legacy

I'm troubled, more than a bit, by both what I recently read in "The Long Road" by Philip Caputo, and by the thoughts that flooded my mind as a result of what I read; a portion of his book focused upon life as a Lakota in the Pine Creek Reservation in South Dakota. A major portion of that segment in the book had to do with the rate of alcoholism within the indigenous American population. Caputo made a comment about the intense efforts of indigenous Americans to restore their way...the Lakota way...the Apache way, etc. These folks will always desire to have their legacy be one of fierce bravery, communion with Nature, led by the Great Spirit, physical skills that support weathering the life within nature. And then there is alcoholism, with the percentage of alcoholics highest in no other race of man than in indigenous Americans. Seems to me that the legacy of connection with that which was strongest, but outside of their selves, leaves a short leap to relying upon ETOH to create a way of life. Once known as brave warriors, now known as formidable alcoholics. None of us is removed from the loss of who we really are when we connect with greater powers.