"GOOD WORDS...BROKEN PROMISES"

He Sat Down............................. And Crossed His Legs........................Drew A Deep Breath.........................And Proceeded........................................ To Tell Those Within The Range Of Hearing................................... What Was There................ Inside Of His Soul
He Was Tired........But Still ...................His Words................ Were Much Stronger

(And He....Began Speaking)

"I Have Heard Talk And Talk.........But Nothing Was Ever Done"
"Good Words... Do Not Last Long...Unless They Amount To Something"
"Good Words... Do Not Pay For My Dead People"..."They Do Not Pay For My Country"
"They Do Not Protect My Fathers Grave"........."Good Words...Do Not Give Me Back My Children"
"Good Words... Do Not Give My People Good Health...And Stop Them From Dying"
"We Are Tired Of Talk That Comes To Nothing"
"It Makes Our Hearts Sick ...For We Remember All The Good Words...And All The Broken Promises"

(And Then....For A While?...He Became Silent...As He Stared Into The.............. "Great Beyond")
(A......... "Great Beyond"........ That Only He Could See..........Not Us)
(And Then.... Finally.....He Drew A Long Deep Breath....And Continued On)


"If The White Man Wants To Live In Peace With The Indian?....................He Can Live In Peace"
"There Need Be No Trouble.........Treat All Men Alike...........Give Them All The Same Law"
"Give Them All An Even Chance To Live.........And Grow"

(He Paused Once Again.... With A Look Of Deep Sorrow.....And Followed By Saying)

"You Might As Well Expect The Rivers To Run Backwards"
".And That Any Man That Was Born A Free Man?"
"Should Be Content When Penned Up And Denied Liberty.... To Go Forward ....And To Please Them"

(Once Again...A Short Pause.....And He Ended His Words With This)

"We Only Ask An Even Chance As Other Men Live"
"We Only Ask.... To Be Recognized......... As Men"
"Let Us Be A Free People........Free To Travel.........Free To Stop..........Free ToWork............And Free To Choose Our Own Teachers"
"Let Us Be Free To Follow The Religion........ And Teachings ...Of Our Fathers"
"And Let Us To Be Free.... To Think...And To Talk...And To Act......... For Ourselves"

"Chief Joseph"..."Of The Nez Perce Indian Tribe"