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Hey, everyone, eyes-of-a-hawk here. I'd just like to say thanks for all of your reviews over the past couple years!
Okay, so I lied—I have some more things to say:
1. Some of you did not like this story. I'm sorry you feel that way, but I understand. I was a lot younger when I began this, and I've matured since then—emotionally, mentally, and in my writing skills. I hope to revamp This Land is Your Land sometime soon, but it's not looking good. Take a peek at my profile, and you'll see why.
2. The title "This Land is Your Land" came from that song—you know, 'This land is your land, this land is my land, from California, to the New York islands', etc. The sequel was going to be called "This Land is My Land," and the sequel to that, "This Land is Our Land." It was not, in any way, intended to offend anyone! I pictured Red Fox in the brutal way I did because some Native Americans, not all, or most, for that matter, were like that. They attacked settlers—of course, the settlers did deserve it, most times. But, if you notice, Sound of Running Water is a very kind young woman!
3. I myself am not a descendant of those settlers, so I feel no bias toward Native Americans—at all! They are a proud, noble people, and helped found the very nation that we know today. But, I feel that I have to contradict Ha-Wa on one point.
Dear Ha-Wa,
I'm sorry you feel this way about my story, because what you've pointed out was not my intention at all. I have shed tears over the pain that white men forced Native Americans to go through! Please, if you read this, take into consideration what I say.
You said that you hoped I didn't assume that North America belongs to the English, French, Irish, Scottish, and German. I don't! I hope you realize that I am new, relatively speaking, to America. My grandfather immigrated from the Netherlands in the 1950s. So I can take no acclaim or blame for these settlers—my ancestors were all in the Netherlands until the 1900s!
However, you also said that this land belongs to the Native Americans. Yes, I agree with you, to some degree. In reality (now, it may seem that I am preaching, but bear with me), this land "belongs" to no one! It is God's, and God's alone. He is simply lending it to us, if you will. But anyway. Think of it this way: just because the Native Americans were there first doesn't mean that they can keep everyone else out!
Let's all imagine that, since the beginning of time, everyone stayed out of land that wasn't "theirs." For one thing, that's impossible. Our modern world, with the boundaries and states and countries, are constantly changing—it was even worse back then! Boundaries were constantly changing, kingdoms were being conquered, people were expanding…If no one moved beyond their tent, teepee, cave, whatever, we wouldn't have the amazing diversity in the world that we have today! In fact, most of us wouldn't even exist.
I feel that I have been preaching again, so I apologize. I see where you're coming from, and I apologize for the things that got under your skin, as well.
Yours with a million apologies,
Eyes-of-a-hawk
PS: See? Another example of diversity. We wouldn't be communicating if our ancestors had stayed in "their" land!
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To anyone else that reads this post: have a great day!