I was pleased to read Steven Howland’s thoughtful “My Turn” submission in the July 18 Recorder. I agree with everything he said, and here’s what I was working on since reading the column that John Blasiak wrote on July 4. He ended with, “When you praise those who desire to create a better world, save some thanks for those Christian white men with guns who not only encouraged you to dream, but protected you as you slept.”
When I read that, I couldn’t help but think of what he failed to mention. Some examples:
Emmett Till was asleep when white men with guns seized him, beat him to death and threw his body into a river.
White men with guns (the U.S. 7th Cavalry) slaughtered hundreds of Lakota elders, women and children at Wounded Knee and received Medals of Honor for completing their mission.
White men with guns forced millions of West African people onto slave ships — these stolen people either died en route or became enslaved. Horror no matter what.
White men with guns guaranteed that the lynchings of thousands of African Americans went unchallenged and the “law” protected the lynchers.
White men with guns shepherded Japanese Americans into internment camps at the start of World War II.
White men with guns, led by John Turner, attacked and killed hundreds of children, and older men and women, in 1676. Right here in Turners Falls.
Civil War General Phil Sheridan developed the government policy toward Native people of the Great Plains by declaring: “The only good Indian is a dead Indian.” White men with guns enforced this policy. Tens of millions of Native people were annihilated by white men with guns since they invaded in 1492.
White men with guns forced thousands of Cherokee people to walk the “Trail of Tears,” the plan of President Jackson. This forced march from the South to the Oklahoma territories claimed the lives of one quarter of those who marched.
White men with guns are regularly shooting unarmed black boys and men in American streets.
White men with guns, for years now, have been randomly killing children in schools, concert goers and people praying in churches.
These are some of the brutal episodes of American history that come to me when I hear the phrase “white men with guns” or see Confederate flags.
My father was a medic in the 10th Mountain Division in World War II, and I would be remiss not to include my deep respect for the millions of Americans, including white men with guns, who fought bravely to defeat Nazi Germany, for example. All of us must know the full scope of our history, both evil and noble, and we must understand that the words, “white men with guns” is a loaded, frightening set of words.
Bob Cooley
Greenfield