i mean we called them indians for 400 years! we have become to politcally correct now we can't say the pilgrims ate dinner with the indians. or i hate those dadgum indian casinos they have crappy games!
2006-11-19 10:49:19 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Darn Tootin'!
I went to one of them indian cazeeenos and they took all my money
Calling Indians "native americans" denys us our culture. When Columbus found America he said they were indians. are you going to say columbus is wrong? Because if you are i'm going to have to ask you to step outside and go back to living in whatever ditch you were BEFORE America was found.
2006-11-19 10:57:41 · answer #1 · answered by Zack 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Back in the history of discovering America, explores where trying to circumnavigate around the world to prove that it’s round and not flat. They found India and soon back home (Europe) heard great stories from sailors and explores alike who traveled from India about the wonders of a unique place—species, new kind of animals and culture. So another explorer, eager to find this magical place but instead found the “New World”, America. Hence they named the natives there “Indians” thinking they were in India.
Technically they are not Indians. But along the time of history, both sides grew fearful of opposite sides and became violent. The term Indian was prejudicially used, like an insult or something. Some natives until to day may sound to them offensive, considering the long history.
2006-11-19 19:01:17 · answer #2 · answered by Awesome 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Native Americans were originally called Indians because Columbus first thought he had sailed all the way around the world to India - he did not know about this giant land mass between Spain and India (remember they previously thought the world was flat). So the bottom line is that they are not indians - they seem more a mix of Asian and Eskimo to me - and they prefer to be called Native Americans and not get mixed up with another Nationality and culture.
Peace!
2006-11-19 18:52:44 · answer #3 · answered by carole 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The reason that it is inappropriate to call Native Americans Indians is because it would be perpetuating an error that Christopher Columbus made when he came to this country. Europeans did not know that North and South America lay between Spain and the Indies. When he landed in North America, he thought he was in India, and thus called the inhabitants Indians. We know today of course that he was incorrect, therefore calling Native Americans Indians is about as stupid as going to Korea and calling them Chinese because you though you were in China.
2006-11-19 18:57:25 · answer #4 · answered by cudancegirl1 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is inappropriate because they are not Indians. Indians, by definition of the word, are the inhabitants of a land named India. Native Americans were inhabitants of the continent named America, not India. Therefore, Indians is not the correct term.
2006-11-19 18:52:48 · answer #5 · answered by Sir Guardian 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The term "indian" means a person who comes from India. When Christopher Columbus came here, he thought he was in India and that is why he called them that. It's offensive to them, because they didn't come from India. They came from here, which is why they are Native Americans.
2006-11-19 18:52:46 · answer #6 · answered by Brittany W 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
because it sounds ignorant they lived in what is called north america so why would you call them indians when indians live in INDIA!!!! so Native American would seem like the more correct term because they are "natives" to the American land!!! Plus ppl just want to use a more shortened term so they say indian but it is offensive!
2006-11-19 18:53:30 · answer #7 · answered by Courtney R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it isnt political correctness,its geographical correctness !they're not from india! they never were!columbus had no idea where he was,he thought he was in india,so he called the native americans "indians".the mistake persisted for 400 years,but in the interests of geography,a sorely neglected subject,lets correct it .if u live in new hampshire,but someone is lost,comes to ur house and calls u "a guy from massachusetts"-do u say<"dude!this is new hampshire!"or,do u just keep letting him think ur from mass.?
2006-11-19 18:55:14 · answer #8 · answered by Lyn K 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Indians are From India. When Christopher Columbus came over he thought he had landed in India, and saw the "Indians" that is why they have been called as such for all these years.
2006-11-19 18:51:57 · answer #9 · answered by Lilat180 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i dont know what to call them. Native American just seem to be a hush-up alternative to Indian. Anyone can be a Native American, h*** all American born people are Native American. Though Indians are from India.
2006-11-19 18:52:48 · answer #10 · answered by ♣DreamDancer♣ 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋