"American Indians have served honorably in all of our armed forces since Colonial times, so it is fitting that they are remembered for their courage and dedication. It has become trendy to call them "Native Americans," which I think is an inadequate distinction because all of us who were born in this country are native to it.

Also, the term "American" didn't exist when their ancestors first arrived in the Western Hemisphere. Archaeologists speculate that they migrated from Asia across a land bridge to Alaska several thousand years ago. Since India is part of Asia, they may be distantly related to old world Indians.

But even more importantly, we all are proud Americans and don't need ethnic adjectives to set us apart - with the special exception of our Indian citizens. So I suggest that to mark their forebears' pioneering efforts, we should give them the honorary title of "First Americans.""

Get the Story:
Bill Starr: Quechan memorial is fitting recognition (The Yuma Sun 11/29)