Noted by Indian, American and English colleagues, allies and enemies
as
an inspiring orator,
Tecumseh
left these words to live by:
"Live your life so that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and it's purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none. When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.
When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose lives are filled with the fear of death, so that when time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home."
(Tecumseh and the Harrison crop)
Tecumseh - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Tecumseh (/tɛˈkʌmsə/; March 1768 – October 5, 1813) was a Native American leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy (known as Tecumseh's Confederacy) which opposed the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812. Tecumseh has become an iconic folk hero in American, Aboriginal and Canadian history.
Tecumseh grew up in the Ohio Country during the American Revolutionary War and the Northwest Indian War, where he was constantly exposed to warfare. With Americans continuing to encroach on Indian territory after the British ceded the Ohio Valley to the new United States in 1783, the Shawnee moved farther northwest. In 1808, they settled Prophetstown in present-day Indiana. With a vision of establishing an independent Native American nation east of the Mississippi under British protection, Tecumseh worked to recruit additional tribes to the confederacy from the southern United States.
Speech before a joint council of the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations (1811):
Speech before a joint council of the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations (1811):
"If there be one here tonight who believes that his rights will not sooner or later be taken from him by the avaricious American pale faces, his ignorance ought to excite pity, for he knows little of our common foe...
Then listen to the voice of duty, of honor, of nature and of your endangered country. Let us form one body, one heart, and defend to the last warrior our country, our homes, our liberty, and the graves of our fathers."
During the War of 1812, Tecumseh's confederacy allied with the British in The Canadas (the collective name for the colonies of Upper Canada and Lower Canada), and helped in the capture of Fort Detroit. American forces killed Tecumseh in the Battle of the Thames, in October 1813. With his death, his confederation disintegrated. Some tribes simply stopped fighting. Accordingly, the British deserted their Indian allies at the peace conference that ended the War of 1812. As a result, the dream of an independent Indian state in the Midwest vanished, and American settlers took possession of all the territory south of the Great Lakes, driving the Indians west or into reservations.
***
Historians have long debated the relative weight of the multiple reasons underlying the United States declaration of war.
An unstated but powerful motivation for the Americans was the desire to uphold national honour in the face of what they considered to be British insults. War hawks spoke of the struggle with Britain as a second war of independence; [Andrew] Jackson, who still bore scars from the first war of independence held that view with special conviction. The approaching conflict was about violations of American rights, but was it also about vindication of American identity.
American expansion into the Northwest Territory was being obstructed by indigenous leaders like Tecumseh, who were supplied and encouraged by the British. Americans on the western frontier demanded that interference be stopped.
By 1814, both sides had achieved their main war goals and were weary of a costly war that offered little but stalemate. They both sent delegations to a neutral site in Ghent, Belgium. The negotiations began in early August and concluded on December 24, when a final agreement was signed.
The treaty did not mention the grievances of 1812 that led to war. The Americans were satisfied that their honour as an independent nation had been upheld. The Indians issue east of the Mississippi had been resolved; impressment, ship seizures and blockades had ended when Britain's war with France ended in 1814. Mobile and parts of western Florida were not mentioned in the treaty but remained permanently in American possession, despite objections by Spain.
Historians generally agree that the real losers of the War of 1812 were the Indians (called "First Nations" in Canada). American settlers into the Middle West had been repeatedly blocked and threatened by Indian raids before 1812, and that now came to an end. By 1813 Americans had killed Tecumseh and broken his coalition of tribes. Jackson then defeated the enemy Indians in the Southwest.
The policymakers in London reneged in assisting the Indians, as making peace was
a higher priority for the politicians. At the peace conference the British
demanded an independent Indian state in the Midwest, but by late 1814 the
British-Indian alliance had been defeated militarily and the British had to
abandon the demand. The withdrawal of British protection gave the Americans a
free hand, which resulted in the removal of most of the tribes to Indian
Territory (present-day Oklahoma). The final victory at New Orleans
had "enduring and massive consequences". It gave the Americans "continental
predominence" while it left the Indians dispossessed, powerless, and
vulnerable.
The Creek War came to and end, with the
Treaty of Fort Jackson being imposed upon the Indians.
About half of the Creek territory was ceded to the United States, with no
payment made to the Creeks. This was, in theory, invalidated by Article 9 of the
Treaty of Ghent, thereby restoring to the Indians “all the possessions, rights
and privileges which they may have enjoyed or been entitled to in 1811. The British failed to uphold this, and did
not take up the Indian cause as an infringement of an international treaty.
Without this support, the Indians lack of power was apparent and the stage was
set for further incursions of territory by the United States in subsequent
decades.
***
RETIRED BISHOPS' LETTER
Out of concern for the welfare of all God’s people, and, out of special concern for the people of The United Methodist
Church, we, United Methodist Bishops – retired, believe The United Methodist Church should remove the following
statement from The Book of Discipline (2008):
“…The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing
homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United
Methodist Church.” ¶304.3
With this statement of conviction and counsel we seek:
To affirm that the historic tests of “gifts and evidence of God’s grace” for ordained ministry override any
past or present temporal restrictions such as race, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
To urge the Church, ecumenical and denominational, to change the manner in which it relates to gay,
lesbian and transgendered persons in official statements, judicial proceedings, and in congregational life.
To declare our conviction that the current disciplinary position of The United Methodist Church, a part of
our historical development, need not, and should not, be embraced as the faithful position for the future.
To make known our names and shared personal conviction on this matter and to encourage other church
and Episcopal leaders to do the same.
Common Table Recommendation
on
Retired Bishops’ Letter
Church leaders took approximately three months to organize the Common Table. In order to
make sure that all of Glenn’s views were considered, the Common Table included substantial
representation from four common positions of members of Glenn on this issue:
(i) Support for the retired Bishops’ letter;
(ii) Opposition to the retired Bishops’ letter;
(iii) A desire to know more about all sides of the issue in order to make a decision;
(iv) A desire to study the issues raised in the retired Bishops’ letter, tempered by the
concern that engaging in these issues could result in a split within Glenn UMC.
The Common Table recognizes and values the diversity of our congregation and denomination--
diversity in ideas, interpretations of Scripture and Christian teaching, race, gender, sexual
orientation and approach to worship. We believe this diversity arises, in part, from our Wesleyan
commitments to evangelical piety, ecumenical openness and social concern. We value that
diversity and seek for it to continue and grow.
The Common Table recognizes that while we do not all share the same beliefs, we all share one
foundational belief: Jesus Christ, Son of the one true God, was born, lived, died and was raised
from the dead that we might live.
Bob Gary, trained in facilitating the reconciliation of factions having divergent views on
important issues within an organization, led our Common Table. Bob is recognized nationally as
a leader in this art, especially among churches. He graciously donated his time and skill for this
task to Glenn. The Common Table acknowledges with heartfelt thanks and affection his work
and guidance, and urges the Church Council and Glenn to recognize his contribution to our
church in this endeavor.
Through Bob Gary’s expert combination of modern
psychology and recent theology with Christian teachings of humility and love for one another,
our commitment to listen and disagree respectfully and humbly to our fellow Christians has
grown, and that is a blessing. The Common Table believes that the Church should be a place
where everyone is welcome and everyone is given the unconditional love and acceptance to
which all of God’s children are entitled.
We reached our recommendation because we believe that Jesus’ new commandment “[t]hat you
love one another as I have loved you,” predominates over all other concerns elicited in our
discussions. Loving God and loving neighbor must be our practice, even when honest and
intelligent minds may disagree on lesser issues. On the issue of Paragraph 304.3, or any other,
when we speak or act presumptively, dismissively, or even disparagingly of any viewpoint that is
not our own, we are failing to love our neighbors.
Based upon the Common Table’s months of study and discussion and its assessment of the
opinions, beliefs and desires of the members of Glenn, the Common Table recommends that the
Church Council endorse the retired Bishops’ letter (attached) and take all appropriate steps to
support said letter as it and related legislation are considered during the General Conference of
2012.
***
It was approximately 2 years ago,
while watching the movie ACT OF VALOR I had rented from REDBOX,
first heard this poem attributed to Tecumseh
titled
LIVE YOUR LIFE.
"Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours."
~(Tecumseh)~
It was not the very first line of this poem, but almost; immediately causing me to voice out loud, although at home watching this movie alone, total disagreement with me insisting,
"THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE! ABSOLUTELY NOT POSSIBLE PULLING OFF AT ALL!"
But overall, did like the poem a lot;
me curious enough now to google search Tecumseh.
Then,
upon reading Tecumseh involvement with the War of 1812, again, although home alone as usual,
feeling the need voicing out loud,
feeling the need voicing out loud,
"SEE!
I TOLD YOU! IMPOSSIBLE!
I TOLD YOU! IMPOSSIBLE!
ABSOLUTELY
NOT POSSIBLE PULLING OFF AT ALL!"
But compared to this paragraph, assuming also Bob Gary's choice of words/contribution within this letter, part of the Common Table's conclusion/recommendation to the Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church Council:
"We reached our recommendation because we believe that Jesus’ new commandment “[t]hat you
love one another as I have loved you,” predominates over all other concerns elicited in our
discussions. Loving God and loving neighbor must be our practice, even when honest and
intelligent minds may disagree on lesser issues. On the issue of Paragraph 304.3, or any other,
when we speak or act presumptively, dismissively, or even disparagingly of any viewpoint that is
not our own, we are failing to love our neighbors..."
at least Tecumseh managed saying pretty much the exact same thing, or accomplishing just as little in the long run,
using
far fewer words!
Again I tell you,
"NOT POSSIBLE! ABSOLUTELY NOT POSSIBLE PULLING THIS OFF AT ALL!"
It's like "TRYING" to be "NEUTRAL" on a "MOVING" train.
I also find these words by Tecumseh,
"Then listen to the voice of duty, of honor, of nature and of your endangered country. Let us form one body, one heart, and defend to the last warrior our country, our homes, our liberty, and the graves of our fathers,"
eerily similar to something else I read attributed to Bob Gary:
"'You've had a tough time with your birth and adjustment, but this merger is moving forward.'
Gary built the theoretical presentation of the retreat around 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, which urges followers of Christ to part of "one body." As a living organism, all parts must work together for the common mission and vision of the organization."
Dr. G. Robert Gary, Sr. ThD: ZoomInfo.com
Organizations compete with/against each other as well.
Still a conflict; just on a larger scale.
***
Supplemental Reading:
NEW FAMILY ORGANIZATION - Philosophy and Practice
No comments:
Post a Comment