JKLivin wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 10:48 am
jfish26 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 10:28 am
KUTradition wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 10:11 am
we should be celebrating and honoring native peoples and their heritage, not continuing the centuries-long cultural (and literal) genocide that has been visited upon them
their story, and history, is every bit as important as yours (or mine). calling their history a fiction, to me, is denigrating and inhumane
“we” should do better. “we” should expect and demand better
The problem here is that there are, on things like this, two (or more!) related conversations happening at the same time, and one of those conversations - which is as nuanced and challenging and sensitive of a conversation as we have in this country - tends to send everyone careening off into outer space.
On
that particular conversation, I find it extremely disingenuous (heh) for the groups who have historically benefited from prior bad acts to declare themselves the sole arbiters of when it's time to "move on" and "focus on the future."
That, to me, feels like pulling up the ladder behind you. And I consider that to be inconsistent with our founding principles.
My response would be simple:
a.) I am not responsible for these atrocities.
b.) I refuse to pay reparations (monetary or otherwise) for these atrocities.
c.) I am tired of hearing about these atrocities.
My three older children all have a sufficient amount of Cherokee heritage that they received letters notifying them that they were eligible for medical and financial benefits from the government. To their credit, all three said "I would rather succeed or fail on my own. No one owes me anything. No, thank you."
1) nobody said you were responsible (instance 1 of making this about you)
2) nobody said anything about reparations (instance 2 of you making this about you)
3) (speaks for itself, and the third instance of making this about you)
do you think you personal, likely fabricated, anecdote gives you some sort of street cred? you should tell your “kids” that you’re sick of hearing about their heritage, and the difficulties their ancestors faced, largely through no fault of their own
if you truly empathize with the plights of native peoples, and agree that they and their histories should be celebrated, you could’ve just said as much
alas…