Anonymous wrote:During this month we focus in the classroom on Native American cultures and societies. I also place heavy emphasis the effects of European colonizers and imperialists on native peoples. Students are encouraged to reflect on how European colonizer brutality and racism destroyed the indigenous people and discuss penances those of European descent can perform to redeem themselves to Native Americans.

They should be encouraged to reflect on how European explorers mastered navigation of the oceans; built ships that could cross the earth; weaponry that could take entire civilizations with relative ease; how they came from a culture that was creating music and art that will be revered for millennia; how they were building intricate, ornate early machinery to do things like keep time or read the stars.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, at exactly the same time in history, you had certain cultures living not so different from the earliest humans (hunter-gatherers and early agrarians), no written language, no concept of individual rights or liberty, producing crude “art” with all the sophistication of a stick figure cave drawing. And they were by and large just as bloodthirsty and prone to do things like enslave their enemies as any other pre-modern culture. They just weren’t very good at it when confronted with a much more advanced civilization.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. People here are twisting themselves into pretzels to explain why they're not on native American land. Almost all of us here are descendants of immigrants to the U.S., which was colonized by Europeans. I'm not saying that we need to give back our individual properties, and I don't think that's realistically on the table anyway, but let's also not whitewash what was done to Native Americans. I believe that I'm on Piscataway land. I don't think there's anything to be done about it now, but I'm just being honest.

I do not believe that I am on Native Land. And I think anyone who makes a big deal about saying they believe they’re on stolen Native Land without backing that up with an honest attempt to - give it back - is merely virtue signaling (and highly disingenuous and annoying).

Just because you don't believe it - doesn't make it not true. This land did not belong to the europeans (and I'm a European, so I can say that) but yet we came and we settled here. It's not virtue signaling - it history.

The country I come from has taken land all over the world - I don't expect they plan to give it back, but at least be aware of history is something that's important.

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Anonymous wrote:I’m a Cherokee and am offended by the term Native American. We are Indians and were here before there was an America. Just stop using that offensive term.

It's called Native American History Month so I just assumed that's an okay term. I'm a PP ....so I learn something new every day. Didn't mean to offend.

Your intention is not absolution. Do better.

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Anonymous wrote:This thread has gotten seriously derailed.

Land acknowledgments are such a silly pretension.

Agreed. At what point in history are we supposed to return to? Get over it, your ancestors lost. Now try to move on and live well in the society that now exists here.

Agreed.

Do you get to tell people to "just get over" genocide of their people? I doubt you would feel the same if your family was murdered and they took your home and all your possessions.

Yes. This did happen to my people. I am of Irish descent, my ancestors were conquered by the English. They fled to American and made a new life here peacefully. They did not drag terror extremism to American, they worked hard to make a better living here in their new homeland and condemned the use of terrorist groups (IRA) back in their native country.

So your ancestors left their land willingly. And got to resettle on land they wanted to with the belonging they had and brought their families along. I can see how you would make the correlation to Native Americans.

Native Americans left Asia willingly and got to resettle on land they wanted to with the belongings they had…

It’s really hard to steal land from people who have no concept of property. They were nomadic hunter gathers who didn’t understand what the Europeans were talking about when they tried to buy the property from them.

You are generalizing about Native American tribes. Honestly, there are 500+ recognized tribes with even more claiming to be tribes that the US does not recognize. To claim they ALL did one thing is absolutely absurd. And to say they have no concept of property? Please stop talking because you are embarrassing yourself.

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Anonymous wrote:NP. People here are twisting themselves into pretzels to explain why they're not on native American land. Almost all of us here are descendants of immigrants to the U.S., which was colonized by Europeans. I'm not saying that we need to give back our individual properties, and I don't think that's realistically on the table anyway, but let's also not whitewash what was done to Native Americans. I believe that I'm on Piscataway land. I don't think there's anything to be done about it now, but I'm just being honest.

I do not believe that I am on Native Land. And I think anyone who makes a big deal about saying they believe they’re on stolen Native Land without backing that up with an honest attempt to - give it back - is merely virtue signaling (and highly disingenuous and annoying).

No - just being honest about the history of the U.S. even if it is an inconvenient truth. I'm not virtue signaling as I (the person to whom you're responding) am not claiming that I'm giving away my property nor do I think there's a viable proposal on that front. I think the origins of the U.S., a country that I love, makes people feel uncomfortable but, as with slavery, the oppression of native Americans is a significant part of our history. If it annoys you, that's on you.

I am asking you what is THE POINT of “acknowledging” that you’re on stolen land and then… nothing…

I am genuinely curious, what exactly do you think this accomplishes?

I am interested in the history of our country and my own town. If I lived in an historic house, I'd be interested in knowing and preserving its past. I'm also interested in genealogy. I don't think this is terribly unique. Anyway, as I said, the mistreatment of Indians and the sin of slavery are part of our history...just as you don't see the point in learning about such things, I don't understand the lack of interest, even if I don't "accomplish" anything.

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Anonymous wrote:This thread has gotten seriously derailed.

Land acknowledgments are such a silly pretension.

Agreed. At what point in history are we supposed to return to? Get over it, your ancestors lost. Now try to move on and live well in the society that now exists here.

Agreed.

Do you get to tell people to "just get over" genocide of their people? I doubt you would feel the same if your family was murdered and they took your home and all your possessions.

Yes. This did happen to my people. I am of Irish descent, my ancestors were conquered by the English. They fled to American and made a new life here peacefully. They did not drag terror extremism to American, they worked hard to make a better living here in their new homeland and condemned the use of terrorist groups (IRA) back in their native country.

So your ancestors left their land willingly. And got to resettle on land they wanted to with the belonging they had and brought their families along. I can see how you would make the correlation to Native Americans.

That poster is clearly an idiot.

Anonymous wrote:Do.not.care.


I’m sorry the native Americans got conquered by a superior military and technology. It happens all throughout history.


Now do the Roman, Egyptian, Mongol, etc empires. Or Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Canada, all of Central and South America too while you’re at it. Nobody in the world should live on any land!

HAHA - superior military and technology kills me. I needed a good laugh.

I will say, anyone who bunches "native Americans" into one group really doesn't get to speak about them. You can't compare the Sioux and Cherokee to tribes like the Algonquin or Powhattan....ridiculous lack of knowledge of American history.

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Anonymous wrote:This thread has gotten seriously derailed.

Land acknowledgments are such a silly pretension.

Agreed. At what point in history are we supposed to return to? Get over it, your ancestors lost. Now try to move on and live well in the society that now exists here.

Agreed.

Do you get to tell people to "just get over" genocide of their people? I doubt you would feel the same if your family was murdered and they took your home and all your possessions.

Yes. This did happen to my people. I am of Irish descent, my ancestors were conquered by the English. They fled to American and made a new life here peacefully. They did not drag terror extremism to American, they worked hard to make a better living here in their new homeland and condemned the use of terrorist groups (IRA) back in their native country.

Wait, you’re saying the Irish weren’t terrorists? Seriously? I’ve got some reading for you.

Get a grip. Do you know what the IRA refers to? You sound uneducated and more and more deranged as the thread progresses.

This person is saying that as Irish Americans they condemn terrorism and violence perpetrated by Irish terrorists.

You've clearly never been to NYC or met any Irish people.

Anonymous wrote:Let’s give it back.

#landback.org

Let’s not start another conflict like in Gaza. There is no right answer. Middle East turf war has been going on since the beginning of time. Funny, back then they were the same people. Aren’t they all descendants of Abraham? Cousins fighting.

During this month we focus in the classroom on Native American cultures and societies. I also place heavy emphasis the effects of European colonizers and imperialists on native peoples. Students are encouraged to reflect on how European colonizer brutality and racism destroyed the indigenous people and discuss penances those of European descent can perform to redeem themselves to Native Americans.

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Anonymous wrote:I am an immigrant so I am not playing!

This is your new home. Why wouldn't you be interested in its history?

I'm more interested in its current affairs

Anonymous wrote:NP. People here are twisting themselves into pretzels to explain why they're not on native American land. Almost all of us here are descendants of immigrants to the U.S., which was colonized by Europeans. I'm not saying that we need to give back our individual properties, and I don't think that's realistically on the table anyway, but let's also not whitewash what was done to Native Americans. I believe that I'm on Piscataway land. I don't think there's anything to be done about it now, but I'm just being honest.

If you want to be honest, most land was purchased legally. Some land was taken by force - and became legally owned.

Land ownership in the law preceded the United States and preceded the colonization by the newcomers. It is very old, very serious law. Just pointing fingers will not change land ownership. Here or anywhere. You need either the might of the law behind you, or the might of an army. Land back has neither.

Anonymous wrote:I am an immigrant so I am not playing!

This is your new home. Why wouldn't you be interested in its history?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. People here are twisting themselves into pretzels to explain why they're not on native American land. Almost all of us here are descendants of immigrants to the U.S., which was colonized by Europeans. I'm not saying that we need to give back our individual properties, and I don't think that's realistically on the table anyway, but let's also not whitewash what was done to Native Americans. I believe that I'm on Piscataway land. I don't think there's anything to be done about it now, but I'm just being honest.

I do not believe that I am on Native Land. And I think anyone who makes a big deal about saying they believe they’re on stolen Native Land without backing that up with an honest attempt to - give it back - is merely virtue signaling (and highly disingenuous and annoying).

No - just being honest about the history of the U.S. even if it is an inconvenient truth. I'm not virtue signaling as I (the person to whom you're responding) am not claiming that I'm giving away my property nor do I think there's a viable proposal on that front. I think the origins of the U.S., a country that I love, makes people feel uncomfortable but, as with slavery, the oppression of native Americans is a significant part of our history. If it annoys you, that's on you.

I am asking you what is THE POINT of “acknowledging” that you’re on stolen land and then… nothing…

I am genuinely curious, what exactly do you think this accomplishes?

Anonymous wrote:I’m a Cherokee and am offended by the term Native American. We are Indians and were here before there was an America. Just stop using that offensive term.

It's called Native American History Month so I just assumed that's an okay term. I'm a PP ....so I learn something new every day. Didn't mean to offend.