What event in the past do you think was the most shameful in U.S. history?

Question

I believe it was slavery.....What else do you guys think? Sorry if i'm being too vauge, answer however you'd like.

Answer 1

I knew I shouldn't have opened this question. Ok.... Probably our treatment of the indiginous peoples who inhabited this continent before our forefathers showed up with their arrogant disregard for everything that was different from what they were used to. We didn't invent slavery and it was here well before we became a country (Even some Native American tribes practiced it well before we showed up). I agree that slavery is reprehensible and should have been stopped well before it was but that still doesn't rank with our worst crime of genocide against those that lived here first.
The arrogance of ignorance still is our own worst enemy and still leads us down paths that we shouldn't be on. History has always shown us this but we still haven't learned from it. The petty squabbles over Pres. Clinton vs. Pres. Bush don't mean **** in the long run of things. The ignorance of my fellow citizens saddens me greatly. We will never rise above this kind of trash and be the people we truely could be if we keep ourselves mired in the petty BS we seem to have been stuck in for the last 40 years or so (actually hundreds of years. We learn slow but we do learn.) It's not about Conservatism vs Liberalism, it's not about Christian values, it's about what is right! It's about the freedom of all people to live their lives as they see fit as long as they hurt no-one but themselves. It's about social evolution. Sorry for using the E word all you Fundys but it's the truth. It's about making a difference in your life and the lives of those around you for the betterment of all. But... it's not about forcing your opinion down their throats!

Answer 2

You could say the way we treated the Indians, Slavery, or anyone in particular. You have to take those in respect to the times. I would say our most embarrassing day in history, is the Son My Massacre in the Viet Nam War. At that time in History, our country had matured into a Civilized nation, and that was the most horrible thing our nation could be associated with.

Answer 3

i imagine the issue is even as some people attempt to impose their beliefs onto others.that is so risky. in case you've faith operating example that africans are retarded and favor to take area contained in the more advantageous monetary device, why do you position a lot rigidity on them purely so that they are obliged to affix capitalism. that is an similar issue for the duration of slavery (they managed to instruct that a race is better to a special), the holocaust (jews must be exterminated lower than what foundation? purely God is familiar with...) etc... we could continually give up questioning that we are more effective than others.

Answer 4

The adoption of slavery and the belief that it was Ok is most shameful,,,, and to note answer number one,,, and as a mixed NATIVE,,, WE too were enslaved, and subject to the general category,,, Thank you for mentioning it.

Thank you Questioner, for bringing it up.

Steven Wolf

Just an aside,,,, many are "enslaved" within the context of relationships as well.

Answer 5

I have to agree with the majority, and say it's the way (through the years) other races/cultures have been treated. Slavery, treatment of Native Americans, Japanese American citizens during WWII, segregation....etc, etc, etc. Even to this very day.

Answer 6

I think the most shameful event in US history was the dropping of nuclear weapons on the innoncent civillians of Japan.

Answer 7

While a lot of things qualify, I think the greatest injustice, and the saddest was what is called "The Cherokee Removal," by whites and "The Trail of Tears," by the Indians. These people were trying to mainstream it was nothing but a land grab. My father would refer to the double dealing by the whites as "a prick's trick," that is about as dirty a trick as you can have.

Answer 8

Without question, without challenge. the most shameful event in US History comes from the US Supreme Court.

The event, the decision of Roe v. Wade, has already cost millions and millions of American lives, and in the future, millions of more American lives.

Answer 9

I think it was the victimization of the Native Americans. Far worse in scope and scale than slavery.

Answer 10

Well that certainly was shameful, yes, but so was the treatment of the native American Indians. Unfortunately, there's a few to choose from.