Student was told not to wear a sweater in school that has the words "Got Land? Thank an Indian"

OpinionatedB

Darkmask
I find it highly offensive as a white person. Like I should feel shame for the things that happened before I was born.

I'm so sick of the Natives trying to make us feel guilty for stuff people did in the past.

I was born of this earth and should have as much right to the fruits of this earth as anyone else.

One more thing......There will never be true equality on this planet as long as we permit race based privileges to persist. The handouts must stop!

How can you be offended by "Got Land?" "Thank an Indian" ...? This in and of itself is not offensive, the offense is what you are reading into it such as ""Make us feel guilty".

As far as your rights to the fruits of the earth, do you have a right to build a garden in your neighbors lawn or run a cow there? No, because that is their earth.... you only have the right to your own, for which was once native lands.

Can you honestly forget this land was first inhabited by natives? I can't... I owned land here, and every single time it rained arrowheads and other native artifacts would be uncovered by it...with every arrowhead that was uncovered I knew what land I was on, it was definitely theirs long before I ever called it mine.

Should I feel guilty for what others did, no... I should only feel guilt for what I do that is wrong.

However, since you speak of "handouts" I was on the reservation in pine ridge for a short time. I was welcomed into the homes of strangers, felt all manner of kindness from those I encountered, and was never made to feel guilty. But I never saw those handouts you speak of. Not one handout did I see...

I don't think there will ever be true equality on this earth until we stop trying to blame someone else for everything, and each take our own blame that is due us. And we do have our own blame, even now.

edit on 16-1-2014 by OpinionatedB because: (no reason given)

Yes I speak of "handouts". For reservation Natives in particular. They are provided free houses, welfare, free education and don't pay any taxes. All are "handouts", because they never had to work for any of it them selves.

I had done some work on a reservation not too long ago. It really bothered me how all these Native people had new houses and did nothing with them. no bedding plants or lawn or trees they just let the weeds grow over. No pride of ownership what so ever. Why? Because they never had to work for it. It was just given to them. If you don't see handouts, you're just not looking.

Darkmask
If you don't see handouts, you're just not looking.

If you don't see a larger problem, then you're not looking. I suggest that you drop your filters for a while and take a good honest look at the scenario. If you don't look beyond the comments you've made, you'll never really know what you're talking about. Therefore, you'll sure as hell not come up with any solutions.

Well it was their land so I say " thank you".

It's why I never get why people in N America bitch about immigrants, when they did the same thing a couple of hundred years ago. Or their ancestors did . Obvious when they have blond hair and blue eyes. Hypocrisy.

reply to post by JohnnyCanuck


I do see a larger problem. The problem is how the government has handled the whole situation. Instead of teaching the native people the skills they need to prosper in a modern world, they just hand them money instead. Most of the money that is given to them never makes it to the people who need it most. Instead, their leaders and those close to them are the ones who benefit most.

I had a friend who's family was heavy into Native politics. They would talk about how they would just right off trips to Vegas and Australia all expenses paid. All on the tribes dime. They thought it was a big joke.

I don't have a problem at all with the government giving Native people money, as long as it is being spent right. I think all tribes should submit to regular audits, to ensure the money is going to where it is needed and not into pockets it shouldn't.

To quote a full blooded Cree friend of mine, who happens to make close to half a million a year. He said, " the worst thing you can ever do to a native person, is give them something for free".

reply to post by Lucid Lunacy


What I don't get is the "Thanking Them" for the land we violently took from them. I mean we came here, brutalized them, killed them off and took the land. Thanking them for it, to me at least, implies that they gave it to us. They didn't give us anything since "Land" wouldn't have been something they would have considered to be owned by them to begin with. That's what I don't get about the message. The fact that it's actually an Indian wearing the shirt seems almost more confusing. In fact, for anyone to actually thank an Indian for the land in which was stolen from them seems like adding insult to injury.

It would be like beating up a kid and stealing his lunch money and while walking away saying, "Hey, thanks kid!"

reply to post by mOjOm


Ah okay. I see what you're saying.

Well this I guess you can chalk up to sarcasm? Ironical humor? Dark humor? I dunno the name for it. Too tired at the moment, but there is a phrase to articulate this idea.

JohnnyCanuck

3u40r15m
"Thank an Indian" .... All they did was rollover and give up the land. Plus they still own plenty of land and make plenty of money off of it.

The difference between opinion and fact is...facts. Since you have found this site important enough to sign on, and this post important enough to comment upon, you might want to research that statement of yours. Otherwise, it's just trolling, and that gets old, quick.

Why don't you do some research of your own, since you decided my comment was important enough to reply to with hogwash....They did rollover and give up the land, because it was not theirs to begin with. And they make PLENTY of money now between all of the tribes/casinos. Ignorance will try and prove me wrong. But will fail.....

reply to post by 3u40r15m


So in the spirit of ignorance. What is your knowledge on the topic? I took many courses at college related to 'Native American History'. Actually some of the harder classes I took in my college experience! Damn. Every test was short essay questions. Learned a lot though! What I learned is contrary to what you're suggesting. Why I am asking..

reply to post by Lucid Lunacy


Surprised they didn't teach you this in the courses, but Indians didn't believe in land ownership to begin with. But besides the Government handouts, they get tribal money. If you ever visit an Indian casino, ask some of the local Indians how much they get.... That's all I really got to say about the subject, I'm gonna dabble around some other topics this one is of little interest to me, I just felt like putting in my two cents.

Darkmask
reply to post by JohnnyCanuck

 

I do see a larger problem. The problem is how the government has handled the whole situation. Instead of teaching the native people the skills they need to prosper in a modern world, they just hand them money instead.

Well, you're not ranging far enough to recognise the roots of the problems...just pointing out the symptoms and the lame attempts to fix them. I agree that more money is not a fix...but smart money is. Funds need to be invested in health, education and good leadership. Anything less will merely prolong the status quo. I should also point out that the quality of leadership also determines, in a large part, conditions in the FN communities. I am a regular visitor to one nearby that is not apparently afflicted with the kind of squalor you describe, and I have been to others that can easily considered 'nice'. Folks are folks, eh?

Now this is what I'd have on my T-Shirt if I was an Indian!!