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and I am both happy and sad, wondering how that can be.
This photograph of Chief Big Foot left dead and frozen in the snow
will forever be etched in the minds of American Indians
as a reminder of the inhumane treatment rendered to their ancestors by the federal government.
Estimates are some 300 men, women and children were killed at the Wounded Knee Massacre today in 1890.
It need not have happened.
But hate looks the same as everyone else until there are no witnesses.
It is important to always remember what happened by the hands of evil men
because evil men still exist today.
Even now, there are evil people who spew out hatred against others
who may not be their same race, color or religion today.
MY FRIEND AND COLLABORATOR,
ROBERT ROSSMANN
has a new web page out:
Now available on cdbaby.com
A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens, recorded live by Robert Rossmann.
Soon to be out on audio by Robert as well:
I've just finished page 65 of my new Opus!
The grey clouds swirled angrily, silently, looking as if God had burned the
sins of yesterday, casting them to the winds.
Meilori hugged my arm.
I looked
down, watching her silently, effortlessly holding my universe together.
Sometimes I can feel my heart straining under
the weight of all the lives I’ve taken.
Then,
I look into her slanted eyes, jade quarter moons waiting to rise, and the world
makes sense again.
I looked away from her as if she were the sun. Yet, I still saw her, like the sun, even
without looking. Love is like that.
“Beloved,” she sighed. “One day
your compassion will be the death of us.”
I nodded. “All my futile efforts
to make the world better: a dream, a dream … that most like will end in nothing,
leaving me where I laid down.”
I bent my head, kissing her soft lips lightly. “But I wish you to know that you inspired it.”
Meilori turned wet eyes away from me, and Sammy said from behind us, “I
reckon that in a sense, Lady Meilori, we are all each other’s consequences.”
“Just so,” she murmured. “Just so.”
Meilori sighed, “We cross our bridges as we come to them and burn them
behind us,
with nothing to show for our efforts except a memory of the smell of
smoke, and the heat at our backs.”
MAY YOUR NEW YEAR BE EVEN BETTER THAN YOU WISH IT TO BE!
May you also have a better New Year than you might wish for, Roland! Also hope your writing goes well. . .for your new Opus.
ReplyDeleteThanks, D.G. I've been thinking of you as I plot this Opus of mine: it includes Mark Twain and Sam visiting the Paris Exposition of 1867, plus other outings all through Paris. Have a great New Year!
DeleteGood post. I especially like the commemoration to the Native Americans at Wounded Knee. It's so important to remember such a sad event so as to never let it happen again and to be accepting of other races and cultures. Thanks, and I hope you'll have a great and successful New Year too! : )
ReplyDeleteIn my Opus, I have my protagonist force the American government to keep its word to the Lakota, Cheyenne, and the Crow and keep the borders of the Great Sioux Nation inviolate.
DeleteThat is the fun in writing alternate history -- I get to undo some great tragedies, but every action has a dark reaction in politics.
The Indians of America have been forgotten sadly. America has bloody hand from a terrible racial cleansing. Red lives mattered and still do.
Thanks for the kind words! :-)
No problem.
DeleteIf history's tragedies could only be unwritten . . . Over half the problems of the world would probably be solved. But we learn history so we don't make the same mistakes over again (although we still make them over again in too many instances), and we write science fiction, including alternative history, in hopes to steer away from anticipated mistakes. Hopefully we can learn and put such lessons into effect in the upcoming new year. Wishing you a Happy New Year! :)
No problem.
DeleteIf history's tragedies could only be unwritten . . . Over half the problems of the world would probably be solved. But we learn history so we don't make the same mistakes over again (although we still make them over again in too many instances), and we write science fiction, including alternative history, in hopes to steer away from anticipated mistakes. Hopefully we can learn and put such lessons into effect in the upcoming new year. Wishing you a Happy New Year! :)
Mark Twain wrote that history did not repeat itself ... but it did rhyme!
DeleteWishing you also a New Year filled with happiness and hope. :-)
Learning from the past so that it cannot be repeated.
ReplyDeleteIndians that lived with whites were classified as white on census. The pressure to assimilate has been incredible on Native Americans.
Mankind is seldom kind to those without power to defend themselves adequately. Sigh. The history books gloss over and misrepresent the numbers of tribes eradicated by the American governments. Very sad.
DeleteSo good to see you here. I was concerned. Increased blood runs have kept me from visiting my friends as I want. :-(
Hi Roland - good to have a post from you ... your alternative histories are fun and I love the idea of the 1867 Paris exposition visit.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to read you can still get around and can help others with your blood runs ..
Cheers Hilary
Sorry about missing a regular post or two this week, but my blood runs take their toll on my body! :-)
DeleteYes, Paris in 1867 was an exotic place -- and I am glad you like my alternate histories. Have a safe and happy New Year Holiday!! Thanks for being my friend!
Hate and ignorance will always exist, at least in the current state of the world.
ReplyDeleteCool, how many of your books are on audio now?
Hate and ignorance: terrible traveling companions, right?
DeleteI have 22 of my books on audio, soon to be 23 with THE STARS BLEED AT MIDNIGHT and maybe 24 if Gary Furlong can finally build his sound studio and do THE RIVAL.
Thanks for asking and even more importantly -- caring. :-)
I love the sound of your new opus Roland. Hate and evil certainly stalk the earth. Despite this, I wish you a super 2016! May all your dreams come true.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the free excerpts for Christmas too!
Thanks for liking the sound of my new Opus, Denise. Hate and evil will never leave as long as one man remains alive -- each of us carry those seeds within us: we just have to refuse to water them!
DeleteMay your dreams come true as well. :-)