Fort Lewis College opens performances and semesters with a “land acknowledgment.” That is harmful to society. It separates "we the people" into those who are rightfully here and those who are interlopers. An undesirable, but unsurprising, consequence is our government is now deporting humans whom they say are not rightfully here.
Likely, the proponents of the land acknowledgment and our U.S. president do not agree who is rightfully here and who are interlopers. But, when it comes to promoting a culture of division between groups of humans, the FLC land acknowledgment and the orders of the U.S. president are distinctions without a difference.
We all know that before Europeans came to the Americas there were humans living here. We also know some Europeans treated those peoples with violence and other horrific acts. We also know that before those tribes formed there were other groups of humans. And before humans there were other animals. That same story has played out in nearly every corner of the earth. That is the history of humanity, whether we like it or not. The FLC land acknowledgment does not bring anything new, interesting or inspiring to the discussion.
To correct its mistake, FLC should immediately cease all use of the “land acknowledgment." If the college wants a phrase to inspire us, I suggest: ”E Pluribus Unum“ (the original, unofficial, motto of the USA), or ”If a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand“ (Mark 3:25) or ”Many in Body, One in Mind“ (Buddha).
Robert Ferrell
Durango
