Dear President Jackson,
My name’s Amanda Friendshuh, and I’m from a small farming community in rural Alaska. All around my home there are small orange signs that mark Ahtna territory, which means to you have to have a permit to access the land. At first those signs were pretty annoying and I think my dad would agree with me, but that’s not important. Alaska gives its Native Americans first claims on land and each group has its own territory, and now I know why. Alaska didn’t want to treat its native people the way you did. The last frontier decided that the people that were here first deserved their equal share. And, I believe, that was a very wise choice.
At first I admired you for your concern for all Americans despite wealth or background. You were from a poor family yourself and I thought you understood what it was like to be treated differently. As it turns out, I was wrong. You are a selfish human being, too blinded by the prospect of money to actually see what you have done. And I have to be the one to remind you that all people are worthy of respect and fair, equal treatment no matter what race they originate from.
The five civilized tribes were prospering. They had a good farming industry and they were doing all right, despite white man’s intrusion. When you said they were “in a state of decay” I almost laughed out loud. You are a terrible liar. The only reason you tried to use that excuse is because you were afraid of their own success.
After hearing from a direct source, my dislike toward you increased to a large amount, very near to the point of hatred. Samuel Cloud, a Cherokee boy who travelled on the Trail of Tears, described his hardships very vividly. His mother and father died, and had no personal possessions besides the cloths on his body; his only recollection of home a swiftly disappearing glimpse of paradise. If you think about it you were responsible for his misery, you killed his parents, and you stole his near perfect childhood. I mean, he was only eight years old when you forced his family to leave their only home. Where’s your humanity?
As if that was enough. The Supreme Court tells you that the federal government had no right to interfere with the Cherokee. But what do you do? Interfere, rather forcefully. Even though The Supreme Court doesn’t have as much power, you should respect their wishes because they are trying to do what’s best for all of us. They’re supreme for a reason/
Justice. Just let that word sink in. When the founding fathers set up our government they used that word to describe its goal. You’ve taken that word apart and have given another meaning. So I guess you think it means cruelty, guilt, and unjust punishment. Is that what our government’s come to? Accusing innocent people for the sake of land and money?
Let’s see, you killed thousands of natives, destroyed thousands of lives, and became a liar, a coward, and a disobedient, greedy child. Nice job Jackson. So, “Mr. President” the next time you attempt to ruin someone’s life, listen to the Supreme Court and remember my sincere letter.
With the least of Respects,
Amanda E. Friendshuh
(I speak for all Americans)