Deep thoughts with Jordan Sullivan

Have you ever thought about what time you wish you could travel back to? As much as I would love to get groovy and trip on back to the 60s and 70s, I would have to say that I've always wanted to travel back in time to the days when the Native Americans roamed the earth.


In college, I took a Native American literature class, which was awesome, but it was disappointing and sad to read that they are often referred to as, and falsely identified as, these blood-thirsty savages. In reality, they were the complete opposite. They were peaceful individuals who sought the truth in nature. The animals, weather, elders, trees, sky, landscapes, and wind would give them the answers they desired. They had an unbelievable respect and devotion to the Earth. Politics, organized religion, money, and education didn't exist, which meant there wasn't any corruption. Just peace through the wind in the trees. To me, they had a beautiful way of life. I would love to be one with nature.

Think about this. Aren't some of the most beautiful places in the world, majestic landscapes untouched by mankind? How about the feeling of peace when surrounded by nature? I don't know about you, but when I am in a forest or in the mountains and I hear nothing but nature, I become very peaceful. That's what I imagine the Native American way of life to be like.

I think that of all the groups of people throughout the history of the world, Native Americans had it right. It's depressing to think that their population and way of life were destroyed when colonists began to develop America. How could they be threatened by a peaceful group of people? If they weren't killed, they were converted to Christianity or forced to become "Americanized". Their love for Earth meant nothing to Europeans who began to destroy the Earth with the first "timber". The one thing that I don't get is how those that believe God created this world, are destroying His world. I shouldn't even have to explain how tearing down trees, decimating species, polluting the earth, and destroying habitats are a complete disregard for His creation.


Anyway, this story told by a tribal elder in Apocalypto is the reason for the desire to share my opinion...


And a Man sat alone, drenched deep in sadness. And all the animals drew near to him and said, "We do not like to see you so sad. Ask us for whatever you wish and you shall have it." The Man said, "I want to have good sight." The vulture replied, "You shall have mine." The Man said, "I want to be strong." The jaguar said, "You shall be strong like me." Then the Man said, "I long to know the secrets of the earth." The serpent replied, "I will show them to you." And so it went with all the animals. And when the Man had all the gifts that they could give, he left. Then the owl said to the other animals, "Now the Man knows much, he'll be able to do many things. Suddenly I am afraid." The deer said, "The Man has all that he needs. Now his sadness will stop." But the owl replied, "No. I saw a hole in the Man, deep like a hunger he will never fill. It is what makes him sad and what makes him want. He will go on taking and taking, until one day the World will say, 'I am no more and I have nothing left to give.'"


Open your mind and absorb this story. Tell me if you agree with it.