I have a lot of American Indian blood in me and wonder?

Question

if as a result, I should be treated differently from everyone else by our Presidential candidates or different political parties. After all, this land that was stolen, belonged to the Indians, you have taken my property.

I don't live on a reservation, I've taken every opportunity to better myself because it's there... but still, I have that heritage. I work for a living and pay taxes.... but still.....

Should I be pandered to and expect special treatment because of my heritage? Should you people pay a debt to me forever, for something that you personally have had nothing to do with? Or, shall we all accept the fact that we're equal and move on in life?

Answer 1

What never ceases to amaze me, is that the radical left cannot identify irony...or sarcasm....and they really, really should.

I myself, have used it abundantly.

I have American Indian blood from both my mothers and my fathers side...as well as English...and French Irish...

Since I am not royalty. I can safely assume that my forefathers were lower class, even surfs...I don't see England paying me reparation. And no one is offering to buy me stock in potatoes for the pain the blight caused my ancestors....

Your point was well taken. If you are the mindset that someone owes you something....you can look far enough into your past and find some disservice that was unfairly perpetrated against at least one branch of your family tree...

Just get over it....stand on your own two feet...take responsibility for your own actions....and don't expect anything you are not willing to work for.

Answer 2

You should ask yourself how, if ever, you were discriminated against in a way that injured you, because of your Indian bloodlines. Or rather have you benefitted from them. Every race and ethnic group has been mistreated at some time in the past. Even among the American Indian tribes before the whiteman came to America there was raiding, looting and conquest of lands. Should they have to repay one tribe to the other, if so, for how long. No country in history has ever done as much to further equality as the U.S.A. and yet many groups still bash and hate the U.S.A. even though it is one of the few places where there cause could even be entertained. I say, bury the past and make the most of your life with all the blessings you have.

Answer 3

All I ever keep hearing is the same old blah blah about how the white man stole everything from the Indians.
Is there anybody left with enough courage and brains and objectivity to do the real research, and discover that there were plenty of north American native bands of people that readily adapted and assimilated western European forms of everything from farming to fishing and got along quite fine with everybody to the point of becoming wealthy land owners, business men, and yes even slave holders?
This is just another example of what we are not supposed to know, we are just supposed to nod along with the general perception of evil explotation by the west. I for one, and I don't think I am alone on this, am sick and tired of what passes for historical representation and "facts" of history.
Either we can have all of the truth, or we can let the hate mongers that not only infiltrate our politics, but also lay claim to that which is called "public education" dictate whatever they decide is politically correct for their own self importent ends.

Answer 4

I accept the gist of what you are saying that we're equal and should move on in life,

and agree entirely that politicans need to not pander,

I would say while I have more to say on the subject adding more isn't neccessary for this forum or specific to the question, but if I see a follow up from you I might take a swing

Answer 5

well, first off... there are programs that are open to you...

and the Indians basically had everything taken from them and were forced to move into lands that barely had the ability to sustain them... and were never given any real decent educational incentives or abilities...

it sounds like you've lived as a white person, you've never had to struggle and you've had the opportunity for every educational opportunity...

and you don't realize that many aren't as lucky as you and those opportunities are available to everyone...

ever been to a reservation? you don't sound like you have...

maybe you should visit and look at what's going on there... look at the situation... is that fair and do they have equal opportunities?

pandered to and given equal opportunity are two different things...

Answer 6

The reason this sort of thinking will not change is people see it as being in their best interest to continue using minority status as a political tool.
I do believe this further fragments our society. It would be a very useful weapon in keeping eveyone squabbling amongst themselves rather than uniting politically.
The notion of a melting pot society is falling to the wayside and small groups which are actually how human beings relate best are becoming more powerful.

Answer 7

How is it when its a liberal native American, the liberals say exactly what you are saying, but when you say it, the try and tell you that you are not an Indian, not because they know, but because there apparently cant be any conservative Indians or something.
They say that it would be impossible to pay you back, and say that you are now trying to pretend to be a victim.
How is it that they back up other native Americans when they want to attack the government and the administration, but when you feel like we are supposed to be equals, then you must have something wrong with you, or not even be native American.
Shows you how unbiased they really are.

Answer 8

We're all related and come from all the same blood.
In theory, it's near impossible for anybody to not be related. It takes 200 years for 1000 families to assimilate each other. Mathematically speaking. But according to nearly all religions, we all came from a few or one blood line. And in the case of a few bloodlines, intermarriage takes care of that.

Genetically speaking, all humans share 1 ancestor (traced by mitochondria DNA). That means we all share the same great grand grand grand...grand mother (I don't know about the paternal line. mitochondria are exclusively inherited from the mother)

So I say we all just move on. I'm not saying what happened in the past was bad - it was - but are concerns should be with the future, for it is that which effects us.

Answer 9

I get what you're saying. I suppose I could say, my ancestors did not "steal" the land from yours because we weren't even here yet, therefore I don't owe you a thing, so exclude me.

With that being said, I agree with your point that we should "accept the fact that we're equal and move on in life."

If we look behind instead of looking ahead we'll never make progress.

Answer 10

Let's move on. Paying back everyone our ancestors have wronged would create an impossibly large list. Plus, where do you draw the line? Do Jews demand Egyptians pay them for their Biblical enslavement? When has enough time passed? Plus, besides being impractical, it would lead to all kinds of fraud. Not to mention my ancestors were still in Europe when all that went down. Should I be responsible because I have similar genetics to people who committed atrocities in a region into which I later moved?