American Indian Music

Comment

Comment by Michael S. Jackson on February 14, 2012 at 8:52am

Andy - Good luck on your project. Sounds interesting.

m

Comment by Andy Getch on February 13, 2012 at 6:14pm

Didn't want to neglect this group so thought I would post an update. I finished Iroquois Music and Dance - Ceremonial Arts of Two Seneca Longhouses a few weeks ago. I am inspired to develop a song inspired from one of the melodies and titles. I hope to write my own lyrics and revise the melody to include guitar. This may be a good fit for a songwriting challenge I have entered this month. 

Comment by David Mitchell on December 7, 2011 at 3:53pm

Thanks for the thoughtful insight. Your observation about people's claims not reflecting a true belief (sadly) isn't exclusive to the Native American world. All too often it's the same in many (if not all) world religions to some extent. To my thoughts on my enjoyment of the song, it reminds that our actions have repercussions, & we need to be mindful of what we do. It's easier said than done.

Comment by Michael S. Jackson on November 3, 2011 at 12:30pm

I don't want to offend. It's just that, in my life, I've run into a lot of people claiming to be Native American but their actions don't reflect a true belief. Most of those people (posers, some call them) have been Native American by blood. You don't have to be of a certain bloodline to know how nature works and of your place in it - just as your blood does not ensure you are truly Native American.

It's sad to me that some people keep making the same mistakes over and over again. They can go back to the blanket. The rest of us understand that the Earth was not created for man.

'nuff said.

Thanks - m

Comment by Andy Getch on November 2, 2011 at 5:45pm

Michael,

Thanks for helping to fill in the blanks for I would "like to get to know" and look forward to day, but I feel I am one step closer. 

Comment by James P. Royle on November 1, 2011 at 11:12am

Very nice! Thank you sir. I knew I'd get a beautiful answer from you. We firemonkeys don't always see the bigger picture and as heartless as it sounds, I look forward to the day!

Comment by Michael S. Jackson on November 1, 2011 at 10:28am

I'm really not trying to be obteuse, but I will try to explain a lifetime of learning in one - short- post.

First, I don't like labels and the push these days is to place everyone into nice neat little piles. This makes it easier to control them, hate them, and worse. So, at the risk of labeling two groups of people, I'll lump all those who were brought up learning the ways of thousands of years of living in Nature as "Traditionalists." Those who don't really understand it are ones who will be attracted to "The Way"but like to jump on the wagon and let someone else pull the cart. I believe their heart is in the right place, but they have not a Center, are prone to following the crowd, and they cannot really understand the ways of Nature and often end up causing more harm. But it is good that most of these folks have a desire to know).

In the first few lines of the song, it was mentioned (to paraphrase) that if we don't take care of Mother Earth, she will die.

To Traditionalists, that declaration is a vial insult to Mother Earth. There is nothing man can do to kill Mother Earth. Even if we found some way to cover the Earth with thermonuclear weapons and destroy every living soul... Mother Earth will not die. She gives us what we need to live and we might affect that in some areas, but we do not have the power to kill or even control her. She is much bigger and more powerful than all of us would like to think.

It is truly arrogant for man to believe he has power and control over Mother Earth. To give the song writer the benefit of doubt, perhaps what the folks in this song are really saying is - We are here by the Grace of Mother Earth. If we don't know her and keep in our place, she can no longer provide for us. We will perish - as did the lives of many dominant creatures in Earth's past extinctions.

That probably doesn't easily rhyme, though.

Of course, maybe they did intend to insult the Earth and the Traditionalists (inseparable) by declaring man has the power to create and destroy.

I'm probably messing up this explanation but it's the best I can do on a post like this. This is something you need to think on and decide for yourselves. But remember, man does not have the power to destroy the Earth. Further, to pity someone, to give them welfare, and to try to take their power from them are the biggest insults anyone could possibly slap someone with. In the not to distant future, you would be killed for doing so.

Yelo.

 

Comment by James P. Royle on October 31, 2011 at 12:16pm

And maybe you should tell us what you mean so we have a clue instead of dropping a turd on the table and walking out of the room like I usually do?lol

Comment by Michael S. Jackson on October 31, 2011 at 11:59am

Just my opinion, I know no one cares, but some of these words are an insult. Maybe they should rewrite some of it to reflect true native peoples' beliefs?

Comment by James P. Royle on October 29, 2011 at 9:30am

I like it too. David, please don't worry about how things will, "go over," That's not what this about. Thanks!

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