There are some things that make my very essence sizzle (with something akin to disgust) and they crackle under my skin urging for release. I call this "soul vomit." Two of the few (or many, depending on my mood) things that causes this essence upchuck are ignorance and apathy.
Allow me to begin with an anecdote: While sitting in class today, as we were attempting to discuss Montaigne's "Essays," the talk soon turned to the situation of American Indians (or Native Americans, if you prefer). You see, in Montaigne's essay, "On cannibalism," he battles with the concept of a less corporeal cannibalism. To him, those people who began to colonize South America, cannibalized their culture and should realize and stand accountable for their wrongdoing. We began to apply this idea of "cultural cannibalism" to the situation in North America. Personally, I agree with Montaigne. The American Indians suffered horrible tragedies at the hands of the white settlers in a way that exceeded any form of rebellion from any tribe: the settlers destroyed their culture. Now, with no way of being able to define themselves as men in the same manner that their ancestors did, it seems these once proud people have been reduced to mere husks of their former glory. Who is to blame for this?
I think the answer is obvious. Although, one girl in particular, who I shall call Mary-Sue, would not agree with me. According to her, "the Indians brought it upon themselves. They are alcoholics. I mean, if they are so poor why do they spend all of their money on alcohol?" Excuse me!? First thing, buying alcohol does not make someone an alcoholic (in the same way that me buying inordinate amounts of Pocky does not make me Japanese). Ever heard of the phrase, 'correlation does not equal causation?' Who is to say whether all American Indians are alcoholics? Alcoholism is not limited to the American Indian culture. Anyways, does this fact even make the situation unworthy of attention? No.
What really tipped the scales? Mary-Sue claimed that there was no reason to apologize to the Native American Indians because she did not do anything to them (as if she didn't somehow hold some sort of collective responsibility like normal Americans). Of course, in the same breath she stated, "we had slaves" when talking about her ancestors. It seems she wants to have her cake and eat it to. I also hate to point out that the Native Americans are still suffering horrible injustice and I feel that the only way to start making a difference in the situation would be to apologize for the wrongs that have been committed and take on the responsibility of what has happened in the past in order to make progress.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
#1. Native Americans aren't universally alcoholics, and the ones that are alcoholics probably wouldn't be if it weren't for the settlers.
#2. The Native Americans have been apologized to, hence the current treaties and inordinate amount of money that go to the tribes and their ability to do their "ancestral" activities that are illegal for everyone else (hunting whales, fishing salmon, etc.). Also, casinos. I'm not sure why that's allowed, what ancestral activity justifies casinos, but the tribes can have casinos in otherwise gambling-free areas.
#3. Their culture is as alive as they want it to be. For instance, the tribes that want to hunt like their ancestors do, the ones that don't hunt with guns. It's their choice, and nearly all the tribes have CHOSEN to integrate their ancient customs with modern American society. (Really, I've seen it. Their culture wasn't destroyed, just moved with them along the Trail of Tears.)
#4. Reparations are pure crap. No modern day Native Americans were subjected to the horrors of the early settler days, and no modern day White American has subjected any Native Americans to the horrors of the early settler days.
The sins of the father/mother are not the sins of the son/daughter. The current generation is NOT responsible for what happened in the past. It's kind of ridiculous to hold people responsible for things they had no control over and couldn't have prevented even if they wanted to (whole "not alive yet" thing tends to get in the way).
(Disclaimer #1: Don't even try to pull "your ancestors" or "culture as a whole" on me, since MY ancestors arrived a good century after ANY of this happened, so weren't directly or indirectly involved, even in the culture. You want to take responsibility for your ancestors go ahead, but I'm not taking responsibility for YOUR ancestors.)
Are Native Americans currently "suffering horrible injustice"? Ummm... no. Are the tribes typically poverty-stricken? Yes. Is the drug use, particularly among younger people, higher than other areas? Yes. Is this "horrible injustice"? No. The current problems in the Native American tribes are a direct result of them getting reparations. The tribespeople get just enough money from the government to survive, which means they don't have to work to live, so many people don't. The Native Americans who do work, particularly the ones who leave the reservations, do just as well as others in society (i.e., better than those that stay in the reservation and accept government handouts).
The problem? Treating them like they're special, giving them special privileges and money. If the Native Americans were treated like EVERYONE else, they'd succeed just like EVERYONE else.
Want to help? Work to get the current legislation for giving Native Americans special privileges revoked, as it's doing them more harm than good.
Or go to http://cambodiaschools.com/ and build a school in Cambodia to prevent child prostitution.
Even better, go to Darfur and stop the atrocities that are CURRENTLY HAPPENING.
I, too, abhor ignorance and apathy.
(Disclaimer #2: no, I'm not racist. My step dad's a Native American, and he's a great guy, as are the many Native Americans I know through him. This also gives me a perspective you don't have: that of the insider. Note: I've gotten many of my views FROM HIM.
Racism: treating people differently based on race/ethnicity. That's what YOU want to do. World would be a WHOLE lot better if people simply ignored others' ethnicity.)
"I just can't take all this mamby-pamby boo-hooing about the bloody Indians! You won. Alright? You came in and you killed them and you took their land. That's what conquering nations do. It's what Caesar did, and he's not going around saying, 'I came, I conquered, I felt really bad about it.' The history of the world isn't people making friends. You had better weapons and you massacred them. End of story." -- Spike, from Buffy, created by Joss Whedon
Veni, vidi, vici.
#1. I never said that Native Americans were universally alcoholics. What I did say was I thought that that very idea was ridiculous and, even if it were true (which I know that it is not), it wouldn't make any situation involving injustice any less important. I am sorry if I wasn't clear on that particular point.
#2. I have not heard of any formal apologies (since the "apology bill" hasn't been approved yet, as far as I know), but I was aware of specific laws pertaining to the rights of Native Americans. Oh, and I do believe that Casinos are allowed on reservations due to a court decision that said reservations weren't "technically" part of the US, so any laws pertaining to gambling being illegal did not affect the reservations. So, why am I saying this?
Essentially, I actually agree with you: “The problem? Treating them like they're special, giving them special privileges and money.” I do NOT want to treat people different because of their race. I simply feel apologizing before going about revoking laws is a good method.
I feel that laws giving Native Americans special rights are not the same as an apology. I feel that an apology would be better suited seeing as the past relationship of Native Americans with the American Government have been marred by broken treaties.
#3. I am aware of Pow-Wows that are held and different festivals celebrating Native American culture. I was trying to refer to past events that were attempts to integrate Native Americans by suppressing their culture instead of celebrating it. That suppression is a part of the old "melting pot of America" theory.
#4. I am aware that reparations are silly and I do not agree with laws giving Native Americans special treatment. That’s why I am for apologizing so we can make moves to give Native Americans equal treatment. If the government is willing to recognize that wrongs were committed than there wouldn’t be the need to grant special treatment. Am I right?
Sure, it may be ridiculous to hold our generation responsible for what our ancestors did in any circumstances (and MY ancestors also came after all of this). What I was trying to say is that special treatment is a sign of hidden guilt that a lot of people have about past events. Saying, “I didn’t do anything so WE don’t need to apologize” is a contradiction. That is still working in the thought process that somehow, someone is held responsible for what someone else did. At least, that’s what I think.
Also, thank you for stating what I want to do, which you clearly did not know. I was venting about a girl in my class that feels all Native Americans are alcoholics of their own free will and that she did not have to apologize to them because she did not do that to them while still admitting that she is responsible for holding slaves.
Although, the V for Vendetta reference? That was great. I smiled. :)
Oh, and thank you for commenting. I'm glad to see someone else actually has an informed opinion.
1. Oh, I wasn't referring to you. I was disputing her obvious ignorance.
2. The special privileges are the apology. Basically, "We messed up, we're sorry, here's some stuff to forget about it."
The V for Vendetta reference? I'm not sure what reference you're talking about... if you mean "veni, vidi, vici," that's Latin and means, "I came, I saw, I conquered," and is attributed to Julius Caesar. I put it in to match up with the Spike quote.
Alright, I was slightly confused on your first point.
Also, I can see what you are saying, the special privileges being the apology.
And I was pretty much certain that Vin, vidi, vici was in the comic book, but I digress if I am mistaken. :)
Post a Comment