I live around a very large population of Native Americans. Does it bother you that they get Indian Housing at low prices, discounted vehichle tags, healthcare, etc??
I know that a long time ago they had some very terrible things happen, but is America going to be paying them back forever??
[edit] I am in no way racist against Native Americans or any race…I have heard a lot of people not agree with the things they receive and I am just wondering what others think.
I agree we did royally screw them in the past. But I also agree that every race has gone through some really crappy times, and been put through hell and back. Where I live the houses are VERY nice, they have great job oppurtunities paying very good wages, the facilities they have access to are wonderful. I guess it just feels like it isn’t REALLY equal sometimes.
I think people do deserve to be repayed for bad things that happened to them, but how far do you go?
So just wondering…..do Jewish people get paid back from Germans???
I guess they should if we are trying to be fair.
and the estimated reparations owed to Native Americans is over 100 trillion dollars…so 1 billion dollars to the Jews doesn’t really compare.
I do not like whenever aid is distributed by anything other than need.
If people are being given aid simply because they are Indians, then that is wrong. If they are receiving aid because they are in need and many of those receiving aid happen to be Indians, then no problem.
The government should in no way address a race of people. In no way. Racism is based upon dividing people up based on race. So long as the government does so, racism will always have a baseline.
March 9th, 2010 at 6:58 am
No. We royally screwed them.
Do the Jews get payed back? It’s called Israel. Ever heard of it?
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 7:15 am
It doesn’t sound like equal treatment under the law to me.
———————
I didn’t "screw" them and I don’t think you can find one Native American alive who had any land taken from them by the government.
We need to stop having Group entitlements and collectivism.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 7:33 am
No. Although, I do not believe in affirmative action.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Nope
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 8:31 am
No as long as it shuts them up i’m happy! It only bothers me when they complain even more!
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 9:13 am
No, it doesn’t bother me. We did steal an entire country from them, you know!
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 9:32 am
it doesn’t bother me at all… they’re the ones that were here first and we’re the ones putting them in reservations… that doesn’t seem fair
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 10:01 am
I agree. It’s time for America to be truly equal.
My mom says that her boss doesn’t know how to do anything, and yet she got that position just because she’s a Native. I don’t have a problem with Native Americans, nut I am tired of all the injustices.
Thumbs down? Hmmm…Let’s see, my mom is a manager at the casino. She has worked in the casino for a very long time.
This chick used to be a cop. The only reason she works at the casino is because she got scared on her last job. She doesn’t know a single game. You think that’s fair?
If it was me, I’d be flipping her off by now.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Native Americans have been and still are screwed over in so many ways. So no I think its a good thing.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 10:55 am
Nope. Does it bother you that so many native americans were brutally killed in a massacre just for land when there turned out to be so much more.
and no im not native american.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 11:28 am
The terrible things done to them "a long time ago" have lead to terrible things today.
So no, I’m not bothered. There is very little that we could ever do to make up for the vile things we did to them in their past. I think giving them a break on registering their vehicles is the least we can do for taking away their land, infecting them with diseases, massacring them and driving them into alcoholism and poverty.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 11:51 am
well, if it’s because of what we did to them hundreds of years ago, shouldn’t all black people have cheaper things, too? We really screwed them, too.
the irish people, for that matter, would deserve some breaks
and what about the people who just immigrated from other countries, and whose ancestors weren’t a part of all that stuff? they probably shouldn’t be punished.
pretty much, I think we should just start over with everybody equal.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
it doesnt bother me on a huge scale, but i dont like that we have to keep paying them back – they need to get over it. it happened, they live here now, so let them cry, it was their land in the beginning, true enough – but everyone has faced hard times as a race since the beginning of this nation.. im irish, and just behind me is a sign reading ‘ no irish need apply ‘ dated 9.11, 1915. i dont get paid back for shit. i dont want to be, all i want is to be a part of this country.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Well you did take there entire country not to mention murdering alot of them when they defended there land after they were peaceful at first.
very fair.
also gotta love the way people say THEM and THEY arn’t they americans too? borderline racisim?
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
No. Indian reservations have some of the worst poverty in the US. No jobs, lousy housing and poor medical care. Their life expectancy is about 15 years less than other Americans.
Believe me, you would not want to trade places with them
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
I do not like whenever aid is distributed by anything other than need.
If people are being given aid simply because they are Indians, then that is wrong. If they are receiving aid because they are in need and many of those receiving aid happen to be Indians, then no problem.
The government should in no way address a race of people. In no way. Racism is based upon dividing people up based on race. So long as the government does so, racism will always have a baseline.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
No, it doesn’t I am part Native American. What happened may have been a long time ago but that doesn’t mean we should just forget it happened. I get no discounts.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
If somebody had murdered your civilization would that not anger you to the greatest extent imaginable, no matter how long ago it happened wouldn’t you desire retribution forever?
References :
I am Ute
March 9th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Take away the entitlements and give them back their land, and I’m sure they’ll call it even.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
No I don’t! We stole their land, tried to completely erase their culture, put them on land that was worthless for them to live on and destroyed everything they cherished along with the land we stole! All after they taught us how to live here! We should pay forever!! We can never do enough to make up for what we did to them!
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
And just what have Native Americans been paying for since the arrival of the white man to this continent?
Oh, no. You’re not racist. And George W. Bush belongs on Mt. Rushmore.
ADD: In 1951, the government of West Germany paid over one billion dollars in compensation to Israel. You can look it up.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Katie since you bring up the jews.. think.. Egypt was forced to let them go by Moses. They were slaves. Egypt is now basically muslim. By your reasoning Egypt owes the hebrew peoples a huge debt. but one that truly can never be repaid. Never ever. Your premise is "nice" but it lacks the depth of history.
people forget that probably the mayans were here before any of us.. they are now extinct. Do we owe them reparations? No. If everyone starts wanting "payback" no one will have anything. I owned no slaves. I sold none, bought none, used none, have never known any. I am an American born here, raised here and this is my country… and all of ours…not for the special interests of anyover and above or below anyone else. I owe no one any reparations except God. Same as anyone else.
References :
If we truly want to go backward to see who owes whom.. lets look to the , the birthplace of mankind.
here is a very interesting link for anyone who would like it. Because of it.. I believe the answer to this girls question is.. AFRICA OWES ALL OF US… NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND AS SOME IN AMERICA SEEM TO SUGGEST.
http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/journey/
Other links suggest the Euphrates valley may be the birthplace of mankind. The river is right between the Saudis and Asia. No one is sure. The point is.. we all owe each other respect as humans not to own one another and to give each other a fair chance and to help the disabled, the ill, the very old and the orphaned.
It is good to remember our history as mankind. Hopefully that means we do NOT repeat severe mistakes.
If people are this concerned about slavery on this planet..it would be NICE to see people work on stopping it ON THIS PLANET NOW as Islamic countries all still allow slavery from the very young to the very old. Women are considered property of their male relatives and must obey them at all times. Women under Islamic control are subjected to dehumanizing propoganda even as we speak that teaches them they are worth half as much as a man and yet it is good for them.
Mankind must learn to make sense of its demands on others. Reparations just are not enough. High expectations of love and friendship and mercy are what we all need.
March 9th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Nope not one damn bit, after what was done to them, its the least that came be done.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
If you beleive in total equality then I can see how you could be bothered by it. Why should a native american man get a discount on rent while you have to pay full?
There is a reason though that the Native Americans need those breaks though. The vast majority of Native American populations in the U.S. are very poor. Most of the tribes, with the exception of the Seminole, have terrible problems with poverty and addiction to meth. If you are familiar with their culture, it is understandable how they could become so depressed, because we moved them off their land, which was like their connection in the circle that is all. If the Native Americans can get back on their feet, then possibly they would not need these discounts. But until then, since it is becoming harder and harder to keep a living these days, they need the discounts. I wish and I’m sure that they wish that they didn’t have to use them, but they do, and I’m happy to give it to them so that we can restore balance to our society and get rid of poverty.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Not really!
I don’t think you are racist either.
I guess the question is "Why were these policies instituted in the first place?".
The answer to that is to reduce the definite income, distribution of poverty and wealth gap in the United States.
The numbers do not lie. The fact of the matter is that for one reason or the other there is an income and wealth disparity carved along racial lines in the United States. This is not really a news flash to anyone in the U.S. The income and wealth gap between races has evidently been closing since the civil rights movement in the 50s, but it still exists.
Societies with a poverty gap between races like the one that exists in the U.S always experience a certain degree of tension. This tension is only natural and occurs in every country or society.
Programs like the ones mentioned above are designed to reduce and ultimately eliminate this income/wealth disparity and are in the interest of the society in the long run.
Maybe you need to stop looking at it as an "US" paying "THEM" for what "WE" did to "THEM" many years ago, and instead look at it as one of the many policies the government perform to try to improve society as a whole.
If it makes you feel any better, I was born and raised in a country where I belonged to one of the dominant (economically) tribes. To heal ethnic tensions between tribes, our Federal Government institutes similar economic programs to aid individuals from less wealthy tribes (ie Free higher education, schorlarships, subsidized health care etc). I justify the unequal treatments the same way.
References :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wealth_in_the_United_States#Distribution_of_wealth
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_inequality_in_the_United_States#Race_and_gender_disparities
March 9th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
If that happens, question is… *why* does it bother you. Just because you think it was "a long time ago" doesn’t mean things have changed for the better.
Whenever the government finally takes responsibility for it’s part and fixes what it’s been putting off forever, and as a whole if they can finally exist outside that emotional/poverty hole the government tried to force them into… Then maybe it can stop.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
I’m a Native woman. Hopefully I can give you some perspective on this issue.
One thing you may not know is that the most poverty stricken group of people in this Nation are the Native people. If you want to know more about what type of poverty they live in look up the Pine Ridge reservation. It has been compared to a third world country at times. So the fact that Natives have healthcare and housing should not be seen as a problem. And to add to that it is not taking away from you that these things are offered.
Now maybe you don’t know this but a large portion of the healthcare and housing that is offered is payed for directly by the tribe and not the US government. They may get a federal tax break on some things but that is it. That is what casinos (for example) are actually funding: health care and housing. They don’t really bring in a ton of money that tribal members get and waist as is the stereotype. So complaining about something the tribe pays for themself is kinda useless.
And to add to this you should understand that the Government and many US citizens still oppress Native people.
Definition of oppression (in case you don’t know): "the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner"
Until this oppression stops then Natives have every right to any kind of help we have coming our way. Oppression is what causes a majority of the problems, including extreme poverty, in Native nations. It is not caused by Native people themselves. America is not paying Native backs. America is barely covering the problems it is creating for Natives.
And I would bet that the people who don’t agree with what they recieve are not active in their culture.
References :