Killing the white man's red man

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs this month passed a resolution apologizing to all Indian nations for violence perpetrated by citizens of the United States of America.

[B Deer]

Some of my fellow tribesmen were relocated to California and participated in the John Ford movies. Even now I enjoy watching Mr. Ford's movies to view pristine scenery.
As for the number of Indians killed by a
single shot, ever wonder about that? It is
my understanding that one received extra pay for this honor.

[greenday]

Hmm, what about the violence perpetrated by indigenous peoples on settlers, trappers, and those just passing through? Do we get an apology from the tribes?

[Reality]

"The Searchers is notorious for its representation of Indians in a negative way. John Wayne unearths an Indian grave and shoots the corpse in the eyes so he won't be able to get to the spirit world; that's just pure hatred and bigotry."

This is a total misunderstanding of the film. The John Wayne character is gripped by hatred and bigotry, but that is portrayed as a destructive flaw. He is not a character we are supposed to admire.

He goes through the movie fully intending to kill the Natalie Wood character, but only relents at the last moment. But he is still a flawed character. The ending -- where Wayne is all alone -- drives this point home.

[you are absolutly right]

Reality wrote:

"The Searchers is notorious for its representation of Indians in a negative way. John Wayne unearths an Indian grave and shoots the corpse in the eyes so he won't be able to get to the spirit world; that's just pure hatred and bigotry."
This is a total misunderstanding of the film. The John Wayne character is gripped by hatred and bigotry, but that is portrayed as a destructive flaw. He is not a character we are supposed to admire.
He goes through the movie fully intending to kill the Natalie Wood character, but only relents at the last moment. But he is still a flawed character. The ending -- where Wayne is all alone -- drives this point home.

John Ford was himself disturbed about how Native Americans were portrayed in cinema, including the fact that he was required to depict them as savages or his movies would not be financed,so he made a John Wayne movie which he knew would pass any censorship due to his and Dukes impecable reputations.

[jjj]

greenday wrote:

Hmm, what about the violence perpetrated by indigenous peoples on settlers, trappers, and those just passing through? Do we get an apology from the tribes?

Hey Greenday, I'm sorry your ancestors had to come so far from home to intrude on our way of life.

[elvatoloco]

jjj wrote:

<quoted text>
Hey Greenday, I'm sorry your ancestors had to come so far from home to intrude on our way of life.

You native americans think the people of the world owe you something. Until recently your casinos and the caretaking of "motherearth" is appalling. I am an American and I refuse to be included in this blanket apology. Natives continue to the victims of the past, time to grow people. My culture owes you nothing and as history unfolds, it seems that your spiritual values are going out the window by establishing "gaming" as a way of life.

[greenday]

jjj wrote:

<quoted text>
Hey Greenday, I'm sorry your ancestors had to come so far from home to intrude on our way of life.

A stone age culture, meets a culture from the enlightenment.
The hunter gatherers/ raiders couldn't respect the rights of pioneering peoples to pass through. And paid for it with new structures imposed upon their way of life. Whether this is right or wrong, we debate it now.
This is the history of the modern world, and all history for that matter.
More advanced cultures overcome, absorb, and subsume those more primitive.
In the future, our culture and society will no doubt be absorbed by others.
It is evolution.
Are you part of the change, or left to your prayer beads?
The borg always wins.

[The brighter side]

greenday wrote:

<quoted text>
A stone age culture, meets a culture from the enlightenment.
The hunter gatherers/ raiders couldn't respect the rights of pioneering peoples to pass through. And paid for it with new structures imposed upon their way of life. Whether this is right or wrong, we debate it now.
This is the history of the modern world, and all history for that matter.
More advanced cultures overcome, absorb, and subsume those more primitive.
In the future, our culture and society will no doubt be absorbed by others.
It is evolution.
Are you part of the change, or left to your prayer beads?
The borg always wins.

That's right. And now you have casino's, discount gasoline, tax free smokes and a big & tall catalouge in every govt. provided house.

[Richard]

I'm waiting for the Sioux Nation to tender it's APOLOGY to the resident native tribes living on the Great Plains when they, Sioux, moved out of the general region(s) of Wisconsin/Minnesota, & invaded, or is that inhabited, the Great Plains, specifically Nebraska, and pushed, by superior power, the then resident tribe(s) from much of THEIR(?) land(s).

But then of course the tribes that warred against the Sioux, and used their superior numbers/power to push/force them, Sioux, off their land(s) which necessitated the Sioux to migrate to the Great Plains, would need to tender an apology to the Sioux. Me oh my, what a quandary we have; everyone needing to apologize to everyone else.

[LaVerdad]

elvatoloco wrote:

<quoted text>You native americans think the people of the world owe you something. Until recently your casinos and the caretaking of "motherearth" is appalling. I am an American and I refuse to be included in this blanket apology. Natives continue to the victims of the past, time to grow people. My culture owes you nothing and as history unfolds, it seems that your spiritual values are going out the window by establishing "gaming" as a way of life.

Get back on your meds loco.

[jellenp]

Is there an author to this excellent article? It is nowhere to be seen on the on-line version. Wassup??
As far as the "you Indians have casinos now" flap, American manifest destiny took, that is correct, took 90% of Indian territories --their sustainble ways of life--from them. OKAYYY and what has the Desire Machine done with that wealth? I can tell you from experience that there is an unbelievable amount of money to burn--that is the kind of wealth, what is at those casinos. Self-absorbed Americans are reaping what was sowed-greed and selfishness--the subject of the rest of the films. Indians will remain.

[you are absolutly right]

dear VCC why should you expect an apology? Indians were doing quite well before Europeans ( Spain, England, France) stumbled upon the Americas and decided that Native Americans should be Christians ( Spain being the biggest offender) and forced them onto rez's and stripping them of their lands (stealing) in order to advance Europen Megalomania of which you apparently still cling to in your ignorence

[Mike Hall]

There's no need to apologize! The indians got there revenge. Been to a casino lately?

[Doinky]

the Story is the Spaniards were soo sooo sooo nice to their "stone age" Indian converts - if you lived, and you converted to the Diaper Dressed God, you could be buried outside the walls of the church but never in the real graveyard. Then you had to kiss the feet of the ones who killed your family.

Oh yes. we just loooooove the people who think they have given us everlasting life once we are safely tucked in for our eternal dirt nap.

Doesn't bother us a bit if you spent the next 400 years apologizing for your ignorance, violence or stupidity, let alone your narcissistic vision of 'manifest destiny' or the fact that 1000's of years of human history is left out of your history books so you can brainwash your children into perpetuating your sad sack life of guilt and repentence.

So totally, you OWE us. We give you an outlet for your "superior" "moral" conscience to express your guilt, shame and continual need for forgiveness. Your Diaper Man is never happy with you so he gives you Indians to help you remember how deeply pathetic you are.

[Arnoldo]

what about some monetary apology,like was given to the Japanese and jewish people!?

[Arnoldo]

Also,Not all native tribes have casinos.And no we don't get checks from the Govt. every month like some idiots think! And yes we pay taxes!

[Doinky]

How about acknowledging the systemic rape of native culture and RIP OFF of Native assets, crooked dealings from day one. Put us on a Rez, then kick us off, then the invaders decide who still has enough blood to be recognized as a tribe and who is not.

You OWE us. You have handed us the worst your culture has to offer and still we survive. Time to OWN your systemic disenfranchisement, poverty and genocidal acts.

IHS was sterilizing Native women in the 1970's for no other reason than to drop the Native birth rate. Women were sterilized without their knowledge or consent, women were sterilized while undergoing other procedures. For us, the US has been like Hitler - reservations not concentration camps, poverty and discrimmination, not jobs and dignity.

Time for you to OWN it. You survived and prospered by using and abusing us.

500 years' worth of guilt and shame to catch up on, people. 500 years of Reality Check. The only reason you tolerat Nates now is commodif*ckation - we make stuff you can sell so you can show off how 'genuine' you are.

Y'all can stay down on your knees begging your fantasy daddy in the sky for 'forgiveness'.

I ain't gonna give it to you.

[Toucan Tango]

The Indians were saved from decimation by inter-tribal massacres when the peoples from the West took control of the Americas. The "white man" also saved the extiction of several species due to the practices of Indians (most notably the buffalo).

You're welcome.

[Jee sus]

Toucan Tango wrote:

The Indians were saved from decimation by inter-tribal massacres when the peoples from the West took control of the Americas. The "white man" also saved the extiction of several species due to the practices of Indians (most notably the buffalo).
You're welcome.

you are ill-informed! Read a history book sometime.

[Arnoldo]

Toucan anglo is apparently Historically Challenged or talking out of his Rear,! The "white man" ( looks more Pink to me) has been responsible for the extinction of thousands of species and the destruction of hundreds of culture since his accidental landing on this continent! India is on the other side of the planet,,pack up and get it right this time!