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1873114 Responseshttp://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-two/Native+Americans%3A+Question+Two2010-02-24+05%3A04%3A16Sam+Richards to Native Americans: Question Two
After this class I am still myself having a hard time accepting the blame even though I am of white heritage. I know that my family only cam here a few years ago as well so it’s hard for me to sit here and say that my people are the reason that they were driven off their lands. It was all of the power and land hungry European men who came over here without a thought to the people who were already here. I believe that even people from their descent should not necessarily take the blame. My thought of that is everyone should recognize the harm that was done and should definitely help take steps in helping them today, but I do not agree with taking the blame. The people that should take the blame should be the people who were actually a part of it. I realize now that it is still their land so instead of taking the blame I think we should focus more on helping them come out of poverty and back in to their own land instead. I understand that it sounds harsh by not wanting to take the blame but I do because I know that if this was my way this would have never happened in the first place.
I know Sam said that we can take the blame by acknowledging that it is still happening today but I feel as if it almost a catch twenty two because then if we give it back to them then we have nowhere to go. So it’s so hard to say what the best decision is. I understand that ultimately this is their land but if we were to give it back to them then what would be the options for everyone else? We cannot all just go back to where our ancestors are from because there would not be enough room and we can’t just forget about this country that we have built up. So how are we now supposed to fix this situation? So my opinion on this matter is that I feel it is hard to place the blame on anyone particular on this day and age because none of us specifically drove these people off their land but I do think it is all of our responsibilities to educate ourselves on the matter. Whether you have recently come to the country or not I believe that because you’re here now you need to realize what had happened and try your best to help fix what has been done. These poor Native Americans have every right to try to fight back for their land and it is about we start to listen to them whether we have been here for twelve years of one hundred.
I can agree with Vincent’s comment. He wasn’t here, I wasn’t here, hell, none of us were here in the 1800’s when all the brutality escalated. But I then think about the issues surrounding us today. This stuff is still going on. Though it isn’t nearly as bad as it was before, it is still happening, and we aren’t really doing anything to stop it. So in that respect, we can take blame. I also think about what Sam said about modern day slavery and the fact that we all own something that a slave has most likely worked in some way to produce. The computer that I’m using right now most likely contains parts manufactured by slaves, whether it is the parts themselves or the raw materials needed to make the parts. When I look at it like that, then I realize I can take blame, because before we can change the wrong doings that are still present today, we must change them ourselves.
I think it is less about personally accepting the wrongs that were done directly by you and I and more about our responsibility as current American citizens to educate our youth about the truths of what occurred here. My ancestors came to this country a long time ago and may have personally had something to do with the wrongs that were done, but I don’t feel like I have more of a responsibility than you to do something about what happened. It is what we can do from now on that matters more than what we could have done in the past.
After this class I am still myself having a hard time accepting the blame even though I am of white heritage. I know that my family only cam here a few years ago as well so it’s hard for me to sit here and say that my people are the reason that they were driven off their lands. It was all of the power and land hungry European men who came over here without a thought to the people who were already here. I believe that even people from their descent should not necessarily take the blame. My thought of that is everyone should recognize the harm that was done and should definitely help take steps in helping them today, but I do not agree with taking the blame. The people that should take the blame should be the people who were actually a part of it. I realize now that it is still their land so instead of taking the blame I think we should focus more on helping them come out of poverty and back in to their own land instead. I understand that it sounds harsh by not wanting to take the blame but I do because I know that if this was my way this would have never happened in the first place.
I know Sam said that we can take the blame by acknowledging that it is still happening today but I feel as if it almost a catch twenty two because then if we give it back to them then we have nowhere to go. So it’s so hard to say what the best decision is. I understand that ultimately this is their land but if we were to give it back to them then what would be the options for everyone else? We cannot all just go back to where our ancestors are from because there would not be enough room and we can’t just forget about this country that we have built up. So how are we now supposed to fix this situation? So my opinion on this matter is that I feel it is hard to place the blame on anyone particular on this day and age because none of us specifically drove these people off their land but I do think it is all of our responsibilities to educate ourselves on the matter. Whether you have recently come to the country or not I believe that because you’re here now you need to realize what had happened and try your best to help fix what has been done. These poor Native Americans have every right to try to fight back for their land and it is about we start to listen to them whether we have been here for twelve years of one hundred.
[Reply]
I can agree with Vincent’s comment. He wasn’t here, I wasn’t here, hell, none of us were here in the 1800’s when all the brutality escalated. But I then think about the issues surrounding us today. This stuff is still going on. Though it isn’t nearly as bad as it was before, it is still happening, and we aren’t really doing anything to stop it. So in that respect, we can take blame. I also think about what Sam said about modern day slavery and the fact that we all own something that a slave has most likely worked in some way to produce. The computer that I’m using right now most likely contains parts manufactured by slaves, whether it is the parts themselves or the raw materials needed to make the parts. When I look at it like that, then I realize I can take blame, because before we can change the wrong doings that are still present today, we must change them ourselves.
[Reply]
I think it is less about personally accepting the wrongs that were done directly by you and I and more about our responsibility as current American citizens to educate our youth about the truths of what occurred here. My ancestors came to this country a long time ago and may have personally had something to do with the wrongs that were done, but I don’t feel like I have more of a responsibility than you to do something about what happened. It is what we can do from now on that matters more than what we could have done in the past.
[Reply]