Red Cloud, the leader of the Oglala Lakota, addressed an audience in New York after leading a delegation to meet with the Great Father. In his speech, he spoke about the horrors and broken promises that the Federal Government - and army - carried out in Indian reservations and territories. President Ulysses S. Grant order numerous investigations and trials for violations, and numerous soliders were court-martial for refusing to hunt down Indians. Others were sent to prison for, effectively, war crimes.

Citizens were horrified by the words of Red Cloud, countless petitions were sent to Congress and letters condemning the treatment of the Native population.

Decades earlier, in 1860 (during the Civil War) the settlers of New Mexico Territory rebelled and demanded replacement for Col. James H. Carleton, after the treatment and poor conditions in the Indian camps. General Sherman, his sucessor, told his children to "go back to their homes." The Apache were allowed to return to the plains and live in peace.

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The Republican Congress of 1866, passed the Civil Rights act - which President Jackson vetoed by commenting that Blacks were not entitled to citizenship. Congress, with its majority, turned over the veto. Tragically, the Supreme Court ruled the Act was unconstitutional.

In 1871, Republican President Ulysses S. Grant signed Butler's legislation, the Ku Klux Klan Act, which protected African Americans in the south from the KKK.

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Forced termination is wrong, in my judgment, for a number of reasons. First, the premises on which it rests are wrong ... The second reason for rejecting forced termination is that the practical results have been clearly harmful in the few instances in which termination actually has been tried ... The third argument I would make against forced termination concerns the effect it has had upon the overwhelming majority of tribes which still enjoy a special relationship with the Federal government ... The recommendations of this administration represent an historic step forward in Indian policy. We are proposing to break sharply with past approaches to Indian problems.

President Richard Nixon, Special Message on Indian Affairs, July 8, 1970.

Regardless the actions of a minority, from across all creeds and religions, America has never been a racist country and both political parties were never institutionaly racist.

There are, currently, more high ranking African Americans within the US military than Europe. This thread is not written by an apologist or revisionist, but the United States has provided numerous equality measures - including returning stolen Nazi artwork to Jews (restitution.) Only Great Britain has done more. Africa greatest donating for aid is the United States - including cancelling debt.

However, the world - and predominantly us in Europe - could learn from the United States.

Originally posted by infinite

Regardless the actions of a minority, from across all creeds and religions, America has never been a racist country and both political parties were never institutionaly racist.

Thanks for the great research. Unfortunately, I can't imagine how you did all that research and were able to state the above. Yes, we have been a racist nation. Yes, we have committed atrocities against other peoples. Yes, we have improved, but...

No...you can't deny the historical record.

[edit on 9-20-2009 by Valhall]

America is a brutally racist country that claims otherwise.
In the office that I work in, I am 1 of the 5 black americans out of about 100 employees. One day, the power to the building went out so we couldn't work. Everyone sat around talking and having a good time... well, except for the black americans who were shut out.

That's what I get at work, the silent treatment. That's what I got in college, kicked out of the group projects for trying to lend my expertise. The professors didn't help any when you explained the situation either.

So let's see... the non-black Americans get lots of friendly friends and happy times and decent looking females... and I get no women, no friends, and dragged into a back office by racist security guards and stripped butt naked like Guantanamo (and no, the cops didn't do anything about it). Not to mention that alien psychic in my head 24/7, that I can't really tell you about, that drives me absolutely crazy!

America sucks big time!

america is sadly one of the most racist countries their is.

the last election and current opposition to obama show's this.

even worse, if that its not just white on black racisim, its also black on white ... ironicly .

i love what is at the top of the screen atm...

"Racism is for Ignorant Fools"

i wish the world coudl see and agree with that message.

Originally posted by boaby_phet
america is sadly one of the most racist countries their is.

the last election and current opposition to obama show's this.

even worse, if that its not just white on black racisim, its also black on white ... ironicly .

i love what is at the top of the screen atm...

"Racism is for Ignorant Fools"

i wish the world coudl see and agree with that message.

Unfortunately, your words point to exactly what the thing at the top is speaking against:

1. The election has nothing to do with racism.
2. The criticism of Obama's performance to date has nothing to do with racism.

So why did you connect them to it?

In my native studies class we learned that Apartheid is based on the way north america dealt with the natives. Their system is based on the one we created.

So put that in your peace pipe and smoke it.

People, regardless of where ever they are on mother earth are unfortunately RASCIST!
Even if they are not, society creates such feeling thu ignorance...... Sad, true, and happening all around you, wherever you may be.
Individuals of good values rarely hold rascist values strongly.
Most GOOD people judge a group not on stereotypes but simply on human values.
Unfortunately countries where folk flea, often because of rascism, genecide and blatent corruption, are often (not always!) even more rascist than the countries who accept with open arms anyone who makes it to the shores.
Rascism is more rofound now in wealthy western countries (when it should not be so) simply because PEOPLE ARE JUDGEMENAL!
It is a sad truth, that as globalisation flourishes, even in the face of adversity, fundamentalism and blatent ignorance, the world community is so disjointed by corruption and disinformation, any true global village will always be a utopian dream.
I think Orwell, Huxley and great writers from all cultures have acknowledged this fact for hundreds of years.
HUmans are unfortunatly fickle, paranoid and useless. (ha ha! that's not aimed at ATS's so much as anyone who watches FOX and thinks that is how the world goes.
Humans should be ashamed. Period.
We are weak, easliy manipulated by msm and generally in the west don't even fkn read books.
I am not an american, but may as well be since my own country have harmed it's own indiginous culture even more than americans.
We are, you are, everyone is, a discrace.
Thanks.

Couple things....

1)The so called "native" Americans practised slavery before Europeans even showed up. So to pass them off as some kind of innocent, poor people who were trampled upon is total bs.

2)The Afrikanners were right in what they did. Evidence? Take a look at the current situation in South Africa.

Originally posted by 21cdb
2)The Afrikanners were right in what they did. Evidence? Take a look at the current situation in South Africa.

So, in an ideal world, it is perfectly acceptable to segregate individuals based on race

Originally posted by infinite

Originally posted by 21cdb
2)The Afrikanners were right in what they did. Evidence? Take a look at the current situation in South Africa.

So, in an ideal world, it is perfectly acceptable to segregate individuals based on race

In an ideal world, certin ethnic groups wouldn't have certin behaviors and deem them as "normal".