Why hasn't the US made a formal apology to the Native Americans?

reply to post by TheForgottenOnes


you know. as a white american, 38 years old. i can tell you right now that your never going to get an apology from me for something someone else did 50+ to 100+ years ago. you wernt alive, neither was i. nor did you grow up in a country that approved those actions anymore.

as a people and as a nation we have grown. the only people holding any minority down is simply themselves. i dont care if your spanish, asian, chinese, korean or indian. i know that myself and everyone ive ever met has treated anyone ive seen pretty much the same manner.

you get made fun of just as much in our group if your white, black, or red we dont care! and while yes we have encountered racism from friends of friends they normally arnt invited back or quite simply told to cut the # out.. and thats if they are joking and take it to far... now if they are serious.. i quite frankly believe that myself and most of my friends would show them the door after having a few select words to say.

if you want success and acceptance in this world it comes down to you as the individual. nothing stops you from improving your lot in life. a stint of hard work an extra job and a 3-4 years of sacrifice can pull almost anyone out of a bad situation. most of these type of threads or individuals i hear talking about this kind of bull. are individuals who have a tendacy to be lazy, want the world handed to them, and want to cry woe is me when things dont go right from the start.

you want to improve your life.. start by getting off your seat.

reply to post by jonnywhite


You make good points. But they could all apply to any race of people on the planet. We could easily walk into a poverty stricken village in Guatemala and demand that they stop living that way. We could demand that they leave their homes, and way of life and assimilate themselves into society. And this is being done here in the states with the Navajo. They have lost their homes due to strip mining and the uranium poisoning. I'd urge all interested in that, watch "Return of Navajo Boy". It's a good start for all wanting to understand what is taking place right now with this problem.

But to try and get back to my point here, we can't generalize the entire race of Native people and say that they all want a check, that they all want to sit on their behind, or that they are all liars, or bad people who don't want off their reservation. Not all want this way of life. The same could be said for a white woman on welfare, living in tent city. You see, it applies to all. Just saying.

Not many people understand why most Natives prefer to stay on the reservation, and believe me, it's not because they ALL want that, or they ALL don't care about themselves. It is what they KNOW. It is where they were raised, it is a generational issue. And most Natives want to stay with their families, and do what they can. Not all on the reserve are happy and they want to change things and they do work toward this. They do what they can. I grew up in abject poverty. My father worked every day. My mom stayed home until we were old enough to be left alone. My parents did not drink or do drugs. They did collect help for healthcare and food, but that ended as we got older and got jobs. I really wish the stigma of the drunken, welfare loving Native would come to an end because not all are this way, same as not all white people are that way. Or blacks, etc.

We have our sacred places surrounding the areas we live in, that we love, that are highly spiritual for us. There are many who don't understand these connections but we feel strong connections to our ancestors. It's our way of life. I don't live on the reserve no more but some of my family do and they work there to make a difference. It's not easy but they don't want to go and abandon what needs doing. Most of us want to stick together, not because we can get a check, not because we want to be with our own kind necessarily, but it's what we know. It's our family and our sacred places we try to keep alive. Our language and beliefs.

One thing I wish in this thread would happen is for people to lay aside their judgment and read my words and understand it.

I can tell you right now, most Natives don't want an apology. I do not hate whites, I do not hate anyone for what happened to my ancestors. Living that way will not serve anyone or solve anything. I feel anger and pain but that's about it. I don't blame you or anyone else. I know that there are Natives who feel different but please don't lump us all together. As a people we each are different same as any other race. We all don't think the same or live the same.

All races have suffered some atrocity, the time is now to go forward and learn to get along with one another now on this planet. If we can't do this, then we all as a human race have failed.

Sorry if this has already been brought up, don't really have time to read through the whole thread...correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't the U.S. apology to the Native Americans giving them reparations? I think it's right for the U.S. to do that, I just don't understand how the native Hawaiians didn't get anything at all.

First, my great-grandmother was full-blooded Cerokee and my Grand-Dad was Lakota (Blackfoot to some).

Secondly, My mom is a full-blooded Irish woman.

Thirdly, to the best of my knowledge, none of the idiots who tortured and abused Native Americans or Irish immigrants is still alive.

Fourthly, I don't need an apology for something done to my ancestors by someone else's ancestors. That's just about the most ludicris thing I can imagine. I don't need anyone feigning sorrow for something they didn't do. That crap is only done to win votes at election time and I don't like being made a spectacle of for someone else's benefit.

BUT FINALLY, if anyone does ANYTHING to my living family members on the order of what was done to my family members in the past...well...God help them...

I thought about the Japanese killings of Asians the other day and why Asians are still pissed.

They're pissed because the Japanese wouldn't admit to the tens of millions they raped and kill.


Do you know why they won't admit it? Because the minute they admit it is the moment when the world will remember them for it.

Most Westerners have absolutely no idea of the atrocities in Asia. These atrocities were worse than the Holocaust.


If they don't admit it, younger generations won't even know it happened.

The West will never admit to the extinction of 100 million Native Americans because they want it to be "arguable" in the minds of young people. Even the smart ones in Ivy Leagues.

reply to post by TheForgottenOnes


The government has given Native Americans the right to operate smoke shops and casinos .

What more could you possibly want ?

Give me just one casino , and keep the damn apology .

What would an apology from someone who wasn't involved, to someone who wasn't involved mean to you?
Would it have deep emotional value to you?
How would it change your life?
Would you feel like "now i can go about living this life now that Mr X said the US was sorry for that nasty stuff his ancestors did generations ago?"
Do you feel the need to apologize for all of the atrocities European and American settlers suffered at the hands from the various North American Indian tribes?
Am I waiting to get on with my life until I receive an apology for all the rotten things done to my ancestors?

Get your apologies now while the Democrats are in office. It's your only chance.

Originally posted by TheForgottenOnes

Originally posted by sinned66
reply to post by TheForgottenOnes

 

It would be but I wonder just how many full bloods are left. Can't very many.

I think they'res not any left, my husband is Tribal "royalty" his ancestors were Chiefs and he's only between 14 and 19% but raised on a reservation, I think the closest full blood would be something like 80%

to live on the reservation in the American states is 25% and have to be registered

Full blooded Indians,, Native Americans are so Rare now !

reply to post by TheForgottenOnes


It's simple, you never apologize until after you done screwing someone, obviously the us is not yet done [snip]
the American Indian or the rest of us bastards so don't expect it anytime soon my brothers.

I'm sorry i'm not trying to sound heartless but you don't deserve an apology. Nor do your ancestors. I don't approve of what was done so many years ago but you were defeated. The settlers saw something they wanted and fought for it. If you didn't want them to have it then you should have won. It was a war and you never apologize for winning a war.

reply to post by apacheman

We can't dwell in the past. You can only wonder what it would have been like here if there had never been an invasion of America. It can't be changed now. As one poster on here said many of us have Indian heritage...We have all been scattered, like dust in the wind.
The only reason I know anything first hand and not in a History book about the Creek Indians of the 1800's is from my great grandmother. She was born in 1864. And lived way past 100 years old. I am an ancient one myself..by the standards of most people's age on here...
Her grandfather and Grandmother were brutally killed by white men...and she told of many horrors that happened to her people. Way to gruesome to detail here and I don't even want to go there.
I also have Cherokee, Irish, French and Russian heritage too. So many of us are what America is called now .. the melting pot of the world. Even at my age, I am far removed from what happened back then but I have heard of some of the awful conditions that Indians live in on some reservations from people who have visited them in the present. I am learning all I can about this and am trying to help.
WE can't change the past...and dwelling on it will not change it either..it can only cause hatred to grow .We can only hope to make a better world for the generations to come.

Originally posted by Rockpuck
reply to post by TheForgottenOnes

 

Hmm funny I don't remember the US Gov mistreating Indians in living memory..

I find it pathetic when "minorities" demand apologies for events that happened in the PAST. Let's assume Obama gets up and makes some "formal apology" in a prepared statement to a half interested press court and drones on about how bad he feels our government some 100 years ago were mean to Indians.

Would that make you feel better?

Living memory > ? Past !!!!! ITS in the dam Present to !!!!!

Mistreating Indian has been going on non stop were i am from its a unending battle for a Sovereign Nation
caught between 2 nations ! Land of the Mohawk Akwesasne
and
* Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island, Ontario)
* Kana:takon (Saint Regis, Quebec
* Tsi:Snaine (Snye, Quebec or Chenail, Quebec)

Here watch this if you dare I doubt you will!

You are on Indian land
www.nfb.ca...

The film shows the confrontation between police and a 1969 demonstration by Mohawks of the St. Regis Reserve on the bridge between Canada and the United States near Cornwall, Ontario. By blocking traffic on the bridge, which is on the Reserve, the Indians drew public attention to their grievance that they were prohibited by Canadian authorities from duty-free passage of personal purchases across the border, a right they claim was established by the Jay Treaty of 1794.

Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance: The making of (clip 1)
www.nfb.ca...

"I'm going to Oka right now!" Director Alanis Obomsawin describes how and when she began filming the landmark series about the Oka Crisis and the difficulties of keeping a crew on a shoot that lasted 78 days and nights.

Racist French tried to Stone & Kill Indians In Quebec Canada



Hate From the FRENCH against Indians


I can understand why your saying this ! 32 degree Mason
Anderew Jackson was one right ?
and we all know what he caused with the native american right !

Indian Removal by Andrew Jackson
www.pbs.org...


yeah im 1/3rd Native is there a problem ! ? do you have something against natives ?

Apology I would say Yes Especially here in Upper NY and Canada !


[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/f0c6db8de235.jpg[/atsimg]
Yes this is ME!

you know what they say... We've come a long way baby... of course we still have a very long way yet to go...
but don't for a moment think we're just sitting around for Washington to say their sorry oh no brother... we have fought and clawed our way establish our rights in this our country...

This video—posted and created by Minami Ogawa on February 24—highlights the Red Power movement to seek civil rights. Using powerful images, like many from the occupation of Alcatraz Island, and the song “Sing” by My Chemical Romance, she sends a powerful message.

Originally posted by die_another_day
I thought about the Japanese killings of Asians the other day and why Asians are still pissed.

They're pissed because the Japanese wouldn't admit to the tens of millions they raped and kill.


Do you know why they won't admit it? Because the minute they admit it is the moment when the world will remember them for it.

Most Westerners have absolutely no idea of the atrocities in Asia. These atrocities were worse than the Holocaust.

Most Westerners have learned nothing about the Imperial Japanese atrocities because of shady U.S. gov officials that made a deal with Hirohito, granting him immunity if he would hand over all the medical research they conducted during the war. The U.S., like the Japanese, has no interest in blaming the Japanese because of this. The holocaust was bad, but the Japanese were the worst. They made Hostel look like a g rated disney flick.

On behalf of the US and Canada, and Spain since they started this whole mess a few hundred years ago....
They are sorry and accept all tribes' apologies too.
Nasty stuff done on both sides.

Now everyone can go on about their business; work, consume, pay taxes, and blog.

Originally posted by Thunder heart woman
My oldest sister was sterilized against her will in 1978. She was only 18 years old. She had complications with her moon times. They put her in the hospital and the white doctor who was in his 60's, told my sister everything would be fine, and that a simple d&c would be performed to stop the ongoing moon times. When she woke up, she was told by a nurse, not the doctor, that a complication arose and they had to do a complete hysterectomy on her. My sister and my mother were so horrified. Nothing could be done though. My sister never got to be the mother she dreamed of being. She never got to know what it is to give birth. It was stolen from her by someone who felt Native women needed to be sterilized. My sister has adopted, and her life has gone on, and she's very happy now, but that wound inside of her will never completely heal.

In 1979, my cousin had a baby boy at the age of 16. She wanted desperately to keep her little son, and was worried about how to take care of him. At this time Mormon missionaries had descended on our reservation and were going door to door speaking to families. They preyed upon my cousin and her situation and kept trying to talk her into giving her baby away to them, and place him with a good Mormon family. She told them no, but they kept coming back and back until they finally broke her down and talked her into adopting out her baby boy to a Mormon family. They promised she could see her little son again, and to help her, but instead they took advantage of her ability to read, she signed papers for a closed adoption, thinking it was OPEN. They took her baby boy and she has never seen him again.

These are some under handed, horrifying tactics done to my close relatives during my lifetime.

NO apology is ever going to satisfy the pain done to me and mine, nor to anyone else's family.

No one gives a damn about Native people. They don't care about our sacred places, our sacred hocokas, or what we want for our future. We are fighting NOW for the protection of Bear Butte. Please research the issues going on, I have little time to write it all out right now.

We have fake shamans like Kiesha Crowther going around lying about being Native and charging for ceremonies and telling people she's shaman over Lakota and Kootenai.

The genocide of people may have ended but now we fight a different kind of genocide. It's cultural genocide and it's theft of what we have left. What we have left to give to our children. We fight to keep our lands and we fight to keep our ceremonies in a protected way.

Obama lied about helping the tribes. There's a lot more to this. So much more. So many other tribes going through problems.

It's not over for us so I don't see how an apology is going to do anything.

edit on 28-2-2011 by Thunder heart woman because: (no reason given)

That was beautiful, I hope these casinos make you feel better as some say they do. you have a had perfect examples of true crimes against your people

My family and i belongs to the Lakota Sioux tribe. It is messed up how they could just take our land, massacre our people, and then America doesn't teach the youth what really happened to the Native Americans. They only speak about the battle at Wounded Knee where my great grandfather Crazy Horse defeated Gen. Custer. Because of the rape of the women i am related to George Custer. screwd up right? He had a child named Yellowbird. Just a fact about myself i wanted to throw out there

The Mohawk resistance

Legacy of Mohawk Resistance at Akwesasne Border
www.pacificfreepress.com...

OKA Crisis
en.wikipedia.org...

Kansatake Mohawk Resistance Rising
www.archivefire.net...

International Border Crossing- Mohawk War Hero on July 4, 2009


Protest, Resistance, and Dissent in Native Americans



The Mohawk Tribe

Originally posted by jiggaboo
My family and i belongs to the Lakota Sioux tribe. It is messed up how they could just take our land, massacre our people, and then America doesn't teach the youth what really happened to the Native Americans. They only speak about the battle at Wounded Knee where my great grandfather Crazy Horse defeated Gen. Custer. Because of the rape of the women i am related to George Custer. screwd up right? He had a child named Yellowbird. Just a fact about myself i wanted to throw out there

America does teach about the trail of tears okay thanks. And nobody has been alive for generations since that took place so why do you care, seriously?

Originally posted by bhornbuckle75
reply to post by TheForgottenOnes

 

Just to let you know...Yahoo Answers is not a good source.
The US DID appologize officially to its native people
This is from the NATIVE AMERICAN TIMES....perhaps you should be reading that instead of Yahoo Answers.

"WASHINGTON (AP) – The United States formally apologized to American Indian tribes Wednesday for “ill-conceived policies” and acts of violence committed against them."
Site I found this at: www.nativetimes.com...:apology-to-tribes-us-apologizes-to-american-indians-for-mistreatment&cati d=54&Itemid=30

well I didn't cite yahoo answers, just the young mans quote, he had such passion in his words that I couldn't speak

The Native American Apology Resolution passed as an amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill. A Defense Bill? they actually did come over and say "we're sorry" they had to squeeze it in on a defense bill, that's not a real apology, especially, if it comes with a disclaimer