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United States of AmericaSee also: Bureau of Indian AffairsOn September 8, 2000, the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) formally apologized for the agency's participation in the “ethnic cleansing” of Western tribes.[46].[edit] Canada St. Paul's Indian Industrial School, Manitoba Canada, 1901Main article: Canadian Indian residential school systemAttempts of assimilation reached a climax in Canada during the late 19th and early 20th centuries with forced integration. Due to laws and policies that encouraged or required Aboriginals to assimilate into a Eurocentric society, Canada may be in violation of the United Nations Genocide Convention that Canada signed in 1949 and passed through Parliament in 1952.[47] The Canadian Indian residential school system that removed Aboriginal children from their homes for placement in Christian-run schools has led scholars to believe that Canada can be tried in international court for genocide.[47] In 2008 Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued an apology on behalf of the Canadian government and its citizens for the residential school system.[48]
*Tecumseh (Shawnee) (1811): ?Where today are the Pequot? Where are the Narrangansett, the Mohican, the Pokanoket, and many other once powerful tribes of our people? They have vanished before the avarice and the oppression of the White Man?.
S.J.RES.4 Title: A joint resolution to acknowledge a long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies by the United States Government regarding Indian tribes and offer an apology to all Native Peoples on behalf of the United States. Sponsor: Sen Brownback, Sam [KS] (introduced 3/1/2007) Cosponsors (12) Related Bills: H.J.RES.3, H.J.RES.68 Latest Major Action: 6/18/2007 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 202. Senate Reports: 110-83
I don't see how post-colonial revisionism changes facts at all. What does hand-wringing achieve? I am not talking of the historical effect of hand wringing(it obviously has none) but the political effect. What is the practial purpose and achievement for all these profuse apologies you are quoting and citing?Lastly, explain to me how some government, group, or agency can be guilty of a crime whose concept did not even exist at the time of their “supposed” misdeeds?
I think that the “hand wringing” did result in some good – the aforementioned UN declaration signed by much of the international community for example. But I don't see that quibbling over the numbers does any good. I think that unprovoked violence is morally wrong, whether the motive is conquest, hatred or madness. But if you start trying to right old wrongs, how many dominoes will fall? Do you blame the English or the Normans who conquered England? But Normandy was over run by Vikings… Our ancestors did things we would not condone now. We try to improve and we move on.
What good resulted from the “hand wringing”? I am at a loss to see what purpose outpourings of regret for something we (this generation) did not do. I refuse to accept any part of some supposed collective guilt for actions committed over a century ago.
IMO, the good that discussions of morality of past actions can do is to guide our future actions. There is no need for guilt. Whether there is a time limit on trying to set things right is a different discussion. In the US, I think that time period has passed because opportunities are there for those that choose to participate in the modern culture and have been for some time.There is one other potential benefit of further discussion; if we keep debating this, by the end of the day I will be a Centurion. ;D
I think that America should embrace it genocidal history it made America what it is today. It really doesn't matter if anyone feels guilty it just should be taught the way it really happened.
I think that America should embrace it genocidal history it made America what it is today. It really doesn't matter if anyone feels guilty it just should be taught the way it really happened.
You won't get it in in public schools. Probably not the venue for it anyway. But it is taught at the college level, but genocide isn't the proper term. Culture shock, Manifest Destiny, and smallpox cover it though.
Yeah if you read that over and over in book you tend to believe it. But history is written by the winners not the losers. The mass murder and extinction of various tribes sums it up. You can put lipstick on a pig but its still a pig.
I guess I could meet half way with this and say it was a string of genocide campaigns
and you would still be wrong.
