by Amanda Teo

Created on: March 23, 2010

Suffering always finds a way to be part of one’s life. The dictionary defines suffering as the “tolerance or endurance of evil, injury, pain or deaths”. This feeling is mostly viewed as a despondent experience. There are two ways to cope with suffering: appraise it or deny it. The challenge is found in seeing the benefits in the midst of anguish. To acknowledge the situation and take something good out of the bad experience is the trouble we all face.

            The best example that depicts suffering in US History is the lives of Native Americans. Coming from their native land, Asia, about 20,000 years ago, they were the first descendants to live in America. Surviving there for thousands of years, they knew what America was like before the Europeans discovered this newfound territory. No one had lived in their ground before they came. The Native Americans considered this new earth to be their home. The huge sheets of ice covering their earth were their comfortable surrounding. What is now water were lands that their homes were built on. This move was a chance for them to live a happy life with the hope of passing this joy to the many generations to come. However, when Columbus discovered this new treasure in 1492, he took their hope away.  

            He could not contain his excitement of his new discovery of a foreign tribe. Taking advantage of their resources, he took most of what the Native Americans worked hard for. Coming into this new land, he carried viruses and diseases along. The inhabitants, not having an immune system that can fight this new infection, became very ill. Soon, many died. When Columbus reached the New World, there were approximately 10 million Native Americans. Fifty years later, only 237,000 of them existed.

            Although sickness accompanied their life, the Native Americans persevered. With hope still burning in their hearts, they kept an optimistic outlook on life. As America advanced, the burden to invest and expand laid heavy on the government’s heart. One of their strategies was to push the Native Americans out of their land into a reservation. This did not leave the Natives happy. Forced to move out of their homes so that Congress may use their land to grow cattle filled their hearts with anger. Moving with a vengeance

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>