Charles: you present both facts and opinions......Your historical facts are, unfortunately, all to accurate.  With Manifest Destiny as our guide we moved those indigenous people who were "in the way"....those who refused to be moved were killed.  After all, they were "savages" and refused to adopt the ways of Christian civilization.  ...and, yes, we still bear the scars of centuries of slavery... our history is marred with indecency to "others".....others who are "less than we are".,.so that indecency doesn't really count.  

We need to learn from the past...not ignore it, and not "whitewash" it.  thank you for your post    Gary Crum