Avatar is merely a history lesson . . .

Rating: 7/10 (20 February 2011)

It is a very well done movie; the set is as lovely as I imagine North American was when whites first arrived. Avatar is merely a history lesson, one that had been taught oh so incorrectly in U.S. Schools for 300 years. It is the true story of North America's "Eden" before white people came here and ruined it all with its greed, disrespect, intolerance, and complete lack of concern for the indigenous people's rights, culture, experience, and complete lack of respect. It certainly is not an original story, unless you never really looked at our true history. Look at the way Treaties kept moving Indians away from what they wanted, gold, silver, nickel, copper, coal, everything of value. They pushed Indians to the most useless patch of dirt they could find-Oklahoma, then oil was discovered and they had to once again change their treaties. Of the hundreds of treaties made with all the tribes the U.S. kept - 0.
It was exactly as Avatar showed it, yeah, yeah, you can have whatever you want except your land, your culture, your children, or your rightful place where your ancestors have cherished generation after generation. It wasn't an original story, but I am glad some one told it. They did leave out taking the children from their homes and families, but everything else was true. I only hope the people who saw this movie understood they were seeing their own history.
It was very well told, the characters really drew you into the story. The blend of people who understood, or tried to understand the people vs. the government who only wanted to rape the land, make a name for themselves, make money and jobs for their people, and the military who couldn't wait to go kick butt.
Indians did not believe is killing except only for what they needed, they believed man and creatures shared this earth and it required monitoring not to over hunt or over fish to keep things flourishing would be to their advantage.
All of you need to read "The Great White Father" this shows the history of Native tribes with the U.S. government, how they literally spoke out the sides of their mouths.
Now if any movies could show the atrocities, the amazing leadership that did exist in some tribes, the heroes of different tribes, but how we had no chance, even when we did exactly as they asked of us "The Five Civilized Tribes." We could not win. Trouble is, we still can't; our children are not becoming rich, not even getting an education; just for the gold alone taken from our land, all Indians should get at least a 4 year degree. They talk about restitution for Blacks, if they get restitution then Indians, for sure, deserve restitution for all the valuable ore, industrial minerals, timber, and water taken everyday.
Avatar made me cry because it was out story, our story as a Box Office Hit, more money we'll never see. Look, look what white people have done for the people who "gave" them this great country. Then watch the movie again. We're still waiting for our reward.