by Tom King

Created on: November 22, 2010

"Native Americans are genetically predisposed to alcoholism, drugs and laziness." This is an offensive statement true enough. There is no question there are many in the world capable of such statements and worse.

Just as offensive were the remarks made by the author about the "White Man" who arrived in North America, stole Indian land and brought infectious diseases  to wipe out the Indian people.

Is this what is now being passed off as American history in our schools? It is true that European settlers first began settling eastern North America, eventually migrating westward.

As the population and settlements grew so did hostilities and conflicts with the Indian people. Eventually these conflicts became larger and more frequent. This period would become known as the American Indian Wars.

The truth is wars are awful and this one was no different, atrocities were committed by both sides. I don’t believe however that the introduction of infectious diseases common to Europeans and deadly to the Indian people could be considered a purposeful atrocity.

Throughout history when civilizations made first contact with each other there would likely have been deaths from illnesses resulting from diseases unfamiliar to one or both civilizations.

Hostilities and conflicts had been taking place on American soil long before the Europeans landed on her shores. Indian tribes had battled each other over territory long before the first "White Man" arrived.

When Indian tribes battled one another over territory, the defeated tribe if not completely wiped out either left or in some instances merged with the victorious tribe. The Victorious tribe gained new territories and improvements left by the defeated tribe.

Throughout civilization this scenario has been repeated time and again regardless which continent or civilization was involved. Wars fought over land usually resulted in the victor expanding their territory.

The United States expanded its territory, by purchasing, trading or defeating its opposition in battle, much the same way most civilization had done throughout history.

The United Stated fought and gained its independence from England and in doing so expanded its territory greatly. Similarly the United States defeated Mexico and again expanded its territory. The Indian tribes also met a similar fate.

One striking difference of course was that some Indians moved north into Canada while others headed south into Mexico, some continued to fight while the rest were

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