Sunday January 18, 2009, 12:32 pm
HERE IS THE STORY:

'Trail of Tears' is a tale well worth revisiting


Date published: 1/18/2009


"THE CHEROKEE Trail of Tears" is a small volume that packs a mighty punch. Many readers will never again be able to look at Andrew Jackson or the state of Georgia in a positive light after reading about one of the most shameful chapters in American history.

The book begins with a background and summary of the "Trail of Tears" episode, the imprisonment and subsequent forceful movement of 16,000 Cherokee Indians from their homeland in Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. Most walked the 850 miles, and 4,000 died on the way, mostly the old, the sick and the very young. The forced march was the culmination of years of greed, racism, faulty treaties and injustice from President Andrew Jackson on down to state officials and ordinary citizens in Georgia.

The discovery of gold on Cherokee land in Dahlonega, Ga., was the death knell for Cherokee hopes to remain in their tribal homeland, even after numerous land cessions and their attempts to overcome prejudice by establishing a written language and achieving a higher literacy rate than their white neighbors, a bilingual national newspaper, a written constitution, a legislature, and judicial districts and the mechanism to govern. Ironically, the Cherokee had a supreme court before the state of Georgia. Author Duane King writes, "As a group, they had surpassed rural Georgians in embracing mainstream American values and virtues."

In 1987 Congress declared the Trail of Tears a National Historic Trail, and this book chronicles the emigration paths and examines the composition of each group, based on primary documentation, known topography, historical maps and written accounts. Photographer David Fitzgerald traveled the trails, and his color images are hauntingly beautiful. There is a touching foreword by Principal Chief Chadwick Smith, Cherokee Nation. He writes: " it takes no words, no pictures and no reminders to experience the emotional and spiritual impact of our removal from our homeland. When we go back to that homeland in the Appalachians, without question a melancholy and penetrating feeling arises in our hearts when we enter the Smoky Mountains. We know without words, this is the homeland. This is where our ancestors are buried."

"The Cherokee Trail of Tears" may not be the only book you read about Indian policy in American history, but it should definitely be on the reading list of the well-read citizen.

Sunday January 18, 2009, 12:41 pm
This was such a heartbreaking event for these proud people. The Cherokee indians here in NC have a booming casino. I am so happy they are making big money because they truely deserve it. Noted with thanks Kat. Thanks for sending Charles.

Sunday January 18, 2009, 12:59 pm
Thought everyone would be interested in this
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/weshallremain/

Sunday January 18, 2009, 1:33 pm
I hope that everyone will read this and keep in mind that this was one of the biggest tragedy that occurred. How could people like Andrew Jackso do it and then be put in history books like he was some hero. He needed to be stoned for his genocide.

Sunday January 18, 2009, 1:55 pm
Have read the book and watched the dvd and own them.It tears my heart apart and I cry much that yonega(White)people could do such things.They will never destroy or breed out the Tsalagi(Cherokee) People,and all First Nation people for that matter!!! We are here to stay and they better get used to it!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday January 18, 2009, 2:18 pm
Long ago, i.e. in 1970-'71, I had the pleasure of the friendship of a fellow teacher who claimed Cherokee blood and was from either N. or S. Carolina. She provided sparse detail to me, but she seemed to be very knowledgeable of what had happened to her maternal ancestors, victims of the "Trail of Tears." What injustices and inhumane acts we humans have perpetrated, and continue to do so. Despite oftime lofty ideals, the majority of us seem to have no compunction about imposing our mistrust, hate and personal greed on others.

Sunday January 18, 2009, 2:57 pm
The Legend of the Cherokee Rose.

No better symbol exists of the pain and suffering of the Trail Where They Cried than the Cherokee Rose. The mothers of the Cherokee grieved so much that the chiefs prayed for a sign to lift the mother's spirits and give them strength to care for their children. From that day forward, a beautiful new flower, a rose, grew wherever a mother's tear fell to the ground. The rose is white, for the mother's tears. It has a gold center, for the gold taken from the Cherokee lands, and seven leaves on each stem that represent the seven Cherokee clans that made the journey. To this day, the Cherokee Rose prospers along the route of the "Trail of Tears". The Cherokee Rose is now the official flower of the State of Georgia.

Sunday January 18, 2009, 3:07 pm
Thanks Kat, THE CHEROKEE Trail of Tears The movie was so sad. I have never read the book might be better.

Sunday January 18, 2009, 4:16 pm
That is so lovely Scarlett!!!Wado..Something Beautiful always comes of something bad!! If you look for it..

Sunday January 18, 2009, 4:52 pm
noted thank you

Sunday January 18, 2009, 8:04 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhOAL9UXkGM

Sunday January 18, 2009, 8:05 pm
Noted that was so sad. Thanks Kat

Sunday January 18, 2009, 8:07 pm
I've looked over so many videos....Read so many accounts....No words left other than these.....To the true natives of this nation....I am so very sorry....

Sunday January 18, 2009, 8:24 pm
...and perhaps "nation" is a poor choice of words....

Sunday January 18, 2009, 10:10 pm
Noted.Thanks,Kat.

Sunday January 18, 2009, 10:47 pm
ANDREW JACKSON WILL NEVER BE A REFERENCE, WILL HE ?? WHAT A GREEDY S.O.B. & COLD BLODED KILLER.......

Monday January 19, 2009, 3:14 am
Thanks, Kat.

Monday January 19, 2009, 4:04 am
my sister has the book and I have read it a long time ago.

Monday January 19, 2009, 5:41 am
We should have Honorable people upon our money, we have the words "In God We Trust" yet this dispicable man, Andrew Jackson, remains on our money. I hate to hold the bill in my hand. A new friend of mine is drafting up a petition to send to Obama to be placed on Care2, asking that Jackson be removed and replaced by someone else, be looking for it.

Saturday January 24, 2009, 8:40 pm
Good idea,Dandelion....Still,though,it's hard (at least for me) to ignore the irony of Jackson's image on a bill,considering that it was monetary gain and greed that drove him to ignore the court's decision and force the Cherokee (among so many other tribes)from their land.