Fellow R&Sers, can you believe that anyone could be this ignorant of history?

Question

Am I taking this too seriously?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ak1KT458xJzhNZ4fEUk_OPXd7BR.;_ylv=3?qid=20071021145912AAYj1wT

This person has obviously never heard of the cultural and religious genocide perpetrated against the Native American peoples... or perhaps she just doesn't care. What are your thoughts? Is this insensitive, or just good Halloween fun?

EDITED TO ADD: She reposted the same question here, apparently proofread:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=As8_AV4_sNLKUZX350coFTfd7BR.;_ylv=3?qid=20071021151034AA3Ms00

EDITED TO ADD 2: The first version of the question has been deleted.

EDITED TO ADD 3: I missed how young she is on the first pass. Still, now's the time for her to learn that this sort of thing is not acceptable to some people, and the reasons why -- at least, in my opinion.

In response to Jonathan... and I come from Manitoba, Canada, where the NA/European conflict is VERY much a part of our culture. We had these lovely little institutions called the residential schools, where NA children were forcibly removed from their families and sent to learn how to be "properly adjusted people" -- that is, to become as much like Europeans as possible. They were beaten, starved, and horribly treated at these religious institutions.

So please, although you mean well, do not lecture me on the nature of NA/European relations. I have seen the results up close and personal, and in my opinion those Christians were pretty much in the wrong, at least from a modern perspective.

Answer 1

Okay, now. First of all, I asked that question. I *can* locate Canada on the map, thank you. I am not insensitive or naive. I'll have you know that I didn't think of that topic myself. Some other people from my class did, and we considered it just because we didn't have anything better.
Apparently, no one really thought it through enough.
I'm extremely glad I asked about it on here (*reluctantly leaves out information about people who bashed me in rude ways... they could have at least said it in a nicer way. I actually do agree with them, but I know most people wouldn't. If you go against people like that, they ARE going to get defensive.*), and I contacted my teacher yesterday with this information and some better possible themes for our Trunk-or-Treat.

When I posted that question, I was merely looking for opinion on what we could to do better our exhibit, and seriously got the most unexpected answers!
Through my anger, everyone, please hear me out. I really am sorry. I learned a lot from it, and others will, too. I'm thinking about deleting that question, but I'm certainly not going to forget about it.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for letting me know how inappropriate that theme is (even though most of ya came on quite hard).

Please realize that some 13 year olds are not as... unaware as you may think. Maybe that's called patronizing? I remember, when I was a few years younger, people only a year older than me calling me young and all that just because they were older. That's one thing I've always tried not to do to people younger than me. It's not hard to resist, either!

In conclusion, I wasn't sure, when I posted this, if I was doing so to defend myself or to apologize. Since writing this has provoked much thought inside my head, I now know that answer: I posted this to apologize. You guys have all made me aware that I need to choose another theme... and, more importantly, about an important genocide in history not to be taken lightly.

Answer 2

Yeah, many times no longer for snarkiness, yet purely by way of fact i found out i did no longer have considered one of those competent answer interior the 1st place. Oh, definite, and for people who have not got self belief that snarky *is* a actual word: :) Merriam-Webster on line Dictionary~ substantial get admission to: snarky Pronunciation: ?snär-k? function: adjective Etymology: dialect snark to harass, in line with probability alteration of nark to annoy Date: 1906 a million : crotchety, snappish 2 : sarcastic, impertinent, or irreverent in tone or way — snark·i·ly -k?-l? adverb

Answer 3

I come from the culturally diverse nation called Texas, where the whole "cowboys and Indians" thing is a huge part of our history. I can tell you this: the genocide went both ways. The Apache committed genocide on the weaker natives of what is now Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. When Spanish and mestizo (the brown-skinned, Spanish-speaking folk inappropriately called "Hispanics") settlers showed up, they were slaughtered by the Apache as well (not to mention many settlers who were eaten by the coastal natives). Now many folks will say that the white men (and the not-so-dark brown men) were moving in on their territory. Most of the time, "their territory" meant "in their way" as they moved to follow game or to sack another village. Obviously, the Mexican vaqueros won. Later, the Texan Nationalists won. Later, the Unionists won. The cowboys and Indians theme is fine. It's like playing knights and dragons. The kids aren't thinking about it in terms of genocide. It would be noteworthy to add that the cowboys and Indians theme is quite popular in Germany, but in their favorite novels and plays, the Indians win. Many times, the Natives did win. But in the end, they lost. Had they won, we'd all be sitting around lamenting the genocide of the Spanish at the hands of the cruel Apache, demanding reparations for the deaths of our Mexican ancestors.

Answer 4

Thank you for bringing this question to my attention. No, you are not over reacting or taking this too seriously. Your answer was great!

Believe me, people (young and old) are still VERY ignorant regarding the treatment of American Indians. The ignorance and racism was so rampant in my state (Wisconsin) that the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction had to enact a law (known as Act 31) which required educators to get educated on Indian history and culture and mandates that accurate lessons on tribal history and culture be taught at grades 4, 8 and 10.

I taught on an Indian reservation for 18 years. In addition to cultural genocide, the disproportionate number of American Indian deaths due to poor prenatal care, suicide, drinking and diabetes compared to mainstream America, leads me and many others who work (or have worked) on the reservations to conclude that the genocide continues. I have spent most of my professional and personal life educating people--young and old alike.

Thanks again for your response to the original question AND for bringing it to my (our) attention. Blessed Be.

Answer 5

I think that young people now don't really have any idea of how horrible the genocides of the past were. This girl probably didn't mean to be so callous, but she should have had some idea of history. At my school, we have a Jewish club, and a few days ago I heard a boy joking that he was going to attend one of their meetings in a shirt reading "I love Auschwitz". I was horrified that anyone could be so insensitive. Luckily, a teacher heard, and had a talk with him, but I think that people are more sheltered in this generation.

Answer 6

You're clearly over reacting, and so are a lot of other people apparently -- I guess it a sign of societies loss of sanity...

The kids ideas sound fine to me!!! I for one am not ignorant of history -- I know my history, and fortunately for me I have too much good sense to care. Nina's right that this has nothing to do with genocide. Let them have their fun!

I can't believe Yahoo answers would stoop so low as to actually delete this!!! With such censorship, is there any freedom left? I guess if one person doesn't like it it just goes for fear of political embarrassment. Just grow up and get a life everyone!

Answer 7

She sounds like a teen ager and they are so self absorbed that if they heard anything about this history, it probably just went right over thier heads. Unless it is clothes, boys and driving cars, they don't absorb it. We can hope that they have adults in charge at this function that will see it for what it is and explain to them that it isn't right but depending on where she is, I wouldn't hold my breath.

Answer 8

Great question, the forefathers of this United States, told us that Christopher Columbus discovered this great land, due to the fact that he thought he was in India. Therefore the "Indians" who met him had no idea, they lived here, in India.

The forefathers called the salvage beast, who had no religion so they gave them a religion which stole their lands, and killed them. They broke promise after promise after promise. and were called white man who speaks with "fork tongue".

The forefathers founded this nation on it desire for riches, mammon.

Answer 9

Yes, she is a little child,I just made a suggestion to Her maybe
everyone should give Her Ideas.

Answer 10

we cant please every may be she just made an honest mistake I didn't even under stand her question it had to much detail in it and it was indirect so to give an opion on a question I cant there is to much room for interpretation so as to your question I would say that her question is un answerable there for its a dumb question