Clash of cultures difficult to navigate

The issue of immigration came up in Sunday night's presidential debate, as it has throughout the campaign and as it no doubt will in the administration of the next president.

It's also a topic of discussion this week, with governmental offices observing Columbus Day today while the traditional holiday was Wednesday, Oct. 12.

It's not a popular name among activist groups who have are lobbying to replace Columbus Day with "Indigenous Peoples Day."

They've been successful in Vermont, where the governor set the day aside to honor the "sacrifice and contributions of the First Peoples of this land."

South Dakota has celebrated Native Americans Day the second Monday in October since 1990, Phoenix's city council made Indigenous Peoples Day official last week, and Denver and Seattle have made similar changes in recent years.

But not everyone is ready to change. Cincinnati's city council voted against a proclamation last week that would have recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day, and others are similarly unwilling to change tradition.

Standing up for the rights of Native Americans has never been easy, especially among descendants of Europeans who settled here only after the previous inhabitants of the land were removed by force.

A recent film, "Soul of Silas," explores the consequences of just such a conviction.

Former Imperial, Neb., resident Jim Kimberling plays the part of the Army officer, Col. John M. Chivington, who ordered the Sand Creek Massacre in Kiowa County, Colo., that saw about 200 Indians, man of them elderly men, women and children, killed and mutilated.

Although the commander of Fort Lyon was working with Cheyenne and Arapaho chiefs on a peace agreement, and the Indian village was flying the American flag to indicate peaceful intent, the Army attacked the village on Nov. 29, 1864.

Silas Soule was an Army captain who refused to participate in the massacre, after which Chivington boasted of his victory, downplayed Army casualties and paraded body parts of dead Cheyenne and Arapahoe through the streets of Denver.

Silas Soule testified against Chivington in a court of inquiry after which the officer's actions were condemned, but he had already resigned from the Army.

Soule was later murdered, reportedly by a soldier formerly under Chivington's command and with Chivington's possible involvement.

The film "Soul of Silas" recently became available on DVD and Amazon Prime.

Despite his faults and some of the evil consequences of his expeditions, Columbus was a brave, determined explorer.

No one can rewrite history, nor can anyone truly understand history without having experienced events first hand. Admittedly, it's difficult to draw parallels between the settling of the old west and the clash of cultures created by refugees from the Middle East.

But we should look to history for its lessons and apply them to today's events to do our best to make the future better for generations to come.