PTPI Blog

Question answered by Paige Leitnaker, Director of the School & Classroom Program at PTPI.

8. What other marches/relocations come to mind in history? Why have we not learned from our past?

The relocation that first comes to mind is the Holocaust. From my readings and studies, I know that thousands of Jews were marched to concentration camps and to their deaths; however, as I grow older I have become more aware that most of the world’s conflicts come from one group of people wanting to conquer another, taking their land, and marching those who survive out. This maneuver has been successful and prevalent since the beginning of man’s history on this Earth.

I wish I knew why we cannot learn from our past. Conflicts continue, ethnic cleansings continue, relocations continue. If we do not pay more attention to the lessons of our past, we are doomed to continue repeating our mistakes. I cannot speak for the road that leads to peace – especially since most conflicts stem from religion and land. It is my hope, however, that we can hand a peaceful future to our descendents that they may be proud of.

The opinions expressed by PTPI staff and other book club members are entirely their own and are not necessarily the views of  People to People International or that of PTPI’s Officers, Board of Directors and Board of Trustees.

Question answered by Sarah Houston, Managing Director of Student Programs at PTPI.

7. With little time for the Cherokee to plan and prepare, they were removed from their homelands to Oklahoma.  It is estimated that approximately 17,000 Cherokee were forced to make this mass migration.  Did the government take into account all of the arrangements that would need to be made to move this many people safely and smoothly? If you were given a short amount of time to leave your home and move to an unknown place, how would you feel? What would you take with you?

When General Scott made the announcement to the Cherokees in 1838 that “every Cherokee man, woman and child…must be in motion to join their brethren in the far West,” troops started immediately moving them into what was described as stockades.  Essentially, they were treated as prisoners and most were forcibly removed from their houses with no time to pack their things.  The government, it seemed, really did not plan for the move, nor did they seem like they cared. They just wanted the Cherokee moved as quickly as possible. What occurred because of this was horrible sanitation, and extremely limited food, medicine, and water.  The tragic end result was that nearly one fifth of the Cherokee population died, mostly due to disease.

If I were in a situation where I was given a short amount of time to leave my house and move to an unknown place, I’m sure I would feel a mix of emotions: fear, sadness, and anger.  I would try to take those things that mean the most to me, such as my dogs (hopefully), some pictures of family and friends.  I would definitely concentrate on taking necessities in order to survive: clothes, food, water, some sort of shelter (tent?), soap, etc.  You could never know or anticipate what you might need, however. It would be a very unsettling and extremely upsetting experience.

The opinions expressed by PTPI staff and other book club members are entirely their own and are not necessarily the views of  People to People International or that of PTPI’s Officers, Board of Directors and Board of Trustees.

Question answered by Sarah Houston, Managing Director of Student Programs at PTPI.

6. At one point in the book, Major Ridge has a moment of introspection, asking himself:

“Have I come to this…from the place I began, from where my mother and father left me, from the going to water and the first stickball game, the hunts preceded by polite prayer, the killing of whites, the killing of Indians, even Cherokees, the thefts of slaves, the horse stealing? Have you, Major Ridge, grown into this different person, and are you growing, changing still? I scarcely know you.”

Do you think the sacrifices and struggles that Ridge and the Cherokees endured were worth the “progress” made to advance the Cherokee society?

I think some sort of sacrifice is always necessary for advancement; however, the loss the Cherokees endured was extreme.  In the book, Major Ridge was a key player who led the way to change with the Cherokees.  Responding to political pressures and white society, Ridge and the Cherokees tried to assimilate to American settler culture by changing their ways to be more Europeanized or “civilized.” They adopted western dress, education, type of government, religion, and other cultural aspects.  Ironically, these efforts ultimately didn’t matter and the Cherokees were still displaced by the “white man.” Due to their obsession over territory and gold, I don’t think there was anything they could have done to stop them.  Although the Cherokees ultimately sacrificed their land and many lives, their efforts at integration and attempts at trying to stop the tragic displacement of their people, will be remembered in history.

The opinions expressed by PTPI staff and other book club members are entirely their own and are not necessarily the views of  People to People International or that of PTPI’s Officers, Board of Directors and Board of Trustees.