I know it's in the past and all but how do u Americans feel about almost erasing America's native race?

Answer 1

Being a Native American, I don't want anymore White Guilt. People today can not change the past. However, many problems still exist. Terrible conditions on the Reservation, low education, and alcoholism run rampant. If Americans truly want to help, they should get in contact with their local Indian Affairs office or Tribal Council, and find out how they can donate to the Tribe. Did you know that to be considered Native American, I have to carry a card? I had to prove my geneology to get it. Do you know of any other race that has to PROVE itself? Did you know that Native Americans are losing culture and language everyday? Young people cannot afford to stay on the reservation. There is no work, no money, no food. Did you know that not all Tribes signed a treaty and therefore not all tribes are recognized by the US? Did you know that the US has decided not to recognize any new members of the Native Tribes? Educate, then Liberate.

In response to sitboy:
No, you shouldn't feel responsible. But Native Americans were not warlike people. They were nomads for the most part. They stayed away from other tribes. And advancement? We were not immune to the diseases the Europeans brought. Thankfully, our numerous deaths meant we weren't fit for slavery. Unfortunatley, our inability to cope with small pox and our ignorance of guns and Christian law, made us 'savage' and 'primitive'. We were 'primitive' enough to be wiped out. And not just by whites. That is why White Guilt is so silly. Many came here, many killed. Native Americans ran this country, this continent. And they did it without violence and pollution........ without 'civility'. We were balanced. Our culture has not been preserved on the reservations. As I already stated, the young are moving away. They are not learning the language or history anymore.

Fun Fact:
Until 1990, there were still laws prohibiting Native Americans from talking together without an interpretor if anyone else was in the room.

Sitboy:
Don't worry about it. I may sound harsh, but that's the problem with type instead of face to face discussions. I married a Brit, so obviously I'm not holding a grudge! :D

Answer 2

Really, what we did was horrible, but its no different than most countries. Other countries, such as Mexico, Taiwan, almost every where did it. Americans get more blame, but other countries have a worst past then us. Look at Austrilia, the treatment of the native people is much worse, they are only expected to live to 22, because of the bad conditions they still live in.

The truth is, how do you think the Native Americans got so much land. They fought war and killed other tribes (though not as bad as early setterlers)to becomes more powerful, the way I see it, the early settelers just did the same thing. Even though I am America, my ansestors did not come here untill the 1990s, so my anesetors were not responisle for it, so it makes me mad when people say "The white man" storle the land. Even people whos ansestors did it should not feel responible, because they did not do it. I think that America should be more in tuned with nature like Native Americas, and I wish we would respect the land like they did.

Still, the way I see it, the native americans did the same thing that early setterlers did, the only difference was that they were not as good at it, or they would still be here in vast amounts. Other people were more advanced.

I do belive that the goverment should help with the problmes facing the Native Amsericas. Things such as better conditiond on reservations (though most dont live on them) is a must, but at least the culture and history is peverved, but we could and must do better. As for having to prove your race, i think that is wrong. We also should try to save the lanuage. I hope my above statments did not seem ignorant, but they are the truth. Still, I think that they should just become part of america, and not try for sepertism, becuase this country is ment for everyone to

And to Ananke402, i see your point, and I hope i did not try to seem as though I was underminding the plite of Native Amercias, things such as the trail of tears were horrible, and the early Americans did go over borad, and I also understand that many Native Americans were peaceful. What i said might have seemd wrong, so I am sorry if I offended you, and i never knew the things you said about having to carry a card.

Answer 3

It's a tragedy beyond words. All over the world, destruction of indigenous population and/or culture has been the Caucasian legacy. I'm sure that whites are not the only race that has committed genocide. But we've been pretty consistent about it.

Our approach to the middle east continues in this tradition. Here comes the great white warrior who has no compassion for other people. Here he comes with a cross in one hand and a bomb in the other. The hypocrisy is almost as terrible as the mass murder.

I have quite a few Native American friends. There is no consolation possible for the destruction of their culture. Running the reservations under the authority of the Bureau of Indian Affairs is like allowing the KKK to govern the black ghettos.

My heart is broken by man's inhumanity to man, but that doesn't change very much of what we've done. I don't feel guilty. I feel concerned about what we will do next.

Answer 4

It is a sad era in the history of America that the native peoples were treated so badly. It was all about greed, a hunger for the land, and at that time there were too few people with the conscience to stand up and say this is wrong, it must stop. The few who protested were merely ignored.

The natives were depicted by many newspapers as violent and dangerous. That helped convince the public opinion they were the problem. Not the whites who were driving the natives off land their ancestors had lived on for generations. The natives were made to appear savage for trying to defend their land. Then the ultimate insult was to place them on reservations as if they were animals that needed to be controlled.

I have witnessed the efforts of the Cherokee to preserve their heritage and skills. I visited a village in Cherokee, North Carolina and saw first hand how they built their houses and the tools they used. There are groups now singing popular songs in Cherokee and writing many songs of their own.

During world war 2, I know of Navajo natives who sent and received radio messages that the Japanese could not translate. There is something very distinct about their language that could not be broken down by the usual methods of decoding. I find it admirable they would willingly serve a country that had abused their ancestors. Their contribution helped to end the war sooner.

The saddest thing about this mentality is that it still happens today. Saddam Hussein wanted to annihilate the Kurds, he used nerve gas on them. There were tribes in Africa that recently tried to wipe out others. In Serbia there were people who committed genocide on others of different beliefs. The leader of Iran has publicly stated he wants to wipe Israel off the map. There are still those in power who have the same mentality and it is saddening to think the human race has not progressed much beyond the practices of ancient Europe.

Answer 5

Americans of today had no control over what happened in the past. It was a terrible time in America (Trail of Tears) etc. I believe the majority of Americans of today feel the same. I can only hope that through the study of history and continued education we are not only evolving as Americans but as human beings.

Answer 6

Can you imagine? The Native Americans had no technology to foretell the end of their world. WE all have those threats all the time and lull ourselves to believe it won't happen. The Native American's lived through that. It may happen to us. Coz what comes around goes around. But I had a thought the other day about American Indians vs. Mexican Indians. I thought, Mexicans are Indians. All that separated them from Native American Indians is a line?

Answer 7

According to genetics native American Indians aren't really native anyway. They migrated here from other countries and co-mingled. Some say Vikings and Asians mostly. As for any erasing many of us do that very well on our own. Much of our history can attributed to these people. Now the Indian casinos are getting some of their pride back. They are survivors and one day we'll need them more than we realized. Father Sky Mother Earth....who told them that?

Answer 8

It is not something that is in the public eye. No one talks about it anymore. Which doesn't make it right. It is under the raider. The Native Americans are on reservations and are largely ignored by the average American. I personal feel terrible about it.

Answer 9

If we didn't do it, someone else would have.
Most of the native americans died from European diseases. There's no way that the Americas could have gone forever without encountering people from the western world.

So, basically, f-ck 'em. If god wanted them to live, he would have made them immune to European disease and made the Europeans get sick from the American diseases.

Answer 10

i feel like it should never happen or be discussed