Sherman Alexie’s work and Racial Oppression
Sherman Alexie’s work is a reflection of the racial oppression in the early centuries, especially the Indian Americans who were the target of the then regime to wipe them out in all ways they could. This cruelty occurred in the forms of religious assimilation, commercial exploitation, and military genocide. The Indians were subdued and military disabled, and then forced by the government of the time and the church to assimilate into their Christian culture.
Alexie’s portrayal of General George Armstrong Custer
In Alexie’s story, ‘distances,’ he refers to General George Armstrong as Custer who was killed in a battle he had organized to wipe out the Native Americans. His poor strategy, greed for power and fame resulted in the death of his battalion and himself as well. Alexie recognizes his disregard for humanity who advanced his selfish ideas without consultation and fear of authority. For instance, he once sent his soldiers to kill the Indians without a background knowledge of the safety of the environment, and they were killed before they could attack. Custer did not bother to look out for them. Instead, they were found dead by civilians (Elliot 112).
Custer as the cause of the apocalypse
Therefore, Alexie refers to him in his story, as he is well aware of the level of magnitude he would go to stratify his ego, fame, and desire for leadership. He thus holds him responsible for causing an apocalypse on earth to wipe away the Indians, which failed to kill them but wiped the white race (Alexie 152). Alexie knows Custer is responsible, as he would not care for the lives of his fellow white race as long as he got his mission of killing the Native Americans accomplished. In the author’s eyes, Custer is a representation of the worst advocate of individualism and brutality ever experienced in his lifetime. For instance, in a battle named Bighorn, the general intentionally failed to observe the orders given to capture Crazy Horse leading to the deaths of thousands of his soldiers. He did not fear to go against his people, and as such, the writer held him responsible for the act to wipe the Indians at all costs but resulted in killing more of his race than the target.
The Relationship between the Historical Custer and Alexie’s References to him in the Story
General Armstrong is a controversial historical character who is associated with bravery, heroism, and patriotic character. Some of the history books refer to him as celebrated military personnel while in reality, he was a brutal murderer who disregarded everyone saves for himself and his family. He hated the Native Americans passionately; he valued self-promotion and visions of splendor that ultimately led to genocide. He was also arrogant military personnel that felt that he was the only one to engage in acts of protecting and defending the interest of the nation. He always wanted to prove himself to the others that he was an above average person (Elliot 110).
Cluster mostly made his judgment out of his pride rather than reasoning. In one instance, after his men had succeeded in killing more than one hundred Indians and hundreds of their cattle, he sent some of his troops to search for the Indians that were escaping without first determining the safety of this decision. As a result of his neglect, the troops rode to camps of Indians who in turn slaughtered them. His disregard for humanity, lack of cautionary tactics as well as failing to seek for wise counsel led to the death of his people. As such, Alexie reference to him as a brutal murder in who would engage in pervasive acts against his people at the expense of his selfish interests is justified based on his historical character.
Notably, Custer did not receive much support from the government due to his violent tactics but had the support of the public and the media who were also against the Indian race. Also, he would not be punished or get reprimanded for his actions due to his popularity, and this gave him a go ahead with his inhumane methods of advancing his ideas. It also made him realize that he could do anything he wanted to that would aid in his self-promotion in his career. The lack of fear for the discipline from the military and the rising popularity among the public made him focus more on his agenda, wiping out and silencing the Indian race being among them. He wanted to take the credit for the ability to wipe out the dreadful race using his tactics thus he wanted to do everything possible under his authority to finish them so that the white race would finally settle in the land the Indians occupied(Elliot 114).
In addition, other than gaining the land and subduing the Indians, Custer was in a mission to revenge against the Indian race as a result of a failed relationship between him and an Indian woman and had a child with him. Alexie also portrays Custer’s deep-rooted hatred to the Indian race and the determination to kill them using means such as setting fires in their houses, use of strange diseases as well as engaging in direct battles with the hostile soldiers, their women and children for him to achieve his interests(Elliot 114).
Custer had unpredictable mood swings that made it difficult for people to read his mind. This in most cases worked for him in defeating the Indian race. He was known to befriend the Indian people with his charm after every encounter in the battlefield, promising them of finding a peaceful coexistence between them and the Americans. The Indian leaders did not want to engage in fights unless when ambushed and would, therefore, accept his proposal as they wanted to end the unnecessary wars. He would use his charm in while they were in good terms with these Indians to acquire the necessary information that would aid and guide him in the planning and the execution of the next attack(Elliot 118 ). He did not relent in his efforts to silence this race, as it would bring him much grandeur and promotion. Alexie refers to him as a cruel person who used his power dishonestly and viewed others as belonging to an inferior race that did not have the right to exist in their land or any other thus resulted in wiping them out. He also refers to him as a person who did not have a conscience and feelings and also one whose sense of wrong or right were never detectable.
Works Cited
Alexie, Sherman. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven: Stories. Open Road Media, 2013,..Pp 152-158
Elliott, Michael A. Custerology: The enduring legacy of the Indian wars and George Armstrong Custer. University of Chicago Press, 2008,.. Pp 102-118
