Why does this country build statues to lawbreakers?

Question

When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man, She broke the law and due process took place. Martin Luther King Jr. also broke the law and was rewarded with a statue also. I am Indian and my people are still captive and no statue or holiday honors my ancestors. Why don't we have a Chief Joseph Day or a Sitting Bull Day or even a Crazy Horse Day. We are the forgotten people but we are far more nobel then Rosa Parks.

Answer 1

you want a statue? build one and they will come to see it. all us american invaders feel guilty about the indians (native americans) and we love them and their stories and people.
The government does not care about you or us either. they are just a government. They are busy now destroying other races and societies. You must get a process started on internet or whatever to get funds to build a museum or whatever. i am sure millions will support the idea. use people power and you shall have all the statues you want. but do not expect the government that destroyed you to now honor you. they are too prideful. they are no diffferent now than they were back when they invaded your lands.

Answer 2

Captive? You are being held against your will?
Get real. You are more than equal and you want more. Now you want us to make statues? You don't think Crazy horse has been honored enough? Ever been to South Dakota?
What's wrong with honoring Rosa and Martin?
Are you so important that you have to be honored?
How about all the casinos on Indian property?
How about all the oil and mineral royalty's being payed to Indian tribes?
You are already more than equal but that's not enough.

Answer 3

Your point is somewhat valid, but these people are being considered in historical context. If you think about it, this entire country was founded by a bunch of "traitorous lawbreakers".

One thing that the indigenous peoples of North America do have is reservation land that is for most functional purposes an independent and sovereign nation-within-a-nation, with its own government, laws, etc. Certainly, you could build statues to anyone you want, celebrate whatever holidays you think are most appropriate, and enjoy the economic benefits of independence. I know it is a cliche to say that there are casinos and cheap cigarettes on tribal lands, and I am sure there are other economic enterprises in which Native Americans engage, my point is that that measure of independence is an important thing to recognize.

Answer 4

First I think that using those two Civil rights leaders as your examples is in poor taste. I am thinking maybe not enough press/people have raised a voice on Native American Issues/Hero's. Maybe instead of complaining about it you should start your own awareness movement, and get things started in your community. Stop being bitter over the accomplishments of others. MLK & Rosa Parks were arrested over laws that needed to change. In this country we have a provision for that.

Answer 5

As has been pointed out, if you want to get right down to the bare facts, our country is founded on the acts of "lawbreakers." That term is, of course, a relative one - what may have made one a "lawbreaker" a hundred or two hundred years ago may not be seen as such today.

Using your logic, our Founding Fathers were all "lawbreakers" because they broke the King's laws by refusing to pay taxes on tea, for one, and for staging a revolution for another. Had the Revolutionary War been won by the British, I can guarantee you that all of our Founding Fathers would have been hung.

I agree with your sentiment that not enough has been done to recognize the Native Americans, but I disagree with your logic. I suggest that, instead of building casinos on your tribal land in pursuit of the Almighty Dollar that you focus your energies on getting your people recognized. That's what it took with the black community, and that's what it will take with yours.

Answer 6

I grew up on a reservation and can truly say, it is only you who holds yourself captive. Get out and do something instead of blaming your situation on past people or situations. The invasion of America would have happened at some point in history. The Native Americans would never have kept this place to themselves. It is unfair how your people were treated, but at some point you have to get past that and realize those same people are not here now and that that was a long time ago.

Answer 7

This country is filled with people who have backgrounds of exploitation and hardship. From Africans to Chinese to Irish. But we all today have equality of opportunity. We are far from having equality of outcome and probably always will be. There are 365 days in most years and it would probably take them all to recognize every subgroup that has suffered in this country. As far as statues buy a small piece of land and put up a statue to anyone you admire. If you make a popular choice - charge admission.

Answer 8

THAT'S YOUR PERSONAL OPINION. ROSA PARK SAT DOWN FOR WHAT SHE BELIEVED IN. IF NOT FOR ROSA PARKS OR MLK THE AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE MIGHT STILL BE LIVING SEGREGATED. AS FAR AS THE AMERICAN INDIANS ARE CONCERNED THE PEOPLE YOU MENTIONED KILLED FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVED IN. THEY WERE VIOLENT FACTIONS. THE OTHERS PROTESTED PEACEFULLY THEY DID NOT WAGE WAR. THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU MENTIONED WERE ENEMY'S OF AMERICA THEY WERE AT WAR WITH AMERICA. WHY DOESN'T THE NATIVE COMMUNITY HONOR THOSE PEOPLE THEMSELVES? AND AS FAR AS STILL BEING A CAPTIVE THAT'S ALSO A CROCK. THEIR ARE MANY CASINO'S OPENING UP THAT HAVE NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES AT THE HEAD. THEY ARE GETTING RICH BEYOND THEIR WILDEST DREAMS. IF THEY DON'T HELP THEIR OWN PEOPLE THEN THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. THIS IS THE YEAR 2007 WHY HAVEN'T THEY NATIVE INDIANS UNITED AS THE BLACK AMERICANS DID? THE PROBLEMS LAY WITHIN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY.

Answer 9

sounds like you need to go break a law.

who's holding you captive, by the way? Should we call 911?

Indigenous Americans organized into tribes that warred with each other, kept slaves from other tribes, killed women and children, etc. You're just pissed because a bunch of drunken Englishmen came over and were better at it than you.

Answer 10

The Native American statues are much more grand....there is one in Conn called Foxwoods. They are huge monuments to Indian culture.