporate and u.s. capital interest globally.  ironically it was indigenous warriors, who resisted westward expansion, colonization, white supremacy, and yes the u.s. military!

i've only ever attended one powwow in my life and this was one of the most surprising and actually upsetting aspects of what i witnessed.  i am a person of color and veteran, who has woken up to the true history of the united states or as some of my latino folks say, "esclavos unidos."  i firmly feel that history has proven over and over that no matter how much a member of a marginalized community tries to acculturate they will never be completely accepted by the dominant ("white") culture.  i am reminded of these instances:

The Soldiers Speak:  Black Americans and native Filipinos discover "an affinity of complexion"

Justice for Filipino American Veterans

The Contradictions of World War II (Japanese American experience)

Fort Minor - Kenji (Original Music Video) from ShadowfoX Productions on Vimeo.

Arab-Americans in military juggle patriotism, suspicion

An Excellent Reason Not to Join the Military

excerpt:

We women, people of color, and immigrants are especially attracted by the idea that we could live our lives on equal footing with other Americans. But the military isn't the egalitarian nirvana that its multi-billion dollar advertising blitz -- with a budget of almost $4 billion in 2003 -- claims.

Quese Imc-Good Ol' Amerikkka


“let me tell you a little something about the american flag and it's red, white, and blue and all the history that it has, the genocide of this land to annihilate the red man, pay a dime for skin off the forehead of a kid no older than ten so hence the redskins were scalps of children and men, but what they would do to our women, yo! i just cannot comprehend, they would take a knife and cut her breast off and howl to the moon and if she was pregnant they would cut her baby out and mutilate the womb, they would murder little boys and girls point blank with a rifle, and it was all in the name of the american flag and their bible, so why do you find it so hard believe that they are liable to be so genocidal to a people who are so spiritual and tribal, this an american holocaust that surpasses any you study, so when you pledge allegiance to the flag your chest is bloody.”

more voices of native resistance



i've read "ojibwa warrior" and this reminds me of dennis banks realization when he was stationed in japan:

"The year was 1899, and Private David Fagen had a decision to make. He'd volunteered to serve in America's first overseas war to prove to the folks back home a black man's blood just as good as a white's when spilled fighting for Old Glory. Now, at the dawn of a new century, Fagen realized he was only a pawn in the white man's crusade for empire. Every time he pulled the trigger he helped enslave the people he came to liberate." excerpt from "cousins of color"

bonus!