The Ballad of Ira Hayes by Johnny Cash
Misty Lynn
Published on May 28, 2015I was looking up information on Ira Hayes for a project when I found this song by Johnny Cash. I felt immediately and deeply uncomfortable - is this any way to talk about a national hero? It seemed exceedingly dishonorable to discuss Ira's service hand-in-hand with his alcoholism, and to reify a mainstream narrative about Indigenous men (that they are commonly drunk; that it is acceptable to call a serviceman and veteran Drunken "Name" if they are Indian). At the same time, I was intrigued by the way Johnny captured some of the nuances of Ira's story. Being uncomfortable with this song and the narrative representation of Ira Hayes, I decided to spend more time with it. I have no love for war, and I'm not traditionally "patriotic" except that i am proud to be American Indian and I believe we must honor our veterans. So this video is a tribute to a complex man, with a complex song, by another complex man.
Clips from Flags of Our Fathers, copyright to Clint Eastwood etc.
Art & Photographs: The Ballad of Ira Hayes:
http://mkwatt.com/index.php/content/w...
The Ballad of Ira Hayes: http://monazimba.fr/non-classe/ballad...
We Remember Ira Hayes: https://lesconcepts.wordpress.com/tag...
Sonoran Dusk:http://www.usapics.net/sonoran-dusk-o...
Reclamation & Arizona: http://www.usbr.gov/lc/phoenix/AZ100/...
