Introduction
Land is a vital factor of production since it offers the foundation for all other activities. This essay explores the moral and legal arguments about the removal of Native-Americans from the Mississippi strip.
Background
Red Indians were the initial land owners in this region and only welcome white Americans to settle close to them due to their generosity. The visitors were welcome and given land to settle and later started their families and became part of the local population. To date, the local population occupies most of Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Alabama and Virginia.
Moral and Legal Arguments
Opponents
It is morally wrong to abuse ancestral land and relocating these people is not a wise move. All world communities have their ancestral lands that harbor their traditional and sacred places like shrines. Secondly, this community has lived here for many years and has known this place to be its home. Therefore, nobody should willingly or forcefully relocate them. Moreover, the people interested in relocating them have not exploited all other idle lands. These people have been guided by their policies and are not ready to change them. Lastly, land ownership is a legal process that must undergo scrutiny and investigations to identify land owners. Therefore, the Georgia state should respect the Indian communities’ right to land ownership.
Proponents
On the other hand, the attempts to relocate the Indian communities from this strip of land are an important undertaking. First, this community is largely pastoralists and only a handful practice peasant farming. These activities are unproductive since they have poor yields. Secondly, this community lacks a civilized way of life since they use traditional methods to keep animals and produce crops. They use crude tools like buffalo shoulder plates to plough their lands. In addition, they are largely pastoral and this means they keep moving from place to place. Therefore, relocating them will help in making them live civilized lives where modern technology is used in various activities.
Thirdly, this community occupies a large track of land covered by forests. They indulge in activities that interfere with natural wildlife. This should be avoided to ensure natural forests are protected against exploitation by human beings. Tourism can thrive in this region since there are wild animals and indigenous vegetation.
Lastly, all human beings are entitled to proper health, access to education, proper diet and protection against criminals and wild animals. This community subjects young children to harsh conditions (extreme cold, rain and night insects) making them susceptible to infections. The government has a responsibility of protecting the lives of its citizens and should do all that is within its powers to safeguard human life.
Opinion
The attempt to relocate the Indian communities from the Mississippi strip is a welcome undertaking if only the concerned parties observe the following issues. First, the attempts should benefit the victims as well as other people to qualify to be productive undertakings. Secondly, the process should be carried out in a civilized manner that will not interfere with their social, economic and political affairs.
Conclusion
The relocation of the Indian communities will without doubt face stiff reactions from the victims and other concerned parties. However, the Georgia state should consult the local communities and counsel them on the need to convert their land to productive use.