Having had a lifetime interest in Native Americans, and having just read The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard, I learned many things about the Apache Indians that I wanted to share in this post. The little details are indications of Leonard’s research and knowledge. Here are some things about the Apache Indians of the Southwest that I learned:

1. Unlike other warrior tribes,, Apaches didn’t practice scalping.
2. Apaches were fond of a corn beer called tizwin.
3. “An Apache will squat behind a bush all day to take just one shot at an enemy” (31)
4. When an Apache was seen by an enemy, it’s because he wants you to see him.
5. Apache wore headbands, not war bonnets.
6. They would wet and over their body with sand as. camouflage.
7. To be killed at night was to wander in eternal darkness.
8. Mangas Coloradas was shot in the back as he lay on the ground tied hand and foot after he had accepted a white flag.
9. A nagual is a man with the power to change into animal.

There are several other insights into the Apache, so if you’re interested, I suggest you find the writings of Leonard!

In years past, in addition to reading all the books and novels of Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, I’ve read the wonderful novel by Boris Pasternak, Dr. Zhivago and have viewed the movie with the same title several times. I’ve also read Pasternak’s book of poetry, Poems of Dr. Zhivago. I also have performed in my music show “Lara’s Theme,” which became the song “Somewhere My Love.”  This writer made an unforgettable impression on me and made me realize how horrible life was during the days of the Communist Revolution and the Communist government in Russia.   Have you seen the movie or read the novel? Here’s a quote that I think relates to our topic of moral relativism. Let me know what you think.  In context, Yuri returns from his work early and finds his house with his wife and child freezing. He marches out and starts tearing down a fence for fuel, but is discovered by his half-brother who is a communist official/commissioner. Here are the commissioner’s thoughts: 

“I told myself it was beneath my dignity to arrest a man for pilfering firewood. But nothing ordered by the Party is beneath the dignity of any man. And the Party was right: one man desperate for a bit of fuel is pathetic; five million people desperate for fuel will destroy a city.”

I like there above quote because of the growing interest and commitment to socialism and communism. This is a frightening and disturbing trend. It is also an indication of how illiterate the general public is about history, the fate and condition of socialist and communistic countries, the great books written by those who suffered under communism. A move to socialism and communism would spell certain destruction of our nation.

Many seem to determine America as we know it. It brings to mind another quote from Dr. Zhivago: “My task—the Party’s task—was to organize defeat. From defeat would spring the Revolution…and the Revolution would be victory for us.” The sad fact is that many of our own liberal-leaning leaders and their insane base think like this and do not care about the damage they could cause to our citizens and our nation. They want a revolution and destruction of America, so they can rebuild their imagined utopia.

Perhaps colleges should require literature and history courses on the writings of Pasternak, Solzhenitsyn, and other samizdat authors. An honest student who reads these troubling works will be permanently affected and will see through the tactics and propoganda of our media and politicians.