Taos Pueblo and Bandelier

What a spectacular day! After the scenic journey to the Taos Pueblo, the powerful imagery of both the civilizations past and present threw even the quietest of us to express a vocal compassion for the native peoples, and withdrew a great sense of guilt for the deeds committed by my ancestors. Having recently discovered that my great-great-grandfather fought in the Indian wars, the tales of American and Spanish conquest seared deeply into my heart as i witnessed firsthand the damage done by the U.S. cavalry and and the Spanish conquistadors. The Christianization of the Native Americans along with the destruction of their cultures inspired an anger in me I had not felt before. It is truly amazing how contemplative and accepting the Pueblo Indians are in the presence of European Americans, despite the horrific relationship among these peoples in the past. Yet, we see the majestic beauty of Bandelier, through the animals, plants, and structures erected by the Anasazi. The cave dwellings showed the true architectural brilliance of the Indians, as well as a spiritually-inspired respect for the wildlife surrounding the buildings. It was truly another powerful and magnificent day.