Our Sacred Land

How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land ? The idea is strange to us . If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water , how can you buy them ?

Every part of this earth is sacred to my people . Every shining pine needle , every sandy shore , every mist in the dark woods, every clearing , and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people . The sap which courses through the trees carries the memories of the red man.

We are part of the earth and it is part of us . The perfumed flowers are our sisters ; the deer , the horse , the great eagle , these are our brothers . The rocky crests , the juices in the meadows , the body heat of pony , and man – all belong to the same family . …

So when the Great Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land , he asks much of us . The Great Chief sends word that he will reserve us a place so that we can live comfortably to ourselves . He will be our father and we will be his children .

So we will consider your offer to buy our land . But it will not be easy . For this land is sacred to us. …

If we sell you land , you must remember that it is sacred , and you must teach your children that it is sacred and that each ghostly reflection in the clear water of the lakes tells of events and memories in the life of my people . …

Teach your children what we have taught our children , that the earth is our mother . Whatever befalls the earth , befalls the sons of the earth . If men spit upon the ground , they spit upon themselves .

This we know . The earth does not belong to man ; man belongs to the earth . This we know . All things are connected .

Chief Seattle


從初中二的課本抄出來，
現在看起來很像佛教的教導，萬物皆靈，東西都有物命。
寫得很好呀！
地可以讓出來，但是，
她是屬於大自然，我們並不擁有，
拿去了，須知，
好好保護，
因爲她和萬物息息相關！

pls click the title,u can listen to Chief Seattle words `~~~