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Post by Tara on Sept 11, 2005 9:09:32 GMT -5
I just have a quick question. Why are people still calling Native Americans 'Indians'? I mean, I'm sure many of us know that Columbus made the mistake of thinking that he was in India when in fact he landed in the Virgin Islands (correct me if I'm wrong on that).
But still to this day, we call the natives, 'Indians'. Why?
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Post by Amalcas on Sept 11, 2005 10:37:30 GMT -5
Previously, due to prejudice. Currently, because, if we won't call them by tribal names, they'd prefer "American Indian." My personal theory why is because the new names are "coddling" names, made to "make up for" or "forget" racism. But, of course, it is not them who feel the guilt to do so.......
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Post by ophelia97 on Sept 12, 2005 9:31:26 GMT -5
Many people are ignorant when it comes to those things.
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Post by PhantomsPandora on Sept 12, 2005 12:25:55 GMT -5
sometimes it maybe so, but i'd rather not political correctness come in and mess with history, let it lie there and let the history lesson lie there for all Americans to see.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I apolgize and am editing this post so it makes sense.
What I mean is, sometimes I think that history gets swept up under the rug, especially in what the American government did. I didn't mean to seem like I was condoing anyone to be racially motivated or ignorant..i just think children need to be aware of what went on..what's right about the situation ,what's wrong.
I apologize again for not making any sense. *hits head with mallet*
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Post by Tara on Sept 12, 2005 14:38:43 GMT -5
Huh? That's what the school books are for. You know they still give out books in school that says Indian when refering to...let's say, the Sioux? I just think that eventually people have to move forward in their thinking and not be left so far behind. I agree, history is history. But I think it clearly shows in this use of the language that we are not learning from history.
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Post by cenk on Sept 12, 2005 20:59:31 GMT -5
The Genocide of the Native Americans in North and South America was the worst in History. The amount of deaths suffered by the original peoples of the Americas was immense. Estimates are in the range of 2 to 100 million, I think 2 million dead would be the worst understatement of all time. Well some of you may laugh at suggestions of 100 million but who foresure knows the truth. Its possible that more native Americans died than the total number of deaths attributed to the second world war(including all Civilian deaths).
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Post by cenk on Sept 15, 2005 18:53:43 GMT -5
Oops I think I killed the conversation. Well its hard to reply to the fact that the Native Americans where nearly wiped out.
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Post by Rainlily on Oct 3, 2005 0:12:39 GMT -5
Actually Tara Sioux is also politically incorrect , it's french and means cut throat or cunning, they prefer to be called Lakota....  Indian sadly has been used for so long it's kind of accepted but it shouldn't be, but then I still see people using the word squaw and eskimo, I think in time we may see the usage of these words end, with the exception of a few racist idiots. Think about it wasn't that long ago when using the words, negro and colored people was quite common and accepted...there's hope for us yet. |
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Post by Tara on Oct 3, 2005 11:17:41 GMT -5
Actually Tara Sioux is also politically incorrect , it's french and means cut throat or cunning, they prefer to be called Lakota.... Oops.  I wouldn't have known. We never learned much about the natives in school....In fact, we really don't learn anything.  True... |
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Post by Amalcas on Oct 3, 2005 17:29:16 GMT -5
Just as a note, given the lifestyles of American Indians, 100 million would not have been supported by the continent. However, 2 million deaths is still a gross understatement.
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Post by cenk on Oct 4, 2005 14:45:34 GMT -5
I think the Conclusion is that Western Europeans/the USA were responsible for the deaths of Millions upon Millions of Native Americans and Africans (lets not forget about the deaths slavery brought about).
Yet in the West the life of a Westerner (more specifically a white person is worth more than the life of anyone else). For any doubters let me compare two terrible events. This Afghani Woman lost 9 of her children, they were killed by American forces, let me repeat that so you know its not a typo 9 (nine) of HER CHILDREN where killed during the war. She was offered in total $1000 (one thousand) dollars in compensation by the Americans yeah thats right she got F**k All! The Libyan government paid out $8,000,000 (Eight Million) to Each Family of the 270 dead which comes to a total of over over $2,000,000,000 (Two Billion) according to my calculations.
What kind of justice is that!?
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Post by Tara on Oct 4, 2005 17:19:03 GMT -5
Let's not forget about the 40 acres and a mule to the African slaves of the U.S....you know...the people that never got it.  |
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Post by cenk on Oct 6, 2005 4:56:42 GMT -5
Tara you like sticking your tongue out ( ) at me dont you. But on a serious level, serious crimes against humanity were commited and bugger all has been done in terms of an appology or compensation. I dare anyone to justify the Afgani women who lost her 9 children and got $1000 dollars in compensation with each victim of the Lockerbie bombings each getting $8,000,000. The only answer I have to that is something plain and simple and that is Racism which is still apparent in a country that has sent man to space but can't sort out its own domestic problems. Instead of sort out all their problems at home the USA goes off on adventures of conquest and domination (i.e. Iraq) some Americans even join the Army 'just so they can shot themselves a Arab (you ahab the ayrab). Its a sad indication of the world in which we live. I hear stories of White police men giving a warning shot to a Black criminal by shooting him in the head (wow that some warning shot you know ripping half his head off). When hearing stories about what happened to Black people I'm not supprised if a minority of them would want to skank you, rob you or con you. I'm not trying to start an arguement I'm just trying to point some sad truth of this world out. |
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Post by Tara on Oct 6, 2005 8:48:25 GMT -5
Tara you like sticking your tongue out ( ) at me dont you.  What made you think I was talking directly to you? |
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Post by cenk on Oct 6, 2005 11:06:02 GMT -5
You say 'African slaves' and my post (just before your post) was the first and only post in this thread that mentions Africans that were taken as slaves. So just by that simple analysis I came to the conclusion that you were taking to me.
Sorry if have got the wrong end of the stick but if you weren't talking to me could you please enlighten me to whom were you directing your comment to?
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I wouldn't have known. We never learned much about the natives in school....In fact, we really don't learn anything. 
