“There is a something out of balance in the over emphasis of praise, and obligatory fawning over the military during invasions. Honoring warriors is a spiritual practice among the American Indian nations. I am an African Indian man. The purification ceremonies for our warriors were performed before and after war. The ceremonial approach to war, which I cannot elaborate on now, is not unique to us Indians. The ancient Hebrews purified their warriors caring for their souls after they came home from wars. My Biblical studies remind me of a period of days before warriors were allowed to mingle amongst the populace as their holy people supervised the purification rites for the men changed, and traumatized by blood-letting.
We don’t do these things. So it brings into my mind, and estimation what are we really telling our soldiers, the world, and our children? What are we not telling ourselves? What are we not willing to face? What questions and stories are we avoiding? Why do we praise and not honor? I think honor requires work, and clarity needs to be part of an understanding of why we fight. If we send our troops to invade a country that is part of the holy ground of our Christian faith without right on our side what are we telling our children about our religious convictions, about God, and life itself?
You can’t shake a stick at a mighty, and powerful military. But civilization is more complex than the military. When war is a major industry, a major moneymaker very quickly a country can sink into a morass, unable to sustain itself for long centuries as an imbalanced entity. Egypt is the only civilization that can claim longevity. Ancient Egypt (or Khemit) prospered and reigned as a supreme force for thousands of years. How they did it; how it was done is not part of our education, and why not? Why don’t we study the structure, religion, culture, and paradigms of these ancient people? Is it because they were a dark people, and we love to invade dark countries? Is it because the Christian faith has regulated Egypt into an evil status in its holy scriptures? I don’t have the answers but we need to ask the right questions.”
-Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories
Native American Elders & Warriors
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