Power Perceived Is Power Achieved
They came into my country spreading along like insects at night. Their cannons had raked the villages and extended beyond like a distant rainstorm. They wore funny shaped hats with cloth covering their eyes from sights chosen not to see. We were promised much to give up what we had, but those words were empty. They wanted our support, our ideas, our culture, our land, and our souls.
I remember walking across land beautiful from the spring rain as far as the eye could see. The water was clean and one could sleep safely at night listening to the sounds only nature could make. Now houses cloud my land, the water is impure and sleeping outside only means arrest or assault. It is confusing to see this happen, but the occupiers claim this is progress. Trees reach toward the sky is a silent plea for help while the military prowls like an angry pack of dogs.
My family is told their beliefs are wrong by those claiming to be the new way. They came to this land following the military to change our way of life to their's. Our deity is the same as the one they worship, but their beliefs revolve around a sense of superiority over others. They have no respect for us or our beliefs created centuries ago. What seems to matter is following their way, listening to their words and becoming what they desire which means everything we treasure will be gone.
Our women become frightened when the angry ones are around. They whistle, hoot and holler disrespectful things towards them and our complaints are not heard. Their words reflect cultural superiority, but their actions indicate disbelief with their own sacredness. They are hollow people whose respect is only for domination of any culture through the barrel of a gun rather than wisdom and knowledge.
My eyes are saddened to see this occupier come to this land spreading like locusts with their idea of civilization. The Old Ones say this will pass, but the land is beng churned for minerals and land sold off for profit. It is confusing to me since it isn't known why they are here nor what the value of their civilization is since so much is based on power and money.
What is the value of life to those who assault the land, kill the wildlife and disdain those who live upon it? There must be good people in their land, but their voice is so silent. This is sad to me since they profess liberty, democracy and freedom while their soldiers cover my land. They tell us of these things while we fear for our lives under their rule. All their ideas and modern things bring only despair while others try to make money off our despair.
I will go back to my sacred spot and pray for my people. They are slowly losing hope and their lives due to violence, disease and futility. It is only right for us to honor them and pray the occupiers leave soon for us to survive. Their method of civilization means destroying us only to change us. Change is hard when their words are hollow and are not kept. Their only enemy is themselves.