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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
At first, I completely agreed with Vincent's comment. Why should I take the blame for something that I had no part in? The more I thought about it though, the more I realized that we are all indirectly responsible for what happened/is happening to the Native Americans. As we saw in the class video, Native Americans are still suffering today. We have seen examples of alcohol and physical abuse, as well as school posters against committing suicide. As Sam said, we are standing on "red land". Although we may not be directly responsible for pushing the Native Americans off their land, we are responsible for keeping them where they are. We are not doing anything to help them, and by not doing anything, we are just as much as part of the problem as our ancestors were. Therefore, I think we do deserve some of the blame.
I feel as though we shouldn't feel like we should have to take the blame. We are here now, and what are we supposed to do? Leave and give it all back? That will not be beneficial in any way shape or form. In all actuality I feel as if that would be a slap in the face to the Native Americans. That's like us as Americans saying, "well we're so sorry for what our fore fathers have done to you" here's the land back, but we will be taking our belongings, oh the land is all you want, well here you are!" That is total disrespect and is ultimately futile, and will never happen. SO i feel as if walking around with sorrow and shame is fruitless.
In response to Vincent’s post, I would have to agree with him about the whole “why am I being blamed for things that I didn’t have a part in?” I agree with him on the Native American aspect of it and the African American aspect. I had nothing to do with the hostility that the Native Americans had to endure, yet to this day they hate “the white man, or the white society.” Do I feel bad that most of these Native Americans are living in poverty and terrible living conditions, yes! But what can I do about it, I’m just a student. It is not about the “white team” or “dark team” on this issue but more along the lines of segregating what is different. I think it’s wrong that the Native Americans of the United States are treated so poorly. Their culture is the most cherished and strong culture that I’ve ever learned about. To have the land ripped away from them is terrible, and do I feel bad, absolutely! I just do not know how to go about fixing the issue. I mean, we can bring it to people’s attention in schools, newspapers, and books but that only goes so far. It drives me crazy that the United States government pays so much money over in Afghanistan and Iraq when there is much to be fixed here in the United States. I was not aware of how bad Native Americans had it until Sam’s video. I feel terrible, and there really isn’t anything I can do about the situation. I always thought that the Native Americans were a cherished people. They are always portrayed in a good light during parades, and they were in the opening ceremony in the Salt Lake City Olympics. They have a place in our history. I mean, Sacagawea has a display devoted to her in the Museum of Natural History in New York City. That’s why I do not understand why and how they live like this? I know they live on reservations, but are they allowed the same jobs we are allowed as “white people?” I get really annoyed when the blame is pushed towards my generation, regarding racism towards a person of any color. Yes, there is racism but it is towards all colors whether you’re white, yellow, brown or black. I was born in 1987, and had absolutely nothing to do with stealing the Native Americans land or the Civil Rights movement, but yet I’m still getting blamed for them as a 22 year old white girl. There needs to be a time when people just relax and stop blaming each other. Once the blaming of one another ends so will this racism. So much of racism is inherited from our parents or society. The best thing we can do is to be open-minded and try to resist the influence of other people. Take the opportunity to establish your own opinions based on your own experiences.
I can completely agree with you. I as an African American I feel that I have nothing to be sorry for or apologize for. The blame should be solely invested in the "white man" or further white Europeans from the the early 11th century that came over and settled and colonized the first people of this land: Native Americans. White Europeans came and established several colonies. Then with the arrival of Christopher Columbus who came and made the claim to have 'discovered" the Americas where he in fact was not only behind the Native Americans , but also behind Europeans who arrived and started the colonization process way before Columbus. In fact, when Christopher Columbus first came to the Americas, he had the impression that he could conquer the peoples of the land. His first encounter were Taino people, who were one of three local Arawak-speaking indigenous groups.
White Americans came over an basically uprooted the Native people from their homeland, and completely disregarded their presence and used them as tools of the land. This has come to be known as the Spanish colonization of the Americas. The Native peoples were pushed out of their homes and taught to conform to the "white mans" values, religion, and morals, or suffer the consequences, which ultimately led to death. Sway of life as they knew it was no longer in existence.
After the settlement of the spanish men, other peoples came over and moved the Native AMericans out even more, causing the very presence of them to be near nonexistent.
Back to the issue of feeling sorry for our country's past wrongdoing, I feel as if I as an African American I should not have to feel shameful or sorry in any way. I should feel the same animosity that Native Americans have against America. My people too were uprooted from their home, and brought over to the Americas as a way of toiling and helping build our nation's economy. We were stepped on for centuries, and we shouldn't feel any sorrow fro what White Americans did to Native Americans.
The only shame I feel is for having American at the end of my race. African ..American? I feel as if the only sorrow we as African americans carry is the conformity to a country we call home that has rode our backs, and caused us years of devastation and sorrow. White Americans should in some way should be embarrassed for having the same color of skin of the white men who caused a mass genocide of a people. While America complains about the Holocaust we fail to look at ourselves from the colonization of the First peoples to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
I agree with what Vincent says here. However, with his stream of logic, at least relating to our generation, no one alive now should feel any guilt or blame from the wrong doings of past ancestors. I know, at least in my family's case, that we too just migrated here one generation ago and none of my ancestors or relatives had anything to do with the tragedies associated with taking the land of Native Americans. However, we cannot just let those whose ancestors were involved with massacring the Native Americans take sole blame. As Americans, we have adopted a new legacy and must accept the wrong-doings that have occurred in our country.
I think this issue is rather complex and there are many different ways to go when considering it. While I was sitting in class listening to Sam’s lecture, I did feel like I should take some of the blame. I indirectly did take land away from Native Americans and today many of them are suffering. When Sam shows statistics in class it is always the Native Americans who are the poorest and the Native Americans who have the highest rate of unemployment, etc. The majority of them never really got on their feet in order to live a better life. The genocide that occurred on their land knocked them down, and it knocked them down hard. I do feel partly to blame for this, because if it wasn’t me, then every other individual could say it wasn’t him or her either. And soon everyone is saying it wasn’t them – then who was it?
I do not think that we need to sit and sulk and say how could such a thing happen, but I do think that educating others and making them aware of such a thing is something important to do. It is hard to say exactly what we can do to make up for this problem because clearly we cannot just knock down every mall, home, building, school, etc. that we have built and “give their land back.” I think making people aware of the fact that this happened is a good thing to do but when I attempt to think of the next step to take, I am not sure where to go. Because I don’t know where to turn next, I start right back into the mindset that yes I did have something to do with this genocide, but I played a very, very small role and I do not need to feel extreme blame for it. I tell myself that accepting the fact that people of my ancestry did this at one point is enough, and that I do not need to look farther. But how could this be the case? I am tangled between two sides and still do not know what is correct or where to lead myself on this issue. Should I feel guilt? Is accepting the fact that such a terrible thing happened enough? I do not know. And to be completely honest, I probably never will know. Sam says we shouldn’t feel guilty about it, then what should we feel? I am slightly confused and think that either way I look at the situation, something is wrong with that mindset. I tried to relate to this whole situation today when Sam did the demonstration of people getting pushed off the table. I tried to put myself in their shoes, and I can imagine how this would have felt…I just don’t know which direction to lead myself knowing of this disastrous genocide.
I totally see your point, and I feel where you're coming from, but I think a lot of people in class are taking Sam's points the wrong way. While I think Sam certainly meant that we need to acknowledge what happened, and acknowledge the role played by our forefathers*, a lot of people seem to be making this synonymous with guilt–and I truly believe this was not Sam's intention.
I think the reason a lot of people in the class are scrabbling to find an excuse as to why they are somehow excused from responsibility for this is because thinking of the actions our forefathers took makes them feel guilty, and they want to assuage that guilt. But I don't think we have to feel guilty.
In short, guilt does nothing to inspire us to action, or to further the conversation. It doesn't help anyone. In fact, I think guilt, while perhaps a natural reaction, probably does more harm than good.
Earlier in the semester, Sam mentioned that a lot of white people don't want to sit down to the 'race table' because they worry about offending someone; I think feelings of guilt also do a lot to preclude white people from being more open about having discussions on race. Just as many people in the class, of various racial and ethnic backgrounds, didn't understand why they should have to feel responsible for crimes against Native Americans, I think many white people, born long after slavery to families who never held slaves, don't understand why they should feel guilty over racism in this country. But this does not change the fact that we live in a country where racism and discrimination are still common. The only difference is that while guilt over slavery and subsequent inequalities has long been confined to white people, living on land stolen from Native Americans is something people of all colors have to acknowledge.
So the question becomes, where do we go from here? If we aren't supposed to feel guilty, how should we feel?
I think a good place to start is awareness. In that respect, I think Sam has helped us all a lot, by drawing this issue to our attention and educating us about it. What we choose to do with that knowledge is up to us, but gaining it has been the first step.
I think another thing to remember (and there is a possibility that I could be wrong here, of course) is that it's very likely that most, if not all Native Americans don't have any desire for us to feel guilty–as I mentioned, our guilt doesn't do them any good. If you look at it from this angle, guilt actually starts to seem like a pretty selfish reaction. We're attending to our own insecurities and anxieties–and sometimes we even get worked up over the fact that we don't believe we should have to feel guilty, and even allow ourselves to believe we are the victims, either of the actions of our ancestors, or of the people who cannot seem to just forget about the pain we have caused them. Instead, we should be looking to actually help the people who have been wronged.
*I say forefathers because even if our own ancestors weren't involved, you can't deny that we are all linked to the people who perpetrated these crimes by merit of the fact that we would likely not be living here today had they not seized the land and killed the inhabitants as they did.
Thats a very good point man. I don't think that immigrants should "take the blame" or just accept what we did, because what WE did is coming from Americans who were born and raised here and whose parents were also born and raised here. When you have people in even your own family who have been around the block and experienced all of this about Native Americans then thats when you should just accept what your ancestors have done. Personally, I don't think its a good idea to accept what we did. I mean, i guess if that makes us sleep better at night and make us sound like we're taking the easy way out but really? Whoever has a conscience and some sort of morals would agree with me here that this is just ridiculous. I know myself didn't do anything to Native Americans and I'm not really sure if my ancestors did either but Native Americans shouldn't be the piss poor category of the lot, especially when they were here first. Native American Indian reservations are some of the poorest areas of the country and thats because the government makes it that way. I'm not gonna accept or admit that I'm the one person to do this to Native Americans and I'm not gonna just accept it for what it is. I mean, i can't do anything personally or even noticeable on my part but I see Native Americans on the same level playing field as me. Honestly, I'd probably be honored to meet an actual native american because they are so rare to see now with the government indirectly killing all of them off and making sure that they stay at the bottom of the chain. If anyone is to blame it would have to be the government. They were the ones to drive them off their land in the first place, they we're the ones to make them the poorest race in America, and they were the ones who are still keeping them there today. Hell, even as recent as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 we can see evidence of the government trying to dump HUNDREDS of contaminated trailers on Indian reservations… Like really? What can seriously make a person say that its better to give disease infected trailers to another human being, let alone deceiving them because I'm pretty sure the government didn't tell them that anything was wrong. But I couldn't sleep at night knowing that I was the one to actually help continue the blight of the Native American Indians. I agree with what this guy says, although I am American and my ancestry of Europe like most average America, he shouldnt have to accept what we did, and I'm not personally accepting it either. Even maybe if my ancestors participated in keeping down the Native Americans, I for one would never do that. Everyone is equal, but I guess the government views it differently.
Okay, so, this question seems to be a recurring theme in this class. "I had nothing to do with the Native Americans getting kicked off of their land, why should I have to take the blame for it," "My forefathers were the ones who committed the genocide of the Native Americans, not me, so I don't see why I should be expected to take any responsibility for this."
In Vincent's case, him and his family are very recent immigrants to the country, so his circumstances are a little different, but I'll get back to that in a second.
Here is what I have gathered from Sam's lectures about the Native Americans and taking responsibility for their current plight as a society: You live here. YOU LIVE HERE.
THAT is why you're expected to take at least some sort of responsibility for the Native Americans' current situation as well as the original reason that the entire race was put into this situation in the first place- generations of genocide and oppression.
The only reason that we– who have "nothing" to do with what happened to the Native Americans– have a town, a neighborhood to live in, a plot of land on which we build a house, is because that land was TAKEN FROM SOMEONE (read: Native Americans) in the first place.
Sure, you didn't KILL any Native Americans, sure you didn't PHYSICALLY TAKE any land from the Native Americans, and, sure, you weren't the one that FORCED them to live on some crappy reservation in the middle of nowhere with no feasible way to make a decent living. But you know what? THE TOWN YOU LIVE IN is built on land where a Native American tribe SHOULD HAVE BEEN. Your neighborhood is built on land where a Native American tribe SHOULD HAVE BEEN. Your HOUSE is built on a plot of land where a Native American family SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
You may not be directly responsible for what happened to the Native Americans, but you're sure as hell perpetuating the legacy of what went down two, three, four hundred years ago.
You're living somewhere where, had your ancestors not forced the Native Americans to move, those same Native Americans would have probably continued to reside.
The fact that you're the one occupying land that, rightfully, should be where a Native American is living, makes you responsible for their current predicament.
Now, in Vincent's case, where his family and himself are a group of recent immigrants, it's easy to say that, "My ancestors weren't even here to be involved with the genocide of the Native Americans or the taking of their land, so why should I be held responsible?"
My personal opinion and answer to that is, then your ancestors shouldn't be accountable. Does that free you of your responsibility, though? Nope. Like I explained earlier, you live here, you live somewhere where a Native American should be. That's why you should feel somewhat responsible. Your ancestors, on the other hand, lived on a totally different land mass, away from what was going on in the continental United States, so, okay, it's unfair to say your ancestors are responsible.
Anyway, bottom line is, you're responsible because the land you're on is land you're on only because it was taken from someone in the first place, and you're responsible because as long as you live there, the people that were forced off of it can't have it.
I don't offer up any solutions for how to fix this problem, because I'm just as clueless as the next person— are we supposed to move? That's unreasonable— but it seems to me that many people don't grasp why they should shoulder any responsibility, and I just think that that's something that needs to be understood.
There are many ways to respond to this question that my fellow student has put out there. He makes a good point by saying that him and his family haven't been in this country for generations and they did nothing to Native Americans here when the white men came over from Europe. In a way, I sort of agree with him because I too am the first generation of my fathers side of the family to be born in the United States. In some ways I think, "wow that has nothing to do with me because it wasn't my ancestors that were doing it." I feel like we, as Americans, want to sort of pretend that these things didn't happen because it took place sooo long ago and we don't want to take responsibility for the actions of the people that built this country for us. What the white men did to the Native Americans was completely wrong and disturbing, but at the same time, the awful men that carried out those commands are long gone and have had to deal with the terrible things they did in life. We can't change history but we can recognize what has happened here and not let anything like this ever happen again.
But looking at this in another way everyone needs to consider this: slavery and the act of one group dominating over a smaller minority group happened EVERYWHERE in the world and is still happening today. I just finished reading "Disposable People" for this class and it really opened my eyes to a lot of things I was not aware of before. I can't quite remember where Vincent said his family was from, but in the book and in class we talked about how this kind of thing happened everywhere. It happened in South America. It happened in Central America. Everywhere you looked, there was always another group of individuals that proved to be stronger in a sense, and more forceful who would take things from people who were already there. Sadly, in the United States the Native Americans did not and could not fight back, so they inevitably were wiped out. But I'm sure this kind of thing happened even in the country in which Vincent and his family are from. Perhaps it wasn't to the extent of the Europeans and Native Americans here in the United States, but to say that you and your ancestors have never done anything like this to a group of people is kind of hard to back up with evidence because it was such a regular thing that occurred at one point in time.
To wrap it up, I think both sides are justifiable. Perhaps people, like Vince and his family didn't cause any harm to the Native Americans in America but there is a lot of historical evidence and proof that leads us to believe and shows us that this kind of thing happened in other countries as well, so therefore no one really has 'clean hands' of the subject, so to speak.
I completely agree with the student’s video response. I have gotten a little fed up with Sam’s classes the past couple days because he is making us feel like the genocide of the Native Americans is our fault. I was not around during that time, so I feel like it is not right for him to blame us for something we did not take part in. I would understand if another genocide of the Native Americans were to happen today it would be necessary to take the blame because I am part of the United States of America. I just feel like the way he is trying to get the point across is the wrong approach. I also hates when he brings up the point about us standing on red land. I understand that this land was Native American land but honestly, what can we do it about it now? This may sound hypocritical but seriously I cannot feel guilty for living the way I do today. We cannot just stop the way our society is today so we can give land back to Native Americans. We cannot change what happened in the past, we can only change what happens in the future. I just don’t understand why it seems that Sam is trying to make us feel like it is our fault. It is not fair to us because we are not the people who caused this destruction. I just don’t like the approach Sam has taken to bring about awareness of this topic. Instead of feeling bad for what happened in the past, I feel like one of the major things we can do in the present is to prevent anything of the sort from happening again today. Even with the issue of slavery, I personally cannot take the blame for others individuals’ actions during the 1940s or 1950s during slavery, discrimination, and segregation because I am my own person and I have not made the same mistakes as everyone else. I hate that sometimes I feel as if we are associated with the wrong doings of others and that is not fair. Being a white person, I feel as if we are always looked at as being slavery owners and treating people unfairly. Well as fair as I know, none of my ancestors or family members were slave owners and I do not want to be blamed for something I did not do. I apologize if I am sounding apathetic or cynical but this is honestly how I feel and no one is going to change my opinions. The one thing I do believe is that we can accept the fact that people have made mistakes in the past and like I mentioned before, we can prevent them from happening again.
I really don't think Sam means that we have to take the blame as in we should feel really bad about it all the time and drowned in our sorrows about it. I just think like he pointed out in class that we have to recognize the wrong that is going on in our own country. Native Americans where pushed out of their land and their ways of living are completely gone. I think we should be more aware of this genocide. Our country is sometimes very oblivious to what is going on in our own society that we tend to forget where we came from. I just really think that we should teach this in our schools more often and try to figure out ways to help the Native Americans. Now many people don't believe this same thing, and many people just do't care what so ever. That is OK people in our class are now away of what went on with our ancestors. I know many black and brown people are upset about how Sam said we are all involved and I can see where you are coming from, but think about if people didn't recognize passed slavery and how we are working towards a better tomorrow for all races to live equally without any tension. It is almost like Native American aren't even acknowledged. The live on the reserves ad they are out of sight out of mind. They are trapped in a falling cycle that the can't get out of. The thing is that not everyone is going to feel this way. We were talking about settling in our TA classes and I think that some people feel strongly about certain things and other people feel a deep connection with a situation and the act upon that and make a change. I think Sam was just trying to "kick it out there" to help people realize that we are living and breathing on stolen red land. Some people will agree feel strongly about this and potentially make a change. Not everyone is going to do this but education is the only way for people to gain knowledge about certain events. I don't know how I want to approach this and try to make a difference because I do feel a certain way about this. I plan on becoming a teacher so it is possible to educate students about this. However, I think people are taking Sam's statement that it is all of our faults a little to far. I understand many of you are not white or your ancestors weren't even around what the Native American's had their land or religion taken away from them but in all reality we are all reaping the benefits of a solid foundation that was laid for us so we can succeed in life.
I agree with this comment. I often, and no, I'm not lying, think about this topic of how horrible what was done to the Native Americans when Europeans came and settled in America. My mother is a kindergarten teacher and I often bring this topic up to her. Around Thanksgiving and even Columbus Day, she teaches her students about the pilgrims and how our country was founded. She never, at this young of an age, explains to the children how horrific the whole process was. Ok, maybe its due to the fact that the kids are 5 and 6 years old, and that's a little "heavy" of a topic to talk about with them, but in her classroom, its a celebratory topic. However, I know my mom and I both stand on the same page that what was done to the American Indians when the Europeans came to the Americas was horrific, and we often talk about it. However, I know that when she teaches these children she is not celebrating what was done to the Native Americans, but rather celebrating the foundation of our country as what it is today. And although we have days like Columbus Day and Thanksgiving, I don't think it's forgotten that these celebratory holidays came from the genocide of others. I think this because there are tons of movies and media on this topic. And although we celebrate the founding of our country, I do not think we should be "blamed". African Americans were forced to be in this country; I know that my relatives immigrated here after the country was established and they were being persecuted in Europe. And even if your ancestors did contribute to the take over of the Americas, this does not mean you, the person today, is to blame. It was hundreds of years ago. I am a white girl, and blaming us for the murder of American Indians, is like blaming me for slavery. Yes, education and knowledge needs to be given to everyone about the horrific events that took place in order to obtain this country, and the conditions in which American Indians live in today. But we're all to blame for that? I do not think so. Should we stop celebrating?
Even though you just you just moved here, you are still living on red land. It is understandable that you would not want to be considered a part of what happened a long time ago, and to some degree you are excused, but if you want to live in a certain country, you have to accept both the good and the bad of what it has to offer. If you were forced to move here for some reason then it might be a different story, but since I would guess your family chose to live here, then you should be ready to accept some responsibility for it.
I happen to agree with the statement this man made regarding how he should not have to accept blame for how the previous people in the United States (our ancestors) pushed the Native Americans from their homes. Today, the some Native Americans live on reservations that the United States has set aside for them. My question is, how can you tell me to accept the blame for something that others did hundreds of years ago. I simply cannot wrap my head around this. Personally, I am a very cautious person when it comes to saying/doing things to people. I hate hurting other’s feelings or doing/saying something that may offend them. This topic, however, I cannot feel sorry about or accept the blame for. I KNOW that I did not do anything and yes my ancestors did push the Native Americans out of their land, but I did not do that. There is an indirect way that I, myself, am guilty, but I will discuss that later in my blog.
Of course I feel that this man has more of a reason that he should not have to accept the blame than I have a reason. If he moved here eighteen years ago and all of his ancestors were from some other place in the world then there should be no reason he should have to accept the blame. He should not be told that he has to nor should any other person of a different historical background.
I can understand on the opposing viewpoint, however, that he and I in an indirect way are participating in taking over the land from the Native Americans. For the man this is because he CHOSE to come here and the more people that immigrate or move to the United States the smaller the Native American’s land is. For me, I was born here and I will have kids in the future so I will be adding to the population, which pushes the Native American’s land away from them also. Therefore, I can understand why him and I would be told that we should accept the blame for the Native Americans; however, I still do not think it is right.
In conclusion, even though I understand the opposing viewpoint I still believe we (the generation that is living today) are not in the wrong. I do not feel that acting like we accept the blame when we really do not will ever solve anything. If it were me I would not accept an apology unless it was genuine and I feel that we and even the United States government does not believe we did anything wrong because we were not the ones who did something directly. None of us living the world today should have to put this burden on our shoulders.
I kind of agree with Vinny's comment. I mean it was a certain group of people who came to this land and took the Native American's land and made it their own. Those people took the land and made America. I nor many other people have any connection to those attrocities commited against Native Americans. I am the first generation here, what do I have to do with it to feel bad about it. I can bet that there are very few students in the class who can trace their ancestry back to the original settlers or to soldiers who were involved in the massacres to take Native American land. My lineage and many others did what we had to do we saw an open land of opportunity and went to it despite the means that the original settlers went to get it, and decided to live on it so we could have better lives.
Is it wrong that Native Americans had their land stolen, yes. But its not like they are the only ones. European nations conquered most of the world. Many histories and towns were burned down and lost forever. Slaves lost history. I understand Native Americans are suffering and share my sympathy but I don't believe Sam Richards should target every American to take responsibilty for the suffering of Native Americans.
At the same time I also respect Native Americans for holding on to their traditions, we all do the same, but I think if living of reservations and the suicide rate to continue to rise, then something should change. I believe the government should help Native Americans. They lost their land to the settlers, and continued to lose land as America expanded west however they can't expect to get it back. Its just the way of life, survival of the fittest. I don't have any greater opportunites in life. I have whatever I was dealt and took that and went to school, and went to college. I have had people stomp on me and defeat me, and there's nothing I could have done about it except, move on and make things better with what ever I had. Native Americans have a strong lineage they could expand if they integrate into the system of this country.
What I mean by this is not conform, and go kiss a white man's shoe, but go to more melting pot school and towns and raise families within the country and not just on reservations. They should fight for happiness not for land.
This class is beginning to change my way of thinking on a number of levels. When Sam first began lecturing about Native Americans and how they were tortured by white people I thought well those were my ancestors, I haven’t done anything. I found myself getting offended in the early lectures by what he was saying about how we need to accept blame. I do not by any means feel guilty about the past, because it’s true I wasn’t there and I did not personally attack anyone. My feelings in this respect remain unchanged. After more discussion; however, I began to realize that it isn’t about feeling guilt. It is about recognizing what was done in the past and how so many people were and still are affected by it.
It bothers me that we are never taught these things in school. History books and the media are so manipulated that it is scary to think of the number of things we are oblivious to. I remember learning about the Columbus trial in middle school and being shocked to discover that Columbus was not the hero we all thought that he was. We have an entire day dedicated to him after all. Even then, I was young and didn’t really understand how the Native Americans were truly treated.
The fact that Native Americans are still suffering so much today is an indication of how wrong things still are. I do not think that we as individuals have to feel guilty. I feel that it is instead about making it right now and allowing them the rights that our ancestors wrongfully took from them. Even now, we have them pushed aside onto reservations. There is no opportunity for them. I think that slavery is a topic that is studied more. White people brought black people over from Africa as slaves, but eventually we became the good guys by freeing them. I guess that’s why we learn about that because it makes it look like white people did the right thing. This also seems to be the main concern in race relations because it always comes back to white and black people. When it comes to the Native Americans though, everyone just ignores them. They have been pushed away and swept under the rug. At least other races in this country have been able to begin to work their way up a bit because of recognition; however, Native Americans have never even had that opportunity. There are people born into that particular culture today that have not gotten a say and may never get a say. Their land was taken from them and they never even received an apology. We are supposed to be the smarter, more enlightened generation that is trying to bring peace to the world. So it does become our responsibility to make sure that they are recognized and heard because they are human beings like the rest of us.
This is a sticky situation, to "accept the wrongs" you may feel as though it is not your place. You weren't here when the genocide of Native Americans took place; and the people who did take part in the genocide may not even be related to you at all in Vincent's case. However I feel as though by living where you do today you are in a way taking part in supporting the genocide which took place long before any of us were even alive. The land on which our University, your home, your favorite recreational activity are built are all built on red land. Land which was taken from others by force and were not compensated for. So in a way by frequenting these places you are saying "Hey I don't support what happened but I sure am glad it did so I can go to the mall!" So what can you do? These native people are distant from us and have been forced into these places called reservations to live out the rest of their lives to think about what has happened to their people in the past. They are not likely to come out of their comfort zone of their people and try and mix into the world today. If they hold their customs at a high standard and are not looking to lose sight of who they were as a people then they will stay together. They must be approached first and asked to teach their way of life because of what has happened in the past I feel they will not be coming to seek out the people that look like the ones who put them where they are now in the first place.
To those who claim the Americans should take the blame and responsibility for taking over the Native Americans homeland: Have you EVER done anything besides saying that you are responsible? To be frank I think it is very hypocritical to say that stuff than to do that. If you really feel guilty or somewhat responsible, than at least you should visit those reservation and help those Native Americans. Not sitting in front of your computer and just typing several words describing how sorry you are– it's no use! I am a bit pissed and feeling disgusting when hearing people saying "oh i feel so sorry for what we've done to the Native Americans". That is just BS! It ain't work in any way! Nobody is gonna be forsaken for what you've said, but what you've got. The Americans are standing as people with the vested interests. You thrived from the Indian's land. You did the genocide/ massacre. And now you just laying in your couch drinking some coffee and saying you are responsible! How disgusting that is! To me that shows the Americans do feel somewhat guilty, but because the Americans can't live without the land they stole from the Native Americans, the Americans just don't do anything meaningful, because the Americans can't! You are like the victors standing at the top of the mountain, and say to the Natives "oh we are sorry for conquering your homelands and we feel really guilty and shameful, but we won't give you anything back." I just can't stand this kind of opinion. So you'd either say that you are not responsible for the Native Americans or you'd DO something! Saying is just useless.
So next if my own opinion. I saw someone saying that they have nothing to do with the history. I think that is correct (including the questioner). We could have different views of seeing things, especially things in the history that you haven't experienced. According to Materialism, the advanced productivity represents the trend of the development of culture. Politic serves for the development of economics. This is correct. The land wasn't belonged to anyone, they are just the land. Continent movement made the five continents in the world. And it created so called "natives". Where the race originated doesn't necessarily mean that this land belongs to you forever. "falling apart will suffer beating". Only when your race's development represents the advanced productivity, your race can win the war and take the land. That is the way of the nature. Don't forget how many white Americans were also killed by the Native Americans. I know it might be uncomfortable, but it is the rule of nature: the betters survive.
I completely agree with the young man in the video. I do not understand why I should take blame for or admit wrongdoing when I have not done anything wrong. I understand that the land that we are currently living on now belonged to the Native Americans and we forced them off this land. However, these actions reflect the white race during that specific time period, not me as an individual. I am completely aware that these actions occurred in the past and are still occurring in today’s society. Just because my so called white ancestor’s forced the Native Americans off their land does not mean I share in the same beliefs as them. Why does the color of our skin define our beliefs? Just because they have the same skin color as me should not infer that we have the same ideals. If my ancestors did partake in these horrible actions why should I be blamed? I am my own individual and different from them in many ways. With that being said, this blame is a full circle and will continue in the future. The blame will eventually be move from our ancestor onto my generation. I understand that the blame is always going to be put on someone; I just feel it’s unwarranted and not fair. I do feel for the Native American’s and African American’s who have been discriminated against for their whole life and have faced many disadvantages throughout their whole life. However, I still feel it is unfair to blame me for their hardships and discrimination. I understand that they did not choose to be African American or Native American and they should not be persecuted cause of their skin, but I as well did not choose to be white and I couldn’t control the actions of my white ancestors. With that being said, I understand how we could be to blame of these actions that are still taking place in today’s society. Even if I don’t actually discriminate I should still stand up for discrimination and try to eliminate it throughout the world. I believe that in order to completely relieve our race of this blame we need to educate individuals all over the world. Many people have no idea that these racist acts are still continuing in today’s society. It is the duty of those educated to educate the uneducated, if we do this it will soon relieve us of this unwarranted blame.
I think “accepting the wrongs” goes beyond putting blame on yourself. I do not think that any of us are to blame because, like you said, none of us were technically there when this was going on. I think “accepting the wrongs” means learning and accepting the facts and trying to better ourselves to make the Native American population better and stronger today. There are many issues that the Native Americans are facing, and they need policies to give them additional assistance until they can make it on their own.
I think not accepting the wrongs would be ignoring what happened or pretending that it did not happen at all, which a lot of us have been doing our entire lives. This was probably not intentional, I for instance was unaware of the extent of damage caused, but continuing to be ignorant is the worst thing I could do. Our generation is becoming older and more powerful, so we have the opportunity to help improve the lives of the Native Americans still living in the United States, and we should do just that in any way we can. We should not feel bad, because this will not help anyone, but we should be sympathetic and caring.
We human beings seem always fight against our human natures. We always try to lift the sense of sympathy. Don't forget one thing: the human beings as a whole, can survive and stand at the top of the food chain, is because we are fighting for living for every second. New technology, advanced science are always taking place of the old ways. No matter how you cherish the memory of the past, the tradition, the whatsoever, the wheels of history will not stop for you. So– just take everything you've done as a fact. There is no way you can go back. I still believe in Marxism– the philosophy part of it. Karl Marx stated that higher productivity will always replace the lower. That's why the Europeans took place of the Native Americans, that's why African American Slaves existed, and that's why slavery ended– they all represent the highest productivity, or say, the format of production during their periods. The morality only exists for a very specific period of time– there is no eternal/ never changing moral code for human beings. I am guessing maybe 1000 years later, people will say "oh my god how could entrepreneurs "hired" workers???" "How could workers ever exist in our human history??" It is very possible from my point of view. With the development of productivity, maybe in the future there won't be any "companies", maybe human being will be united and all are called "earthlings". You know, there is always possibilities.
I don’t think that Sam necessarily said that you should personally take any blame for the previous actions but that there is a level of acceptance that we all must live with. I do feel that one thing that we should all accept is the current treatment of native Americans in this country. We can’t lean toward helping out a culture, and unifying us as Americans unless we look at what we have been doing and done to them as well. Just like with slavery we learned to accept that those actions were not right, and we’ve come to abolish such treatment and acts.
I agree that this is not our fault whatsoever, I mean how could it be? I was born less than twenty years ago, and for most of those years I had no idea that this genocide even happened. No one in my family physically killed a Native American to build a house on their territory, or bullied them into giving us the land on which we live, but this doesn't mean that we should just ignore it happened. What happened to the Native Americans when we first came to America and took their land is atrocious, so ignoring the fact that our ancestors committed this act of violence is just disrespectful to the Native Americans that died merely because they didn't have the weapons we did. I don't think Sam is telling us to pack our bags and move out of the country to give them back their land, because that's obviously unrealistic in most cases, but rather acknowledge the wrong that was committed on this land. I feel that if we just learn to accept the past and stop pretending like nothing bad happened, it will show a great deal of respect to those who were killed over land, and will move us as Americans one step further to bettering our morals as a whole.
Your reasoning for not taking the blame is that you have not been in the country long enough for you to have had a hand in these issues. Your family has not been in the country. Realistically, many people in this country haven't been here long enough either. I'm a white person, and even that means the blame usually falls on me for race related-wrong, I am only third generation on either side of my family. I have not been in the country long enough either to legitimately accept blame on any of these issues. There is no one alive today that has committed the atrocities and forced displacement and genocide from the 1800's. Even with people who did have ancestors here, it is unlikely that they had a direct hand in anything. Let us even consider someone who's distant ancestors did have a hand in it. Why should he or she accept blame for something they did not do? I do not feel responsible for the racist or homophobic ramblings of my grandpa, why should they feel responsible of relatives generations and generations ago?
So who, today, should accept the blame? Who should “need to feel bad?” Just the people who personally killed or displaced or did something negative towards native americans? I do not think if we just sit and get really angry at whoever these people were a century ago that our societal issues will disappear. It is not important who today is to accept blame today. This issue is my issue. It is also your issue. It belongs to everyone who considers themselves an American.
On the first day of lecture concerning Native Americans a lot of people, from varying ethnic background, asked why are they getting “blamed” for this. Since they had nothing to do with it other than that they live here. Well, as Sam noted, we live on land that was originally native american soil. So, if it matters that much who to “blame,” it is every landowner in the united states. But why does that matter? How does assigning blame help anyone anywhere?
Blame is not going to advance us as a society. We need to look past such trivialities and look at the real issues here. We need to look at the success and failure of communities, differences in income, crime rates, suicide rates, education levels, and poverty. We need to figure out how to relieve some of these differences and help some of the people in these tragic stories without destroying their culture. These issues are self sustaining and will continue to ruin lives of innocent people if nothing is done to alleviate things. Blame does not enter into the equation.
This is a difficult topic to talk about, and even a harder one to understand. What is our role in the situation regarding the racism against American Indians and how are we to come to terms with what happened in the past? I think what Sam is trying to do here is open our eyes to the truth of the situation rather than impose blame. And if once our eyes are opened we feel the need to act, even better! We should be encouraged to act. But just remember there are different ways of acting – whether it be educating others, viewing American Indians in a more respectful way, or pushing for policies in the White House – and all are necessary.
As Americans, we as a whole need to accept responsibility, because immigrant or not, you are living on someone else’s land. Even if you or your ancestors weren’t here during the genocide of the Native Americans, you are still taking part in their present day plight by living on their land and not doing anything about it. You shouldn’t feel responsibility for past actions of people who do not belong to your heritage, but you should feel responsibility for taking part in the outcome of their actions- which is living on Native American land. Even if you are an immigrant, you chose to come to America and become a part of the land of freedom. But, we’re not really a land of free thought and actions because there are people in our nation who are not completely free, Native Americans and more. Because of that, you should feel some sort of responsibility because you chose to be an American and you need to realize that your current situation in life is due to the actions of those who lived in America before you.
I also DON’T agree with what Sam said, he is talking like he wants us to repair all the damages that were done to the Native Americans. He talked about the land that we or our family own are really the Native Americans’ property. Well, my question for Sam would be why does he own a house? I remember he said that if we have cell phones, it means that we are “supporting” slavery. So are you supporting all the wrong doing that were done to the Native Americans? I bet he would never give up his house if some random Native American claims it as his or her ancestor. “If you point a finger at someone, a finger is pointing back at you” – Sam. So don’t try to make us feel bad because of what our ancestors did if you are supporting it too. He is a great professor but I feel he is excluding himself from every lecture he gave. We are all in this together, if you won’t admit it, why would i?
So the question is why should we take the blame for what our ancestors did? This is a really good question that I personally see both sides. I see the point he is getting at by saying we were not the actual humans killing the Native Americans, but I also see Sam’s point and the point of I’m sure most Native Americans that we need to recognize the fact that we are still living on land that was not our ancestors. We still live on the land that was stolen from the Native American’s by force creating the biggest genocide in all world history. I think it’s a lot like when people don’t want to live in a house where some one got murdered or died in. We didn’t murder the person but you still don’t want to live there. If we get those feelings from a little neighborhood murder, then why aren’t we getting those feelings about the biggest genocide in world history? I think what people need to realize is that two wrongs don’t make a right. to be continued…
Ignoring the fact that we stole land, ignoring the poverty rates of Native Americans as well as other bad statistics like suicide rates, and choosing to not take any blame for the situation is awfully wrong of Americans. Ignoring something doesn’t make it go away. Native Americans are humans and just as we care about starving children, homeless people, and 3rd world countries, we should care about Native Americans. Studies have shown that people act a lot like their ancestors. This basically tells us that if we were put into our ancestors shoes, we would have done the same thing. Doesn’t make it right, but we still would have killed or pushed the Native Americans off their land. Humans have the same basic instincts. We should take the blame because we are greedy. Why can’t we share our land and resources? Americans are so greedy that we won’t even share something with someone even though it was theirs first. to be continued…
I see how he might try to argue his point though because our generations didn’t do the killings, but we aren’t doing anything to help. We could try to educate them, diminish their poverty, and help them in other ways but we don’t. Our government acts as though they are not apart of our country even though they are more than a part of it they are also a major part of its history. It is sad to see people with so much kindness and love to share getting so screwed over by greedy Americans. Although on the flip side I am one of those greedy Americans because I wouldn’t be willing to give up my house or land because I think my parents worked hard for it and it belongs to them just as much as it belonged to the Indians long ago.
Because we are American's we are suppose to take the responsibility and the blame for things done centuries ago even if our own ancestry was not a part of it. I think that even though we accept and acknowledge the blame of what was done many years ago was a terrible thing to happen, something’s have come out of it, such as weighing a benefit risk ratio. That because people have sacrificed their land their culture in most ways, that a country was able to thrive allowing the civil rights and liberties that we all have now. It’s not that we can just give it back, because yes people do live on these areas, work or whatever we do on some ancient ground that was centuries ago some burial spot for relatives those now keeping to their roots try and push their culture forward, only through isolation would they have been able to preserve their culture like the tribes in Africa, but due to the location and what has happened through revolutions and time, I think they would be sad to know their culture is dying but glad that something at least decent in some way has come from the problem.
I have to agree with Vincent here. It is hard to accept the wrongs from people when you come from a family who has immigrated. My family also immigrated here and I do not feel like I should take the blame for events that happened long ago by people that I do not have relations with. I am all over the place with this Native American debate. I feel bad for the tribes that have lost their land and suffer from poverty. However, I cannot relate to them at all. Many people suffer from struggles, but get themselves out of them. As Americans we have heard of the “American Dream” as a chance to better ourselves. How is it possible that after years and years and years these tribes have not become any better and remain living in trailers and on reservations? I am also very annoyed by people’s opinions that we cause them to be alcoholics and poor people and suicidal teenagers. I do not think we make anyone become alcoholics. Are we supplying the alcohol and saying, “go ahead, drink all you want, ruin your life, please?” I don’t think so. You do not become an alcoholic by other people. You do that to yourself. Suicide on the other hand is more in the gray area. I cannot see how they do not have the opportunity to better their lives. However, feelings of depression from the poverty are understandable. I do agree with another student that the facts are startling. However, I do not feel like blacks were given an edge up to Native Americans. I mean they went through lynching and refusal to vote. How is it possible that we now have a black president, yet we never hear from the Natives? I cannot really see why we are still to blame today. They have the right to vote, they have opportunity, how are we all, as Americans, responsible for their dilemma? I also feel like we are chasing our tails with this issue. People should be aware about the injustices, however, what do we do afterwards? An apology is not going to change anything. It is not going to give them land or suddenly make them rich. We can teach our children about the Trail of Tears, the Holocaust, and the current genocides, but we cannot change the past. What is done is done. What we can do now is we can educate people on this genocide to spread a greater appreciation for the culture. We can also give suicide awareness to the tribes. We can donate to the tribes. I feel these are much better options than apologizing. After hundreds of years, I feel like the last thing these people want is just an apology.
I feel no guilt or responsibility for what has happened to the Native Americans over the past 150 years. My ancestors were not even living on this continent when the relocation of Natives took place. Just because they lived in a house that might have been on Indian Territory doesn’t mean they supported the genocide of Indians. When they arrived on Ellis Island they didn’t receive a notice letting them know that they were trespassing on Native land. Genocide and relocation of people has been taking place since the beginning of time. Whenever there is not enough room for two civilizations to live in one will always try to make room for themselves through force or diplomacy. In the case of the Native Americans the whites were expanding at an alarming rate through the advancement of technology and population. Of course the whites could have tried to be diplomatic and make room for everyone but the culture of the Natives was total opposite of the whites. White people also knew that they could easily force Natives out of their land if need be since they always considered themselves a superior culture.
When I attended grade school and high school I was always taught about the Trail of Tears and the unethical relocation of Natives. Of course my teachers sugarcoated most of it but we still knew what took place. I guess we were too young and naïve to understand how devastating it really was. I can see why some people support further education Native Americans but that will only go so far. What happened has happened and there is no way it can be reversed or apologized for. The video we saw in class about the horrible conditions remaining tribes are going through on reservations was eye opening. I knew about the alcoholism and low income but I was still surprised at their everyday life. On the other hand there are tribes that made the best of it and actually are better of then most whites. Certain tribes have set up Casinos on their reservations and make a decent amount of money.
In my opinion what happened to the Native Americans was awful. Do I feel like it was my responsibility? Not at all. My ancestors didn’t even live in this country when it happened. Just because I might live in a house that was on Indian Territory doesn’t mean im guilty of anything. I’m not saying what the United States did was right but if it didn’t happen most of us wouldn’t be here right now. You could say that only the fittest survive and that the whites are the king of the hill. What the United States did has been happening for centuries and will continue to happen as long as global expansion continues. It is inevitable. The only thing we can do now is further educate our white society on what really happened and the way of living Natives live today.
This question in particular stood out in my mind during Tuesday’s class because I found myself wondering the same thing this student voiced in his question: If we weren’t around when the Europeans took away the Native Americans’ land, then how can we possibly be to blame for this?
I completely see where this student is coming from. He was not born in the United States and his relatives are not native to the United States, so how could he shoulder any blame for what happened hundreds of years ago? Although my family has been here for decades and although I was born here, I don’t understand why I’m supposed to accept blame for the actions of my ancestors. I certainly agree that it’s everyone’s responsibility to try to level the playing field for Native Americans, similar to how affirmative action has helped level the playing field for colored people. However, I’m not going to sit here saying “the terrible experiences of your relatives were all my fault, feel free to hold be personally responsible.” Along the same lines, I’m not going to take personal responsibility for the hardships suffered by colored people because of the actions of white people generations ago. However, I will continue to fight racism whenever I encounter it.
That being said, Tuesday’s class did have me question a family story I was once told. My mother and grandmother used to share with me a story about a great-great-(not sure how many greats)-grandmother who was a member of the MicMac (spelling?) tribe who married into my primarily white, European family. According to the story, once a month when the moon was full, my great grandmother would go crazy and try to kill my grandfather. This would result in my family locking her in the attic whenever the moon was full to prevent her from harming him.
Looking back on it, I have to wonder if perhaps my great grandmother wasn’t “going crazy”. For all I know, she could have been forced to marry my grandfather against her will, and as a result, she may have just been trying to escape to return to her tribe. It makes you wonder how stories get distorted over time to reflect the values and beliefs of society at the time the story was happening.
Getting back to the original point in this question, I agree that we should not be held entirely responsible for the sins of our ancestors. It’s like how Christians believe in original sin- that we were all born with the blood of Jesus on our hands. I, for one, know I do not have Native American blood on my hands, but I also know it is my social responsibility to try to help this group get back on a level playing field with the rest of us.
PART 1: I agree to a certain extent with this guy and what most of you have commented. I think that we should somehow feel responsible about the fact that we are living on “Red Land” and that this country’s ancestors murdered American Indians and robbed them of the land that we call home. I don’t think that we should be directly blamed for what happened because we are not directly responsible for it, but I do completely agree that this genocide should be fully acknowledged and taught more openly in schools. Starting from a young age we are only taught the happy side of the story; the Thanksgiving story where the Pilgrims and Native Americans are great friends and share and learn from each other’s customs. (This is not to say that we should be teaching 4 year olds about the genocide that occurred, but to teach children when they are at an age where they can better comprehend about what really happened. I mean I remember that as early as the age of 10 or 11 I was taught about the Holocaust in school, but I wasn’t really taught about the American Indian genocide that happened in the land that I was standing on?? Really?? To me that’s just seems incredibly wrong and hypocritical.
PART 2: We have to acknowledge that the pain and suffering that was inflicted on American Indians was wrong. As far as what can we do to help or make it better? Well we can’t really change what happened, but I think that the best way to go about it is by teaching and talking about what happened, by having open dialogues and helping break the stereotypes and to help American Indians become a more integrated part of the society instead of just shoving them to the side. I also think that the American Indian culture should be more celebrated among everyone even if you are not American Indian. I am Peruvian, but I’m not indigenous because my family emigrated from Europe, but I still try to feel a sense of pride in that native and indigenous culture even though I am not directly related to it. In Peru there is a lot of racism against indigenous people usually from the higher class of European descent and I think it’s disgusting and wrong, because just like the American Indians these people’s ancestors were also murdered and robbed of their riches and land by Spanish colonizers.
I think what concerns me even more is that there are genocides going on right now that many people don’t seem to really know or do anything about. Like for example as some people mentioned in class, there is a genocide going on right now in Palestine and it’s been happening for over 60 years. Why are we still letting this go on?? After all the pain and suffering that we have seen in the past? This is what I can’t understand and what really troubles me. Are we going to wait until all the Palestinians are murdered and stripped of their land to then acknowledge what happen? We should know better and not repeat the same mistakes. I think this is the most effective way in which we can help, by not letting these things happen again and again.
I guess maybe he just meant the people that have ancestry in America and that their families were probably involved in the wrong doings that took place. I agree with the post because he really did not have anything to do with it so he should feel any guilt, he is not to blame. Me on the other hand, I do feel really guilty. Especially on Thanksgiving because of the huge slaughter and genocide that took place. Although now I try to think of Thanksgiving as just a day to give thanks for everything I have but the origins are rooted on hate.
I completely agree with Vincent’s comment for many reasons, I moved here eight years ago , I don’t care what Sam said , I don’t blame myself for anything, but even if I wasn’t an immigrant, I still wouldn’t blame myself, I mean why would you be responsible for something that your ancestors did, that’s like blaming every white person in the world for slavery, it is not right, I don’t think that people of any race should be blamed on what their ancestors have done, it is very unfair, we are always looking for someone to blame for the wrongs in our lives but we should start taking responsibilities for our own actions.
I feel like the only way for this to be put in the past is if it is a mutual effort. That may sound unusual and even insulting to some but I think steps need to be taken from both sides. Be it with Americans and Native American's, whites and African Americans, etc. There has to be a simultaneous movement towards the center. Where those whose ancestors have done the wrongs accept them, and those who have been victims forgive/accept that it wasn't directly the people of this age who they are upset with. I have no idea how this would happen but think the only way it’ll work is if both sides make a move.
I have to agree with Vincent. As a kid who immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 10, I obviously have no direct connection to anything related to Native Americans. I know that Sam is not trying to make us feel guilty but what is he trying to do? If he wants us to acknowledge the fact that the actual history behind Native Americans involves a genocide, I’m pretty sure that the majority of the people in lecture would agree with that statement. I do believe that the true history of Native Americans is hidden in the American textbooks. This only makes sense because what country would teach its citizens about the wrong doings and faults that lead to their present day. The only knowledge I have retained over the public school system about Native Americans isn’t a very positive image. What I get is an image of mostly poor people living in poverty with little to no opportunities. If they are not in that category they are in an Indian casino. I also know that they have known alcohol problems. This tells you how in depth the public school system goes into the real history of the U.S. Like I said before I can agree and acknowledge the fact that they are on the worse end of the oppression of minority scale. Even still as an immigrant to the U.S. this really does not impact me that much at all. I come from a place where I was the minority just like I am here. I do not let this hold me down. I’m not trying to compare myself to the Native Americans simply because I have had far more opportunities then many of them. The point I am trying to make is that they are not the only ones in world history that have suffered severe discrimination and oppression. The british empire occupied many parts of the world throughout history. India was only unoccupied in the 1950’s, Hong Kong was unoccupied in 1999, and South Africa broke through the British instilled apartheid in 1994. These are only examples of places and peoples that were held down until a certain point in time when they decided to respond and react. Although these are whole countries and the Native Americans are a small group of people, the same concept can be applied. Nelson Mandela suffered 27 years in a prison before getting released and becoming the first black South African (ANC) president. The point I keep trying to make is that obviously Native Americans are not the only ones who have felt the effects of oppression. No matter how harsh it was, other places around the world managed to overcome the oppression that they felt in their home countries. I feel that Native Americans should be pushing themselves as a race to have better education on their reservations to enable themselves to be better educated peoples.
I sorta understand where you are coming from. But I can't really say that you are entirely free of the guilt that people in this country have to face for all of those native americans had lost their home. If you come to this country and have a fair share at what was native american land wrongfully taken without so much as a reparation for what was done to them then you are still using what was acquired for you thorough blood sweat and tears. These people were here first and had it taken away from them and anytime you buy a house or go to school you are learning and living on land that was taken from the native people. They were murdered for the dirt beneath your feet and exploited because they didn't want to leave. Its hard to say that anyone who lives in America is totally separated from the fact that these people were here first and they lost it because our ancestors were greedy. People who come to this country like you do not have as much guilt bestowed upon them but really if you came here we know that things like the genocide have happened here and it is true it happens, No one is free of it.
I agree you should not really feel anything for something you haven't done. but after living here for so many years as a Latino, you feel for people that are in need or in worse off situations. You want to help no matter what person you are. it only makes this nation that much greater than it already is. Think how much harder it is in every place other than the United States and you will see. Lots of other countries try to mimic our success. With great respect i hope you will change you view and try to help this nation become better.
I don’t see how somebody right now can be blamed for something that happened to another person’s ancestors a very long time ago. Unless I look far back into my family history, I couldn’t tell you whether or not somebody that I was related to did anything to harm or destroy the life of a Native American. Even if there was a connection with that, just because of a family relation with that it doesn’t mean that I am at fault for what happened, and there is little that I could do about it. I hope that everybody can understand that not one person currently is responsible for what happened so long ago and a family connection does not put them in charge of making it up to them.
Offenders and victims exist in this genocide case. The victims were definitely Native Americans while the offenders were ancestors in United States. Now, those offenders who actually did killings and received benefits by that are buried in the ground. If the apology must be made, it should be the government in the first place. Even though every person standing on Red Land but the true issue should be how the descendants of offenders and those of victims would improve their relationship. I do not mean that we should forget about it and pretend like nothing has been happened. We, as the descendants of offenders, should give more attention to those of victims.
Every citizen of the United States shares in the responsibly to help those in need. Some of our tax dollars (albeit, not enough) goes to helping those who are in need of a lift. We share in the blame in how Native Americans are treated. We make the laws of the country, we hire people to enforce those laws, we vote for people who lead this nation and we are members of this society that need to fix this problem. The issue is that there is a racial group in our society that is currently suffering discrimination and abuse and it is up to us to stand up for their rights. Every citizen who is eligible to vote in this country shares in the responsibility of the treatment of Native Americans or any other race whom is discriminated against!
Vincent, you are right on point here. Frankly, I do not know why anyone brought up this point in class. It seems so obvious. And not just for the immigrant students out there, either. This claim that Vincent takes on this topic is a legitimate one, and one that the vast majority, if not all, of the students in class could also legitimize for themselves. The reason for this is simple. No one in class (on Earth for that matter) was alive to see or take part in the genocide against the Native Americans when Europeans first came over to this nation. So why should anyone be held responsible for these devastating acts?
Sam had some good points in class. Historians rarely look into this genocide and how terrible they actually were. Most of us can point to Hitler’s reign during World War II or the constant killings that take place in Africa today and point out examples of genocide there, but we for some reason forget what Native Americans faced here on our homeland. But Sam is very wrong in so many separate areas. Everyone in class should look back and feel sad for the terrible things that human beings had done at one point in American history. But no one should feel responsible. Why am I supposed to apologize for something I had entirely no part in. Even though I do not know all aspects of my family history, it wouldn’t surprise me if one of my ancestors had a hand in killing Native Americans centuries ago. But for the same reason that I had no part at all in the middle-class family I was born into, as Sam described in class, I also had no part in the ancestors I hold. I was always taught to take responsibility for my own actions, no one else’s, even if they are family. Even though no one made this point in class, it is nice to see that people are expressing these same ideas on the blog. Because no one, absolutely no one should feel personally responsible about these terrible events.
With that said, that still does not relieve the painful memories that Native Americans have today of their history. I stress the words memories and history because that is exactly what they are. In the same sense that no one on Earth today was alive to take part in the killings of Native Americans centuries ago, no Native American was alive as well. So they definitely do not know the real realities of this genocide as well. I am not saying that they are not affected by this genocide, because they are. But they also did not actually witness the killings themselves. So what do they deserve? Maybe an apology, as Sam noted. But it definitely will not be coming from me. Instead, a public figure in the national government (the President seems to work well) would be better giving this apology, on behalf of America as a nation. But they absolutely do not deserve any land. Despite what Sam said in class, this is definitely not Red Land that we are standing on. Oh sure, it once was. But no longer. Was the taking of that land justified? Probably not. But I know I had nothing to do with this taking, and I sure as hell am not about to just hand this land over because it is presumably “theirs”.
I agree with Vincents question in the fact that I myself am the grandson of immigrants who had never had a slave or displaced the native Americans, yet I think when you take on the mantle of American you hold a responsibility to make the country better. if that means taking responsibility for sins we had no connection to in order to make this a better society then I say we accept them and solve the problems so we can truly say we are trying to be the best we can and we will always try. the weight of that responsibility doesn't have to way us down but can make us the generation that finally realizes that mistakes made in the past are fixable if we just acknowledge them as mistakes. the fact that the Native Americans are still suffering means that those of us living here now have a culpability to their suffering if we don't acknowledge their plight. solving the problems of today's Native tribes will relive our burden of guilt and that of the past it won't fix the past but if we say we're sorry and help to make reparations as we have done on a very small scale for the African American community to the Native American tribes we can solve the old problems. Those of us who are descendants of 20th century imegrants hold no real blame but must help make the wrongs right in order to say we made a difference to our families new home.
Vincent, I think you make a great point about the fact that we should accept the wrongs and historical mistreatments by whites against Native Americans because this is their land. I think what Sam is really trying to hit home is that is completely wrong and inhumane when a people are uprooted from a place where they first settled and are displaced through the use of violence and other forces. Sam was talking about similar actions that were committed in Palestine, New Zealand, and Australia. So, it is important for us to acknowledge our historical wrongdoings and accept the blame for those actions. With regards to your point that as a member of a family that migrated here, I understand that you should not be held accountable for actions that were not committed by you or any of your ancestors. However, it is important to note that you most likely own a home or an apartment that is on “red” land. So, regardless of the fact that neither you nor your ancestors committed any of the atrocious activities committed in the genocide against Native American Indians, you are in essence still “disgracing” the Native Americans by purchasing and or living in property on their land. I am no different, and most Americans are just the same. I think it comes down to being able to acknowledge the historical facts and understanding that this is not our land, it belongs to Native Americans and it should be credited as theirs.
I agree with this individuals response to why should we take the blame for taking everything from the Native Americans. I feel as he his perfectly right, his family moved here about eighteen years ago and should not be part of the blame that something when his family wasn't even in this territory. Maybe they have blame because they are contributing to the issue now a days?! As Sam stated in class that Native Americans have the highest rates of drug users, alcohol abuse, and along the lines of physical abuse. In a way I kind of feel they are not helping the problem at all. If someone was trying to take something from you, wouldn't you stand up for yourself and try to be on your own two feet and keep what was first yours. I don't know I feel that this individual shouldn't be taking the blame but i'm sure some of their actions that have happened in the past eighteen years or so has helped the Indians from keeping their original belongings.
At first, I completely agreed with Vincent's comment. Why should I take the blame for something that I had no part in? The more I thought about it though, the more I realized that we are all indirectly responsible for what happened/is happening to the Native Americans. As we saw in the class video, Native Americans are still suffering today. We have seen examples of alcohol and physical abuse, as well as school posters against committing suicide. As Sam said, we are standing on "red land". Although we may not be directly responsible for pushing the Native Americans off their land, we are responsible for keeping them where they are. We are not doing anything to help them, and by not doing anything, we are just as much as part of the problem as our ancestors were. Therefore, I think we do deserve some of the blame.
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oliviak Reply:
February 26th, 2010 at 3:47 am
I feel as though we shouldn't feel like we should have to take the blame. We are here now, and what are we supposed to do? Leave and give it all back? That will not be beneficial in any way shape or form. In all actuality I feel as if that would be a slap in the face to the Native Americans. That's like us as Americans saying, "well we're so sorry for what our fore fathers have done to you" here's the land back, but we will be taking our belongings, oh the land is all you want, well here you are!" That is total disrespect and is ultimately futile, and will never happen. SO i feel as if walking around with sorrow and shame is fruitless.
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In response to Vincent’s post, I would have to agree with him about the whole “why am I being blamed for things that I didn’t have a part in?” I agree with him on the Native American aspect of it and the African American aspect. I had nothing to do with the hostility that the Native Americans had to endure, yet to this day they hate “the white man, or the white society.” Do I feel bad that most of these Native Americans are living in poverty and terrible living conditions, yes! But what can I do about it, I’m just a student. It is not about the “white team” or “dark team” on this issue but more along the lines of segregating what is different. I think it’s wrong that the Native Americans of the United States are treated so poorly. Their culture is the most cherished and strong culture that I’ve ever learned about. To have the land ripped away from them is terrible, and do I feel bad, absolutely! I just do not know how to go about fixing the issue. I mean, we can bring it to people’s attention in schools, newspapers, and books but that only goes so far. It drives me crazy that the United States government pays so much money over in Afghanistan and Iraq when there is much to be fixed here in the United States. I was not aware of how bad Native Americans had it until Sam’s video. I feel terrible, and there really isn’t anything I can do about the situation. I always thought that the Native Americans were a cherished people. They are always portrayed in a good light during parades, and they were in the opening ceremony in the Salt Lake City Olympics. They have a place in our history. I mean, Sacagawea has a display devoted to her in the Museum of Natural History in New York City. That’s why I do not understand why and how they live like this? I know they live on reservations, but are they allowed the same jobs we are allowed as “white people?” I get really annoyed when the blame is pushed towards my generation, regarding racism towards a person of any color. Yes, there is racism but it is towards all colors whether you’re white, yellow, brown or black. I was born in 1987, and had absolutely nothing to do with stealing the Native Americans land or the Civil Rights movement, but yet I’m still getting blamed for them as a 22 year old white girl. There needs to be a time when people just relax and stop blaming each other. Once the blaming of one another ends so will this racism. So much of racism is inherited from our parents or society. The best thing we can do is to be open-minded and try to resist the influence of other people. Take the opportunity to establish your own opinions based on your own experiences.
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I can completely agree with you. I as an African American I feel that I have nothing to be sorry for or apologize for. The blame should be solely invested in the "white man" or further white Europeans from the the early 11th century that came over and settled and colonized the first people of this land: Native Americans. White Europeans came and established several colonies. Then with the arrival of Christopher Columbus who came and made the claim to have 'discovered" the Americas where he in fact was not only behind the Native Americans , but also behind Europeans who arrived and started the colonization process way before Columbus. In fact, when Christopher Columbus first came to the Americas, he had the impression that he could conquer the peoples of the land. His first encounter were Taino people, who were one of three local Arawak-speaking indigenous groups.
White Americans came over an basically uprooted the Native people from their homeland, and completely disregarded their presence and used them as tools of the land. This has come to be known as the Spanish colonization of the Americas. The Native peoples were pushed out of their homes and taught to conform to the "white mans" values, religion, and morals, or suffer the consequences, which ultimately led to death. Sway of life as they knew it was no longer in existence.
After the settlement of the spanish men, other peoples came over and moved the Native AMericans out even more, causing the very presence of them to be near nonexistent.
Back to the issue of feeling sorry for our country's past wrongdoing, I feel as if I as an African American I should not have to feel shameful or sorry in any way. I should feel the same animosity that Native Americans have against America. My people too were uprooted from their home, and brought over to the Americas as a way of toiling and helping build our nation's economy. We were stepped on for centuries, and we shouldn't feel any sorrow fro what White Americans did to Native Americans.
The only shame I feel is for having American at the end of my race. African ..American? I feel as if the only sorrow we as African americans carry is the conformity to a country we call home that has rode our backs, and caused us years of devastation and sorrow. White Americans should in some way should be embarrassed for having the same color of skin of the white men who caused a mass genocide of a people. While America complains about the Holocaust we fail to look at ourselves from the colonization of the First peoples to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
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I agree with what Vincent says here. However, with his stream of logic, at least relating to our generation, no one alive now should feel any guilt or blame from the wrong doings of past ancestors. I know, at least in my family's case, that we too just migrated here one generation ago and none of my ancestors or relatives had anything to do with the tragedies associated with taking the land of Native Americans. However, we cannot just let those whose ancestors were involved with massacring the Native Americans take sole blame. As Americans, we have adopted a new legacy and must accept the wrong-doings that have occurred in our country.
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I think this issue is rather complex and there are many different ways to go when considering it. While I was sitting in class listening to Sam’s lecture, I did feel like I should take some of the blame. I indirectly did take land away from Native Americans and today many of them are suffering. When Sam shows statistics in class it is always the Native Americans who are the poorest and the Native Americans who have the highest rate of unemployment, etc. The majority of them never really got on their feet in order to live a better life. The genocide that occurred on their land knocked them down, and it knocked them down hard. I do feel partly to blame for this, because if it wasn’t me, then every other individual could say it wasn’t him or her either. And soon everyone is saying it wasn’t them – then who was it?
I do not think that we need to sit and sulk and say how could such a thing happen, but I do think that educating others and making them aware of such a thing is something important to do. It is hard to say exactly what we can do to make up for this problem because clearly we cannot just knock down every mall, home, building, school, etc. that we have built and “give their land back.” I think making people aware of the fact that this happened is a good thing to do but when I attempt to think of the next step to take, I am not sure where to go. Because I don’t know where to turn next, I start right back into the mindset that yes I did have something to do with this genocide, but I played a very, very small role and I do not need to feel extreme blame for it. I tell myself that accepting the fact that people of my ancestry did this at one point is enough, and that I do not need to look farther. But how could this be the case? I am tangled between two sides and still do not know what is correct or where to lead myself on this issue. Should I feel guilt? Is accepting the fact that such a terrible thing happened enough? I do not know. And to be completely honest, I probably never will know. Sam says we shouldn’t feel guilty about it, then what should we feel? I am slightly confused and think that either way I look at the situation, something is wrong with that mindset. I tried to relate to this whole situation today when Sam did the demonstration of people getting pushed off the table. I tried to put myself in their shoes, and I can imagine how this would have felt…I just don’t know which direction to lead myself knowing of this disastrous genocide.
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I totally see your point, and I feel where you're coming from, but I think a lot of people in class are taking Sam's points the wrong way. While I think Sam certainly meant that we need to acknowledge what happened, and acknowledge the role played by our forefathers*, a lot of people seem to be making this synonymous with guilt–and I truly believe this was not Sam's intention.
I think the reason a lot of people in the class are scrabbling to find an excuse as to why they are somehow excused from responsibility for this is because thinking of the actions our forefathers took makes them feel guilty, and they want to assuage that guilt. But I don't think we have to feel guilty.
In short, guilt does nothing to inspire us to action, or to further the conversation. It doesn't help anyone. In fact, I think guilt, while perhaps a natural reaction, probably does more harm than good.
Earlier in the semester, Sam mentioned that a lot of white people don't want to sit down to the 'race table' because they worry about offending someone; I think feelings of guilt also do a lot to preclude white people from being more open about having discussions on race. Just as many people in the class, of various racial and ethnic backgrounds, didn't understand why they should have to feel responsible for crimes against Native Americans, I think many white people, born long after slavery to families who never held slaves, don't understand why they should feel guilty over racism in this country. But this does not change the fact that we live in a country where racism and discrimination are still common. The only difference is that while guilt over slavery and subsequent inequalities has long been confined to white people, living on land stolen from Native Americans is something people of all colors have to acknowledge.
So the question becomes, where do we go from here? If we aren't supposed to feel guilty, how should we feel?
I think a good place to start is awareness. In that respect, I think Sam has helped us all a lot, by drawing this issue to our attention and educating us about it. What we choose to do with that knowledge is up to us, but gaining it has been the first step.
I think another thing to remember (and there is a possibility that I could be wrong here, of course) is that it's very likely that most, if not all Native Americans don't have any desire for us to feel guilty–as I mentioned, our guilt doesn't do them any good. If you look at it from this angle, guilt actually starts to seem like a pretty selfish reaction. We're attending to our own insecurities and anxieties–and sometimes we even get worked up over the fact that we don't believe we should have to feel guilty, and even allow ourselves to believe we are the victims, either of the actions of our ancestors, or of the people who cannot seem to just forget about the pain we have caused them. Instead, we should be looking to actually help the people who have been wronged.
*I say forefathers because even if our own ancestors weren't involved, you can't deny that we are all linked to the people who perpetrated these crimes by merit of the fact that we would likely not be living here today had they not seized the land and killed the inhabitants as they did.
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Thats a very good point man. I don't think that immigrants should "take the blame" or just accept what we did, because what WE did is coming from Americans who were born and raised here and whose parents were also born and raised here. When you have people in even your own family who have been around the block and experienced all of this about Native Americans then thats when you should just accept what your ancestors have done. Personally, I don't think its a good idea to accept what we did. I mean, i guess if that makes us sleep better at night and make us sound like we're taking the easy way out but really? Whoever has a conscience and some sort of morals would agree with me here that this is just ridiculous. I know myself didn't do anything to Native Americans and I'm not really sure if my ancestors did either but Native Americans shouldn't be the piss poor category of the lot, especially when they were here first. Native American Indian reservations are some of the poorest areas of the country and thats because the government makes it that way. I'm not gonna accept or admit that I'm the one person to do this to Native Americans and I'm not gonna just accept it for what it is. I mean, i can't do anything personally or even noticeable on my part but I see Native Americans on the same level playing field as me. Honestly, I'd probably be honored to meet an actual native american because they are so rare to see now with the government indirectly killing all of them off and making sure that they stay at the bottom of the chain. If anyone is to blame it would have to be the government. They were the ones to drive them off their land in the first place, they we're the ones to make them the poorest race in America, and they were the ones who are still keeping them there today. Hell, even as recent as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 we can see evidence of the government trying to dump HUNDREDS of contaminated trailers on Indian reservations… Like really? What can seriously make a person say that its better to give disease infected trailers to another human being, let alone deceiving them because I'm pretty sure the government didn't tell them that anything was wrong. But I couldn't sleep at night knowing that I was the one to actually help continue the blight of the Native American Indians. I agree with what this guy says, although I am American and my ancestry of Europe like most average America, he shouldnt have to accept what we did, and I'm not personally accepting it either. Even maybe if my ancestors participated in keeping down the Native Americans, I for one would never do that. Everyone is equal, but I guess the government views it differently.
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Okay, so, this question seems to be a recurring theme in this class. "I had nothing to do with the Native Americans getting kicked off of their land, why should I have to take the blame for it," "My forefathers were the ones who committed the genocide of the Native Americans, not me, so I don't see why I should be expected to take any responsibility for this."
In Vincent's case, him and his family are very recent immigrants to the country, so his circumstances are a little different, but I'll get back to that in a second.
Here is what I have gathered from Sam's lectures about the Native Americans and taking responsibility for their current plight as a society: You live here. YOU LIVE HERE.
THAT is why you're expected to take at least some sort of responsibility for the Native Americans' current situation as well as the original reason that the entire race was put into this situation in the first place- generations of genocide and oppression.
The only reason that we– who have "nothing" to do with what happened to the Native Americans– have a town, a neighborhood to live in, a plot of land on which we build a house, is because that land was TAKEN FROM SOMEONE (read: Native Americans) in the first place.
Sure, you didn't KILL any Native Americans, sure you didn't PHYSICALLY TAKE any land from the Native Americans, and, sure, you weren't the one that FORCED them to live on some crappy reservation in the middle of nowhere with no feasible way to make a decent living. But you know what? THE TOWN YOU LIVE IN is built on land where a Native American tribe SHOULD HAVE BEEN. Your neighborhood is built on land where a Native American tribe SHOULD HAVE BEEN. Your HOUSE is built on a plot of land where a Native American family SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
You may not be directly responsible for what happened to the Native Americans, but you're sure as hell perpetuating the legacy of what went down two, three, four hundred years ago.
You're living somewhere where, had your ancestors not forced the Native Americans to move, those same Native Americans would have probably continued to reside.
The fact that you're the one occupying land that, rightfully, should be where a Native American is living, makes you responsible for their current predicament.
Now, in Vincent's case, where his family and himself are a group of recent immigrants, it's easy to say that, "My ancestors weren't even here to be involved with the genocide of the Native Americans or the taking of their land, so why should I be held responsible?"
My personal opinion and answer to that is, then your ancestors shouldn't be accountable. Does that free you of your responsibility, though? Nope. Like I explained earlier, you live here, you live somewhere where a Native American should be. That's why you should feel somewhat responsible. Your ancestors, on the other hand, lived on a totally different land mass, away from what was going on in the continental United States, so, okay, it's unfair to say your ancestors are responsible.
Anyway, bottom line is, you're responsible because the land you're on is land you're on only because it was taken from someone in the first place, and you're responsible because as long as you live there, the people that were forced off of it can't have it.
I don't offer up any solutions for how to fix this problem, because I'm just as clueless as the next person— are we supposed to move? That's unreasonable— but it seems to me that many people don't grasp why they should shoulder any responsibility, and I just think that that's something that needs to be understood.
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There are many ways to respond to this question that my fellow student has put out there. He makes a good point by saying that him and his family haven't been in this country for generations and they did nothing to Native Americans here when the white men came over from Europe. In a way, I sort of agree with him because I too am the first generation of my fathers side of the family to be born in the United States. In some ways I think, "wow that has nothing to do with me because it wasn't my ancestors that were doing it." I feel like we, as Americans, want to sort of pretend that these things didn't happen because it took place sooo long ago and we don't want to take responsibility for the actions of the people that built this country for us. What the white men did to the Native Americans was completely wrong and disturbing, but at the same time, the awful men that carried out those commands are long gone and have had to deal with the terrible things they did in life. We can't change history but we can recognize what has happened here and not let anything like this ever happen again.
But looking at this in another way everyone needs to consider this: slavery and the act of one group dominating over a smaller minority group happened EVERYWHERE in the world and is still happening today. I just finished reading "Disposable People" for this class and it really opened my eyes to a lot of things I was not aware of before. I can't quite remember where Vincent said his family was from, but in the book and in class we talked about how this kind of thing happened everywhere. It happened in South America. It happened in Central America. Everywhere you looked, there was always another group of individuals that proved to be stronger in a sense, and more forceful who would take things from people who were already there. Sadly, in the United States the Native Americans did not and could not fight back, so they inevitably were wiped out. But I'm sure this kind of thing happened even in the country in which Vincent and his family are from. Perhaps it wasn't to the extent of the Europeans and Native Americans here in the United States, but to say that you and your ancestors have never done anything like this to a group of people is kind of hard to back up with evidence because it was such a regular thing that occurred at one point in time.
To wrap it up, I think both sides are justifiable. Perhaps people, like Vince and his family didn't cause any harm to the Native Americans in America but there is a lot of historical evidence and proof that leads us to believe and shows us that this kind of thing happened in other countries as well, so therefore no one really has 'clean hands' of the subject, so to speak.
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I completely agree with the student’s video response. I have gotten a little fed up with Sam’s classes the past couple days because he is making us feel like the genocide of the Native Americans is our fault. I was not around during that time, so I feel like it is not right for him to blame us for something we did not take part in. I would understand if another genocide of the Native Americans were to happen today it would be necessary to take the blame because I am part of the United States of America. I just feel like the way he is trying to get the point across is the wrong approach. I also hates when he brings up the point about us standing on red land. I understand that this land was Native American land but honestly, what can we do it about it now? This may sound hypocritical but seriously I cannot feel guilty for living the way I do today. We cannot just stop the way our society is today so we can give land back to Native Americans. We cannot change what happened in the past, we can only change what happens in the future. I just don’t understand why it seems that Sam is trying to make us feel like it is our fault. It is not fair to us because we are not the people who caused this destruction. I just don’t like the approach Sam has taken to bring about awareness of this topic. Instead of feeling bad for what happened in the past, I feel like one of the major things we can do in the present is to prevent anything of the sort from happening again today. Even with the issue of slavery, I personally cannot take the blame for others individuals’ actions during the 1940s or 1950s during slavery, discrimination, and segregation because I am my own person and I have not made the same mistakes as everyone else. I hate that sometimes I feel as if we are associated with the wrong doings of others and that is not fair. Being a white person, I feel as if we are always looked at as being slavery owners and treating people unfairly. Well as fair as I know, none of my ancestors or family members were slave owners and I do not want to be blamed for something I did not do. I apologize if I am sounding apathetic or cynical but this is honestly how I feel and no one is going to change my opinions. The one thing I do believe is that we can accept the fact that people have made mistakes in the past and like I mentioned before, we can prevent them from happening again.
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I really don't think Sam means that we have to take the blame as in we should feel really bad about it all the time and drowned in our sorrows about it. I just think like he pointed out in class that we have to recognize the wrong that is going on in our own country. Native Americans where pushed out of their land and their ways of living are completely gone. I think we should be more aware of this genocide. Our country is sometimes very oblivious to what is going on in our own society that we tend to forget where we came from. I just really think that we should teach this in our schools more often and try to figure out ways to help the Native Americans. Now many people don't believe this same thing, and many people just do't care what so ever. That is OK people in our class are now away of what went on with our ancestors. I know many black and brown people are upset about how Sam said we are all involved and I can see where you are coming from, but think about if people didn't recognize passed slavery and how we are working towards a better tomorrow for all races to live equally without any tension. It is almost like Native American aren't even acknowledged. The live on the reserves ad they are out of sight out of mind. They are trapped in a falling cycle that the can't get out of. The thing is that not everyone is going to feel this way. We were talking about settling in our TA classes and I think that some people feel strongly about certain things and other people feel a deep connection with a situation and the act upon that and make a change. I think Sam was just trying to "kick it out there" to help people realize that we are living and breathing on stolen red land. Some people will agree feel strongly about this and potentially make a change. Not everyone is going to do this but education is the only way for people to gain knowledge about certain events. I don't know how I want to approach this and try to make a difference because I do feel a certain way about this. I plan on becoming a teacher so it is possible to educate students about this. However, I think people are taking Sam's statement that it is all of our faults a little to far. I understand many of you are not white or your ancestors weren't even around what the Native American's had their land or religion taken away from them but in all reality we are all reaping the benefits of a solid foundation that was laid for us so we can succeed in life.
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I agree with this comment. I often, and no, I'm not lying, think about this topic of how horrible what was done to the Native Americans when Europeans came and settled in America. My mother is a kindergarten teacher and I often bring this topic up to her. Around Thanksgiving and even Columbus Day, she teaches her students about the pilgrims and how our country was founded. She never, at this young of an age, explains to the children how horrific the whole process was. Ok, maybe its due to the fact that the kids are 5 and 6 years old, and that's a little "heavy" of a topic to talk about with them, but in her classroom, its a celebratory topic. However, I know my mom and I both stand on the same page that what was done to the American Indians when the Europeans came to the Americas was horrific, and we often talk about it. However, I know that when she teaches these children she is not celebrating what was done to the Native Americans, but rather celebrating the foundation of our country as what it is today. And although we have days like Columbus Day and Thanksgiving, I don't think it's forgotten that these celebratory holidays came from the genocide of others. I think this because there are tons of movies and media on this topic. And although we celebrate the founding of our country, I do not think we should be "blamed". African Americans were forced to be in this country; I know that my relatives immigrated here after the country was established and they were being persecuted in Europe. And even if your ancestors did contribute to the take over of the Americas, this does not mean you, the person today, is to blame. It was hundreds of years ago. I am a white girl, and blaming us for the murder of American Indians, is like blaming me for slavery. Yes, education and knowledge needs to be given to everyone about the horrific events that took place in order to obtain this country, and the conditions in which American Indians live in today. But we're all to blame for that? I do not think so. Should we stop celebrating?
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Even though you just you just moved here, you are still living on red land. It is understandable that you would not want to be considered a part of what happened a long time ago, and to some degree you are excused, but if you want to live in a certain country, you have to accept both the good and the bad of what it has to offer. If you were forced to move here for some reason then it might be a different story, but since I would guess your family chose to live here, then you should be ready to accept some responsibility for it.
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I happen to agree with the statement this man made regarding how he should not have to accept blame for how the previous people in the United States (our ancestors) pushed the Native Americans from their homes. Today, the some Native Americans live on reservations that the United States has set aside for them. My question is, how can you tell me to accept the blame for something that others did hundreds of years ago. I simply cannot wrap my head around this. Personally, I am a very cautious person when it comes to saying/doing things to people. I hate hurting other’s feelings or doing/saying something that may offend them. This topic, however, I cannot feel sorry about or accept the blame for. I KNOW that I did not do anything and yes my ancestors did push the Native Americans out of their land, but I did not do that. There is an indirect way that I, myself, am guilty, but I will discuss that later in my blog.
Of course I feel that this man has more of a reason that he should not have to accept the blame than I have a reason. If he moved here eighteen years ago and all of his ancestors were from some other place in the world then there should be no reason he should have to accept the blame. He should not be told that he has to nor should any other person of a different historical background.
I can understand on the opposing viewpoint, however, that he and I in an indirect way are participating in taking over the land from the Native Americans. For the man this is because he CHOSE to come here and the more people that immigrate or move to the United States the smaller the Native American’s land is. For me, I was born here and I will have kids in the future so I will be adding to the population, which pushes the Native American’s land away from them also. Therefore, I can understand why him and I would be told that we should accept the blame for the Native Americans; however, I still do not think it is right.
In conclusion, even though I understand the opposing viewpoint I still believe we (the generation that is living today) are not in the wrong. I do not feel that acting like we accept the blame when we really do not will ever solve anything. If it were me I would not accept an apology unless it was genuine and I feel that we and even the United States government does not believe we did anything wrong because we were not the ones who did something directly. None of us living the world today should have to put this burden on our shoulders.
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I kind of agree with Vinny's comment. I mean it was a certain group of people who came to this land and took the Native American's land and made it their own. Those people took the land and made America. I nor many other people have any connection to those attrocities commited against Native Americans. I am the first generation here, what do I have to do with it to feel bad about it. I can bet that there are very few students in the class who can trace their ancestry back to the original settlers or to soldiers who were involved in the massacres to take Native American land. My lineage and many others did what we had to do we saw an open land of opportunity and went to it despite the means that the original settlers went to get it, and decided to live on it so we could have better lives.
Is it wrong that Native Americans had their land stolen, yes. But its not like they are the only ones. European nations conquered most of the world. Many histories and towns were burned down and lost forever. Slaves lost history. I understand Native Americans are suffering and share my sympathy but I don't believe Sam Richards should target every American to take responsibilty for the suffering of Native Americans.
At the same time I also respect Native Americans for holding on to their traditions, we all do the same, but I think if living of reservations and the suicide rate to continue to rise, then something should change. I believe the government should help Native Americans. They lost their land to the settlers, and continued to lose land as America expanded west however they can't expect to get it back. Its just the way of life, survival of the fittest. I don't have any greater opportunites in life. I have whatever I was dealt and took that and went to school, and went to college. I have had people stomp on me and defeat me, and there's nothing I could have done about it except, move on and make things better with what ever I had. Native Americans have a strong lineage they could expand if they integrate into the system of this country.
What I mean by this is not conform, and go kiss a white man's shoe, but go to more melting pot school and towns and raise families within the country and not just on reservations. They should fight for happiness not for land.
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This class is beginning to change my way of thinking on a number of levels. When Sam first began lecturing about Native Americans and how they were tortured by white people I thought well those were my ancestors, I haven’t done anything. I found myself getting offended in the early lectures by what he was saying about how we need to accept blame. I do not by any means feel guilty about the past, because it’s true I wasn’t there and I did not personally attack anyone. My feelings in this respect remain unchanged. After more discussion; however, I began to realize that it isn’t about feeling guilt. It is about recognizing what was done in the past and how so many people were and still are affected by it.
It bothers me that we are never taught these things in school. History books and the media are so manipulated that it is scary to think of the number of things we are oblivious to. I remember learning about the Columbus trial in middle school and being shocked to discover that Columbus was not the hero we all thought that he was. We have an entire day dedicated to him after all. Even then, I was young and didn’t really understand how the Native Americans were truly treated.
The fact that Native Americans are still suffering so much today is an indication of how wrong things still are. I do not think that we as individuals have to feel guilty. I feel that it is instead about making it right now and allowing them the rights that our ancestors wrongfully took from them. Even now, we have them pushed aside onto reservations. There is no opportunity for them. I think that slavery is a topic that is studied more. White people brought black people over from Africa as slaves, but eventually we became the good guys by freeing them. I guess that’s why we learn about that because it makes it look like white people did the right thing. This also seems to be the main concern in race relations because it always comes back to white and black people. When it comes to the Native Americans though, everyone just ignores them. They have been pushed away and swept under the rug. At least other races in this country have been able to begin to work their way up a bit because of recognition; however, Native Americans have never even had that opportunity. There are people born into that particular culture today that have not gotten a say and may never get a say. Their land was taken from them and they never even received an apology. We are supposed to be the smarter, more enlightened generation that is trying to bring peace to the world. So it does become our responsibility to make sure that they are recognized and heard because they are human beings like the rest of us.
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This is a sticky situation, to "accept the wrongs" you may feel as though it is not your place. You weren't here when the genocide of Native Americans took place; and the people who did take part in the genocide may not even be related to you at all in Vincent's case. However I feel as though by living where you do today you are in a way taking part in supporting the genocide which took place long before any of us were even alive. The land on which our University, your home, your favorite recreational activity are built are all built on red land. Land which was taken from others by force and were not compensated for. So in a way by frequenting these places you are saying "Hey I don't support what happened but I sure am glad it did so I can go to the mall!" So what can you do? These native people are distant from us and have been forced into these places called reservations to live out the rest of their lives to think about what has happened to their people in the past. They are not likely to come out of their comfort zone of their people and try and mix into the world today. If they hold their customs at a high standard and are not looking to lose sight of who they were as a people then they will stay together. They must be approached first and asked to teach their way of life because of what has happened in the past I feel they will not be coming to seek out the people that look like the ones who put them where they are now in the first place.
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To those who claim the Americans should take the blame and responsibility for taking over the Native Americans homeland: Have you EVER done anything besides saying that you are responsible? To be frank I think it is very hypocritical to say that stuff than to do that. If you really feel guilty or somewhat responsible, than at least you should visit those reservation and help those Native Americans. Not sitting in front of your computer and just typing several words describing how sorry you are– it's no use! I am a bit pissed and feeling disgusting when hearing people saying "oh i feel so sorry for what we've done to the Native Americans". That is just BS! It ain't work in any way! Nobody is gonna be forsaken for what you've said, but what you've got. The Americans are standing as people with the vested interests. You thrived from the Indian's land. You did the genocide/ massacre. And now you just laying in your couch drinking some coffee and saying you are responsible! How disgusting that is! To me that shows the Americans do feel somewhat guilty, but because the Americans can't live without the land they stole from the Native Americans, the Americans just don't do anything meaningful, because the Americans can't! You are like the victors standing at the top of the mountain, and say to the Natives "oh we are sorry for conquering your homelands and we feel really guilty and shameful, but we won't give you anything back." I just can't stand this kind of opinion. So you'd either say that you are not responsible for the Native Americans or you'd DO something! Saying is just useless.
So next if my own opinion. I saw someone saying that they have nothing to do with the history. I think that is correct (including the questioner). We could have different views of seeing things, especially things in the history that you haven't experienced. According to Materialism, the advanced productivity represents the trend of the development of culture. Politic serves for the development of economics. This is correct. The land wasn't belonged to anyone, they are just the land. Continent movement made the five continents in the world. And it created so called "natives". Where the race originated doesn't necessarily mean that this land belongs to you forever. "falling apart will suffer beating". Only when your race's development represents the advanced productivity, your race can win the war and take the land. That is the way of the nature. Don't forget how many white Americans were also killed by the Native Americans. I know it might be uncomfortable, but it is the rule of nature: the betters survive.
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I completely agree with the young man in the video. I do not understand why I should take blame for or admit wrongdoing when I have not done anything wrong. I understand that the land that we are currently living on now belonged to the Native Americans and we forced them off this land. However, these actions reflect the white race during that specific time period, not me as an individual. I am completely aware that these actions occurred in the past and are still occurring in today’s society. Just because my so called white ancestor’s forced the Native Americans off their land does not mean I share in the same beliefs as them. Why does the color of our skin define our beliefs? Just because they have the same skin color as me should not infer that we have the same ideals. If my ancestors did partake in these horrible actions why should I be blamed? I am my own individual and different from them in many ways. With that being said, this blame is a full circle and will continue in the future. The blame will eventually be move from our ancestor onto my generation. I understand that the blame is always going to be put on someone; I just feel it’s unwarranted and not fair. I do feel for the Native American’s and African American’s who have been discriminated against for their whole life and have faced many disadvantages throughout their whole life. However, I still feel it is unfair to blame me for their hardships and discrimination. I understand that they did not choose to be African American or Native American and they should not be persecuted cause of their skin, but I as well did not choose to be white and I couldn’t control the actions of my white ancestors. With that being said, I understand how we could be to blame of these actions that are still taking place in today’s society. Even if I don’t actually discriminate I should still stand up for discrimination and try to eliminate it throughout the world. I believe that in order to completely relieve our race of this blame we need to educate individuals all over the world. Many people have no idea that these racist acts are still continuing in today’s society. It is the duty of those educated to educate the uneducated, if we do this it will soon relieve us of this unwarranted blame.
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I think “accepting the wrongs” goes beyond putting blame on yourself. I do not think that any of us are to blame because, like you said, none of us were technically there when this was going on. I think “accepting the wrongs” means learning and accepting the facts and trying to better ourselves to make the Native American population better and stronger today. There are many issues that the Native Americans are facing, and they need policies to give them additional assistance until they can make it on their own.
I think not accepting the wrongs would be ignoring what happened or pretending that it did not happen at all, which a lot of us have been doing our entire lives. This was probably not intentional, I for instance was unaware of the extent of damage caused, but continuing to be ignorant is the worst thing I could do. Our generation is becoming older and more powerful, so we have the opportunity to help improve the lives of the Native Americans still living in the United States, and we should do just that in any way we can. We should not feel bad, because this will not help anyone, but we should be sympathetic and caring.
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We human beings seem always fight against our human natures. We always try to lift the sense of sympathy. Don't forget one thing: the human beings as a whole, can survive and stand at the top of the food chain, is because we are fighting for living for every second. New technology, advanced science are always taking place of the old ways. No matter how you cherish the memory of the past, the tradition, the whatsoever, the wheels of history will not stop for you. So– just take everything you've done as a fact. There is no way you can go back. I still believe in Marxism– the philosophy part of it. Karl Marx stated that higher productivity will always replace the lower. That's why the Europeans took place of the Native Americans, that's why African American Slaves existed, and that's why slavery ended– they all represent the highest productivity, or say, the format of production during their periods. The morality only exists for a very specific period of time– there is no eternal/ never changing moral code for human beings. I am guessing maybe 1000 years later, people will say "oh my god how could entrepreneurs "hired" workers???" "How could workers ever exist in our human history??" It is very possible from my point of view. With the development of productivity, maybe in the future there won't be any "companies", maybe human being will be united and all are called "earthlings". You know, there is always possibilities.
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I don’t think that Sam necessarily said that you should personally take any blame for the previous actions but that there is a level of acceptance that we all must live with. I do feel that one thing that we should all accept is the current treatment of native Americans in this country. We can’t lean toward helping out a culture, and unifying us as Americans unless we look at what we have been doing and done to them as well. Just like with slavery we learned to accept that those actions were not right, and we’ve come to abolish such treatment and acts.
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I agree that this is not our fault whatsoever, I mean how could it be? I was born less than twenty years ago, and for most of those years I had no idea that this genocide even happened. No one in my family physically killed a Native American to build a house on their territory, or bullied them into giving us the land on which we live, but this doesn't mean that we should just ignore it happened. What happened to the Native Americans when we first came to America and took their land is atrocious, so ignoring the fact that our ancestors committed this act of violence is just disrespectful to the Native Americans that died merely because they didn't have the weapons we did. I don't think Sam is telling us to pack our bags and move out of the country to give them back their land, because that's obviously unrealistic in most cases, but rather acknowledge the wrong that was committed on this land. I feel that if we just learn to accept the past and stop pretending like nothing bad happened, it will show a great deal of respect to those who were killed over land, and will move us as Americans one step further to bettering our morals as a whole.
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Your reasoning for not taking the blame is that you have not been in the country long enough for you to have had a hand in these issues. Your family has not been in the country. Realistically, many people in this country haven't been here long enough either. I'm a white person, and even that means the blame usually falls on me for race related-wrong, I am only third generation on either side of my family. I have not been in the country long enough either to legitimately accept blame on any of these issues. There is no one alive today that has committed the atrocities and forced displacement and genocide from the 1800's. Even with people who did have ancestors here, it is unlikely that they had a direct hand in anything. Let us even consider someone who's distant ancestors did have a hand in it. Why should he or she accept blame for something they did not do? I do not feel responsible for the racist or homophobic ramblings of my grandpa, why should they feel responsible of relatives generations and generations ago?
So who, today, should accept the blame? Who should “need to feel bad?” Just the people who personally killed or displaced or did something negative towards native americans? I do not think if we just sit and get really angry at whoever these people were a century ago that our societal issues will disappear. It is not important who today is to accept blame today. This issue is my issue. It is also your issue. It belongs to everyone who considers themselves an American.
On the first day of lecture concerning Native Americans a lot of people, from varying ethnic background, asked why are they getting “blamed” for this. Since they had nothing to do with it other than that they live here. Well, as Sam noted, we live on land that was originally native american soil. So, if it matters that much who to “blame,” it is every landowner in the united states. But why does that matter? How does assigning blame help anyone anywhere?
Blame is not going to advance us as a society. We need to look past such trivialities and look at the real issues here. We need to look at the success and failure of communities, differences in income, crime rates, suicide rates, education levels, and poverty. We need to figure out how to relieve some of these differences and help some of the people in these tragic stories without destroying their culture. These issues are self sustaining and will continue to ruin lives of innocent people if nothing is done to alleviate things. Blame does not enter into the equation.
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This is a difficult topic to talk about, and even a harder one to understand. What is our role in the situation regarding the racism against American Indians and how are we to come to terms with what happened in the past? I think what Sam is trying to do here is open our eyes to the truth of the situation rather than impose blame. And if once our eyes are opened we feel the need to act, even better! We should be encouraged to act. But just remember there are different ways of acting – whether it be educating others, viewing American Indians in a more respectful way, or pushing for policies in the White House – and all are necessary.
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As Americans, we as a whole need to accept responsibility, because immigrant or not, you are living on someone else’s land. Even if you or your ancestors weren’t here during the genocide of the Native Americans, you are still taking part in their present day plight by living on their land and not doing anything about it. You shouldn’t feel responsibility for past actions of people who do not belong to your heritage, but you should feel responsibility for taking part in the outcome of their actions- which is living on Native American land. Even if you are an immigrant, you chose to come to America and become a part of the land of freedom. But, we’re not really a land of free thought and actions because there are people in our nation who are not completely free, Native Americans and more. Because of that, you should feel some sort of responsibility because you chose to be an American and you need to realize that your current situation in life is due to the actions of those who lived in America before you.
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I also DON’T agree with what Sam said, he is talking like he wants us to repair all the damages that were done to the Native Americans. He talked about the land that we or our family own are really the Native Americans’ property. Well, my question for Sam would be why does he own a house? I remember he said that if we have cell phones, it means that we are “supporting” slavery. So are you supporting all the wrong doing that were done to the Native Americans? I bet he would never give up his house if some random Native American claims it as his or her ancestor. “If you point a finger at someone, a finger is pointing back at you” – Sam. So don’t try to make us feel bad because of what our ancestors did if you are supporting it too. He is a great professor but I feel he is excluding himself from every lecture he gave. We are all in this together, if you won’t admit it, why would i?
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So the question is why should we take the blame for what our ancestors did? This is a really good question that I personally see both sides. I see the point he is getting at by saying we were not the actual humans killing the Native Americans, but I also see Sam’s point and the point of I’m sure most Native Americans that we need to recognize the fact that we are still living on land that was not our ancestors. We still live on the land that was stolen from the Native American’s by force creating the biggest genocide in all world history. I think it’s a lot like when people don’t want to live in a house where some one got murdered or died in. We didn’t murder the person but you still don’t want to live there. If we get those feelings from a little neighborhood murder, then why aren’t we getting those feelings about the biggest genocide in world history? I think what people need to realize is that two wrongs don’t make a right. to be continued…
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Ignoring the fact that we stole land, ignoring the poverty rates of Native Americans as well as other bad statistics like suicide rates, and choosing to not take any blame for the situation is awfully wrong of Americans. Ignoring something doesn’t make it go away. Native Americans are humans and just as we care about starving children, homeless people, and 3rd world countries, we should care about Native Americans. Studies have shown that people act a lot like their ancestors. This basically tells us that if we were put into our ancestors shoes, we would have done the same thing. Doesn’t make it right, but we still would have killed or pushed the Native Americans off their land. Humans have the same basic instincts. We should take the blame because we are greedy. Why can’t we share our land and resources? Americans are so greedy that we won’t even share something with someone even though it was theirs first. to be continued…
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I see how he might try to argue his point though because our generations didn’t do the killings, but we aren’t doing anything to help. We could try to educate them, diminish their poverty, and help them in other ways but we don’t. Our government acts as though they are not apart of our country even though they are more than a part of it they are also a major part of its history. It is sad to see people with so much kindness and love to share getting so screwed over by greedy Americans. Although on the flip side I am one of those greedy Americans because I wouldn’t be willing to give up my house or land because I think my parents worked hard for it and it belongs to them just as much as it belonged to the Indians long ago.
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Because we are American's we are suppose to take the responsibility and the blame for things done centuries ago even if our own ancestry was not a part of it. I think that even though we accept and acknowledge the blame of what was done many years ago was a terrible thing to happen, something’s have come out of it, such as weighing a benefit risk ratio. That because people have sacrificed their land their culture in most ways, that a country was able to thrive allowing the civil rights and liberties that we all have now. It’s not that we can just give it back, because yes people do live on these areas, work or whatever we do on some ancient ground that was centuries ago some burial spot for relatives those now keeping to their roots try and push their culture forward, only through isolation would they have been able to preserve their culture like the tribes in Africa, but due to the location and what has happened through revolutions and time, I think they would be sad to know their culture is dying but glad that something at least decent in some way has come from the problem.
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I have to agree with Vincent here. It is hard to accept the wrongs from people when you come from a family who has immigrated. My family also immigrated here and I do not feel like I should take the blame for events that happened long ago by people that I do not have relations with. I am all over the place with this Native American debate. I feel bad for the tribes that have lost their land and suffer from poverty. However, I cannot relate to them at all. Many people suffer from struggles, but get themselves out of them. As Americans we have heard of the “American Dream” as a chance to better ourselves. How is it possible that after years and years and years these tribes have not become any better and remain living in trailers and on reservations? I am also very annoyed by people’s opinions that we cause them to be alcoholics and poor people and suicidal teenagers. I do not think we make anyone become alcoholics. Are we supplying the alcohol and saying, “go ahead, drink all you want, ruin your life, please?” I don’t think so. You do not become an alcoholic by other people. You do that to yourself. Suicide on the other hand is more in the gray area. I cannot see how they do not have the opportunity to better their lives. However, feelings of depression from the poverty are understandable. I do agree with another student that the facts are startling. However, I do not feel like blacks were given an edge up to Native Americans. I mean they went through lynching and refusal to vote. How is it possible that we now have a black president, yet we never hear from the Natives? I cannot really see why we are still to blame today. They have the right to vote, they have opportunity, how are we all, as Americans, responsible for their dilemma? I also feel like we are chasing our tails with this issue. People should be aware about the injustices, however, what do we do afterwards? An apology is not going to change anything. It is not going to give them land or suddenly make them rich. We can teach our children about the Trail of Tears, the Holocaust, and the current genocides, but we cannot change the past. What is done is done. What we can do now is we can educate people on this genocide to spread a greater appreciation for the culture. We can also give suicide awareness to the tribes. We can donate to the tribes. I feel these are much better options than apologizing. After hundreds of years, I feel like the last thing these people want is just an apology.
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I feel no guilt or responsibility for what has happened to the Native Americans over the past 150 years. My ancestors were not even living on this continent when the relocation of Natives took place. Just because they lived in a house that might have been on Indian Territory doesn’t mean they supported the genocide of Indians. When they arrived on Ellis Island they didn’t receive a notice letting them know that they were trespassing on Native land. Genocide and relocation of people has been taking place since the beginning of time. Whenever there is not enough room for two civilizations to live in one will always try to make room for themselves through force or diplomacy. In the case of the Native Americans the whites were expanding at an alarming rate through the advancement of technology and population. Of course the whites could have tried to be diplomatic and make room for everyone but the culture of the Natives was total opposite of the whites. White people also knew that they could easily force Natives out of their land if need be since they always considered themselves a superior culture.
When I attended grade school and high school I was always taught about the Trail of Tears and the unethical relocation of Natives. Of course my teachers sugarcoated most of it but we still knew what took place. I guess we were too young and naïve to understand how devastating it really was. I can see why some people support further education Native Americans but that will only go so far. What happened has happened and there is no way it can be reversed or apologized for. The video we saw in class about the horrible conditions remaining tribes are going through on reservations was eye opening. I knew about the alcoholism and low income but I was still surprised at their everyday life. On the other hand there are tribes that made the best of it and actually are better of then most whites. Certain tribes have set up Casinos on their reservations and make a decent amount of money.
In my opinion what happened to the Native Americans was awful. Do I feel like it was my responsibility? Not at all. My ancestors didn’t even live in this country when it happened. Just because I might live in a house that was on Indian Territory doesn’t mean im guilty of anything. I’m not saying what the United States did was right but if it didn’t happen most of us wouldn’t be here right now. You could say that only the fittest survive and that the whites are the king of the hill. What the United States did has been happening for centuries and will continue to happen as long as global expansion continues. It is inevitable. The only thing we can do now is further educate our white society on what really happened and the way of living Natives live today.
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This question in particular stood out in my mind during Tuesday’s class because I found myself wondering the same thing this student voiced in his question: If we weren’t around when the Europeans took away the Native Americans’ land, then how can we possibly be to blame for this?
I completely see where this student is coming from. He was not born in the United States and his relatives are not native to the United States, so how could he shoulder any blame for what happened hundreds of years ago? Although my family has been here for decades and although I was born here, I don’t understand why I’m supposed to accept blame for the actions of my ancestors. I certainly agree that it’s everyone’s responsibility to try to level the playing field for Native Americans, similar to how affirmative action has helped level the playing field for colored people. However, I’m not going to sit here saying “the terrible experiences of your relatives were all my fault, feel free to hold be personally responsible.” Along the same lines, I’m not going to take personal responsibility for the hardships suffered by colored people because of the actions of white people generations ago. However, I will continue to fight racism whenever I encounter it.
That being said, Tuesday’s class did have me question a family story I was once told. My mother and grandmother used to share with me a story about a great-great-(not sure how many greats)-grandmother who was a member of the MicMac (spelling?) tribe who married into my primarily white, European family. According to the story, once a month when the moon was full, my great grandmother would go crazy and try to kill my grandfather. This would result in my family locking her in the attic whenever the moon was full to prevent her from harming him.
Looking back on it, I have to wonder if perhaps my great grandmother wasn’t “going crazy”. For all I know, she could have been forced to marry my grandfather against her will, and as a result, she may have just been trying to escape to return to her tribe. It makes you wonder how stories get distorted over time to reflect the values and beliefs of society at the time the story was happening.
Getting back to the original point in this question, I agree that we should not be held entirely responsible for the sins of our ancestors. It’s like how Christians believe in original sin- that we were all born with the blood of Jesus on our hands. I, for one, know I do not have Native American blood on my hands, but I also know it is my social responsibility to try to help this group get back on a level playing field with the rest of us.
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PART 1: I agree to a certain extent with this guy and what most of you have commented. I think that we should somehow feel responsible about the fact that we are living on “Red Land” and that this country’s ancestors murdered American Indians and robbed them of the land that we call home. I don’t think that we should be directly blamed for what happened because we are not directly responsible for it, but I do completely agree that this genocide should be fully acknowledged and taught more openly in schools. Starting from a young age we are only taught the happy side of the story; the Thanksgiving story where the Pilgrims and Native Americans are great friends and share and learn from each other’s customs. (This is not to say that we should be teaching 4 year olds about the genocide that occurred, but to teach children when they are at an age where they can better comprehend about what really happened. I mean I remember that as early as the age of 10 or 11 I was taught about the Holocaust in school, but I wasn’t really taught about the American Indian genocide that happened in the land that I was standing on?? Really?? To me that’s just seems incredibly wrong and hypocritical.
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PART 2: We have to acknowledge that the pain and suffering that was inflicted on American Indians was wrong. As far as what can we do to help or make it better? Well we can’t really change what happened, but I think that the best way to go about it is by teaching and talking about what happened, by having open dialogues and helping break the stereotypes and to help American Indians become a more integrated part of the society instead of just shoving them to the side. I also think that the American Indian culture should be more celebrated among everyone even if you are not American Indian. I am Peruvian, but I’m not indigenous because my family emigrated from Europe, but I still try to feel a sense of pride in that native and indigenous culture even though I am not directly related to it. In Peru there is a lot of racism against indigenous people usually from the higher class of European descent and I think it’s disgusting and wrong, because just like the American Indians these people’s ancestors were also murdered and robbed of their riches and land by Spanish colonizers.
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I think what concerns me even more is that there are genocides going on right now that many people don’t seem to really know or do anything about. Like for example as some people mentioned in class, there is a genocide going on right now in Palestine and it’s been happening for over 60 years. Why are we still letting this go on?? After all the pain and suffering that we have seen in the past? This is what I can’t understand and what really troubles me. Are we going to wait until all the Palestinians are murdered and stripped of their land to then acknowledge what happen? We should know better and not repeat the same mistakes. I think this is the most effective way in which we can help, by not letting these things happen again and again.
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I guess maybe he just meant the people that have ancestry in America and that their families were probably involved in the wrong doings that took place. I agree with the post because he really did not have anything to do with it so he should feel any guilt, he is not to blame. Me on the other hand, I do feel really guilty. Especially on Thanksgiving because of the huge slaughter and genocide that took place. Although now I try to think of Thanksgiving as just a day to give thanks for everything I have but the origins are rooted on hate.
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I completely agree with Vincent’s comment for many reasons, I moved here eight years ago , I don’t care what Sam said , I don’t blame myself for anything, but even if I wasn’t an immigrant, I still wouldn’t blame myself, I mean why would you be responsible for something that your ancestors did, that’s like blaming every white person in the world for slavery, it is not right, I don’t think that people of any race should be blamed on what their ancestors have done, it is very unfair, we are always looking for someone to blame for the wrongs in our lives but we should start taking responsibilities for our own actions.
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I feel like the only way for this to be put in the past is if it is a mutual effort. That may sound unusual and even insulting to some but I think steps need to be taken from both sides. Be it with Americans and Native American's, whites and African Americans, etc. There has to be a simultaneous movement towards the center. Where those whose ancestors have done the wrongs accept them, and those who have been victims forgive/accept that it wasn't directly the people of this age who they are upset with. I have no idea how this would happen but think the only way it’ll work is if both sides make a move.
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I have to agree with Vincent. As a kid who immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 10, I obviously have no direct connection to anything related to Native Americans. I know that Sam is not trying to make us feel guilty but what is he trying to do? If he wants us to acknowledge the fact that the actual history behind Native Americans involves a genocide, I’m pretty sure that the majority of the people in lecture would agree with that statement. I do believe that the true history of Native Americans is hidden in the American textbooks. This only makes sense because what country would teach its citizens about the wrong doings and faults that lead to their present day. The only knowledge I have retained over the public school system about Native Americans isn’t a very positive image. What I get is an image of mostly poor people living in poverty with little to no opportunities. If they are not in that category they are in an Indian casino. I also know that they have known alcohol problems. This tells you how in depth the public school system goes into the real history of the U.S. Like I said before I can agree and acknowledge the fact that they are on the worse end of the oppression of minority scale. Even still as an immigrant to the U.S. this really does not impact me that much at all. I come from a place where I was the minority just like I am here. I do not let this hold me down. I’m not trying to compare myself to the Native Americans simply because I have had far more opportunities then many of them. The point I am trying to make is that they are not the only ones in world history that have suffered severe discrimination and oppression. The british empire occupied many parts of the world throughout history. India was only unoccupied in the 1950’s, Hong Kong was unoccupied in 1999, and South Africa broke through the British instilled apartheid in 1994. These are only examples of places and peoples that were held down until a certain point in time when they decided to respond and react. Although these are whole countries and the Native Americans are a small group of people, the same concept can be applied. Nelson Mandela suffered 27 years in a prison before getting released and becoming the first black South African (ANC) president. The point I keep trying to make is that obviously Native Americans are not the only ones who have felt the effects of oppression. No matter how harsh it was, other places around the world managed to overcome the oppression that they felt in their home countries. I feel that Native Americans should be pushing themselves as a race to have better education on their reservations to enable themselves to be better educated peoples.
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I sorta understand where you are coming from. But I can't really say that you are entirely free of the guilt that people in this country have to face for all of those native americans had lost their home. If you come to this country and have a fair share at what was native american land wrongfully taken without so much as a reparation for what was done to them then you are still using what was acquired for you thorough blood sweat and tears. These people were here first and had it taken away from them and anytime you buy a house or go to school you are learning and living on land that was taken from the native people. They were murdered for the dirt beneath your feet and exploited because they didn't want to leave. Its hard to say that anyone who lives in America is totally separated from the fact that these people were here first and they lost it because our ancestors were greedy. People who come to this country like you do not have as much guilt bestowed upon them but really if you came here we know that things like the genocide have happened here and it is true it happens, No one is free of it.
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I agree you should not really feel anything for something you haven't done. but after living here for so many years as a Latino, you feel for people that are in need or in worse off situations. You want to help no matter what person you are. it only makes this nation that much greater than it already is. Think how much harder it is in every place other than the United States and you will see. Lots of other countries try to mimic our success. With great respect i hope you will change you view and try to help this nation become better.
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I don’t see how somebody right now can be blamed for something that happened to another person’s ancestors a very long time ago. Unless I look far back into my family history, I couldn’t tell you whether or not somebody that I was related to did anything to harm or destroy the life of a Native American. Even if there was a connection with that, just because of a family relation with that it doesn’t mean that I am at fault for what happened, and there is little that I could do about it. I hope that everybody can understand that not one person currently is responsible for what happened so long ago and a family connection does not put them in charge of making it up to them.
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Offenders and victims exist in this genocide case. The victims were definitely Native Americans while the offenders were ancestors in United States. Now, those offenders who actually did killings and received benefits by that are buried in the ground. If the apology must be made, it should be the government in the first place. Even though every person standing on Red Land but the true issue should be how the descendants of offenders and those of victims would improve their relationship. I do not mean that we should forget about it and pretend like nothing has been happened. We, as the descendants of offenders, should give more attention to those of victims.
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Every citizen of the United States shares in the responsibly to help those in need. Some of our tax dollars (albeit, not enough) goes to helping those who are in need of a lift. We share in the blame in how Native Americans are treated. We make the laws of the country, we hire people to enforce those laws, we vote for people who lead this nation and we are members of this society that need to fix this problem. The issue is that there is a racial group in our society that is currently suffering discrimination and abuse and it is up to us to stand up for their rights. Every citizen who is eligible to vote in this country shares in the responsibility of the treatment of Native Americans or any other race whom is discriminated against!
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Vincent, you are right on point here. Frankly, I do not know why anyone brought up this point in class. It seems so obvious. And not just for the immigrant students out there, either. This claim that Vincent takes on this topic is a legitimate one, and one that the vast majority, if not all, of the students in class could also legitimize for themselves. The reason for this is simple. No one in class (on Earth for that matter) was alive to see or take part in the genocide against the Native Americans when Europeans first came over to this nation. So why should anyone be held responsible for these devastating acts?
Sam had some good points in class. Historians rarely look into this genocide and how terrible they actually were. Most of us can point to Hitler’s reign during World War II or the constant killings that take place in Africa today and point out examples of genocide there, but we for some reason forget what Native Americans faced here on our homeland. But Sam is very wrong in so many separate areas. Everyone in class should look back and feel sad for the terrible things that human beings had done at one point in American history. But no one should feel responsible. Why am I supposed to apologize for something I had entirely no part in. Even though I do not know all aspects of my family history, it wouldn’t surprise me if one of my ancestors had a hand in killing Native Americans centuries ago. But for the same reason that I had no part at all in the middle-class family I was born into, as Sam described in class, I also had no part in the ancestors I hold. I was always taught to take responsibility for my own actions, no one else’s, even if they are family. Even though no one made this point in class, it is nice to see that people are expressing these same ideas on the blog. Because no one, absolutely no one should feel personally responsible about these terrible events.
With that said, that still does not relieve the painful memories that Native Americans have today of their history. I stress the words memories and history because that is exactly what they are. In the same sense that no one on Earth today was alive to take part in the killings of Native Americans centuries ago, no Native American was alive as well. So they definitely do not know the real realities of this genocide as well. I am not saying that they are not affected by this genocide, because they are. But they also did not actually witness the killings themselves. So what do they deserve? Maybe an apology, as Sam noted. But it definitely will not be coming from me. Instead, a public figure in the national government (the President seems to work well) would be better giving this apology, on behalf of America as a nation. But they absolutely do not deserve any land. Despite what Sam said in class, this is definitely not Red Land that we are standing on. Oh sure, it once was. But no longer. Was the taking of that land justified? Probably not. But I know I had nothing to do with this taking, and I sure as hell am not about to just hand this land over because it is presumably “theirs”.
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I agree with Vincents question in the fact that I myself am the grandson of immigrants who had never had a slave or displaced the native Americans, yet I think when you take on the mantle of American you hold a responsibility to make the country better. if that means taking responsibility for sins we had no connection to in order to make this a better society then I say we accept them and solve the problems so we can truly say we are trying to be the best we can and we will always try. the weight of that responsibility doesn't have to way us down but can make us the generation that finally realizes that mistakes made in the past are fixable if we just acknowledge them as mistakes. the fact that the Native Americans are still suffering means that those of us living here now have a culpability to their suffering if we don't acknowledge their plight. solving the problems of today's Native tribes will relive our burden of guilt and that of the past it won't fix the past but if we say we're sorry and help to make reparations as we have done on a very small scale for the African American community to the Native American tribes we can solve the old problems. Those of us who are descendants of 20th century imegrants hold no real blame but must help make the wrongs right in order to say we made a difference to our families new home.
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Vincent, I think you make a great point about the fact that we should accept the wrongs and historical mistreatments by whites against Native Americans because this is their land. I think what Sam is really trying to hit home is that is completely wrong and inhumane when a people are uprooted from a place where they first settled and are displaced through the use of violence and other forces. Sam was talking about similar actions that were committed in Palestine, New Zealand, and Australia. So, it is important for us to acknowledge our historical wrongdoings and accept the blame for those actions. With regards to your point that as a member of a family that migrated here, I understand that you should not be held accountable for actions that were not committed by you or any of your ancestors. However, it is important to note that you most likely own a home or an apartment that is on “red” land. So, regardless of the fact that neither you nor your ancestors committed any of the atrocious activities committed in the genocide against Native American Indians, you are in essence still “disgracing” the Native Americans by purchasing and or living in property on their land. I am no different, and most Americans are just the same. I think it comes down to being able to acknowledge the historical facts and understanding that this is not our land, it belongs to Native Americans and it should be credited as theirs.
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I agree with this individuals response to why should we take the blame for taking everything from the Native Americans. I feel as he his perfectly right, his family moved here about eighteen years ago and should not be part of the blame that something when his family wasn't even in this territory. Maybe they have blame because they are contributing to the issue now a days?! As Sam stated in class that Native Americans have the highest rates of drug users, alcohol abuse, and along the lines of physical abuse. In a way I kind of feel they are not helping the problem at all. If someone was trying to take something from you, wouldn't you stand up for yourself and try to be on your own two feet and keep what was first yours. I don't know I feel that this individual shouldn't be taking the blame but i'm sure some of their actions that have happened in the past eighteen years or so has helped the Indians from keeping their original belongings.
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