Red Cloud, a popular leader of the Oglala Lakota, said the expression, "We do not want riches, we desire peace and love", which encapsulates an extensive worldview deeply rooted in the worths and customs of his individuals. This belief speaks volumes about the concerns and philosophy that directed numerous Native American people, particularly in the face of European expansion and the resultant cultural and material clashes.
At its core, the quote recommends a preference for intangible worths-- peace and love-- over product wealth, which was often a central pursuit in Western cultures. This distinction highlights a basic cultural divergence. For Red Cloud and his individuals, the notions of peace and love include consistency with the land, neighborhood wellness, and spiritual fulfillment. These ideas are deeply entrenched in the native way of life, where the land is revered not just as a resource, however as a spiritual entity to be respected and preserved. Within this worldview, peace is not simply the lack of dispute but the presence of justice and equitable relationships, both within the people and with others, including settlers and the U.S. federal government.
Love, in this context, extends beyond individual affection and goes into the world of communal solidarity and ecological stewardship. It involves preserving strong kinship ties, making sure the welfare of future generations, and nurturing a mutual relationship with nature. Red Cloud's emphasis on peace and love can be seen as a require a more sustainable and unified presence, one that contrasts sharply with the exploitation and aggression frequently linked to the mission for riches.
Furthermore, Red Cloud's statement can be interpreted as a kind of resistance versus the cultural assimilation and financial pressures imposed by European settlers. By focusing on peace and love over wealth, he reasserted the worth of indigenous identities, customs, and governance systems. This effective message continues to resonate today, working as a classic pointer of the value of valuing relationships and sustainability over material accumulation.
"We are rich only through what we give, and poor only through what we refuse"
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Philosopher
"The greatest wealth is to live content with little, for there is never want where the mind is satisfied"
Lucretius, Poet
"To have what we want is riches; but to be able to do without is power"
George MacDonald, Novelist
"If we command our wealth, we shall be rich and free; if our wealth commands us, we are poor indeed"
Edmund Burke, Statesman
"If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires"
Epicurus, Philosopher
"A short cut to riches is to subtract from our desires"
Petrarch, Poet
"Wealth and want equally harden the human heart"
Theodore Parker, Theologian
"I am poor and naked, but I am the chief of the nation. We do not want riches but we do want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches. We want peace and love"
Red Cloud, Statesman
"Riches are not forbidden, but the pride of them is"
