From: Peshewegunzh <mthvax.cs.miami.edu!mamia!peshe>
Subject: Re: Reply to Peshewegunzh
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1993 08:25:58 GMT

Original Sender: Peshewegunzh <mthvax.cs.miami.edu!mamia!peshe>

> Original Sender: "Gerard Philippe Menos" <firestone.Princeton.EDU!gpmenos>

> I have wondered if you are a CS student at the university of miami,
> running around in Nikes.

To be connected to NativeNet, it is most convenient to have access to
an educational institution's computers. I once joked with
someone that as the department's night janitor, I was able to get access to
a terminal when nobody was around to see. Now, that's not the case, but
although I have neither a high school diploma nor a college
degree, (nor am I working on either) I do have access to an account on
a system with links to a university, under the auspices of the Tecumseh
Educational Foundation.

> Please do not be offended by my apparent trivializations and
> stereotyping --these characterizations are only meant to point out
> that it is far too late to avoid some extent of assimilation.

I think it's important to use some of the tools that have developed
in modern times, rather than become caught up and lost in them,
which appears to be the overarching characteristic of American
culture and society. That is the difference between empowering
survival and the surrender that is assimilation. It seems to me that
this is what you are saying in some of your other comments.

> It sounds like you also have your own blindspot here, as you also
> seem to have a preconception as to who is the "good" Indian (those
> who agree with your particular polarisation) and who is the "bad"
> Indian (those who have a differing view, to any degree).

I have some views which are the products of some strong experiences.
However, I'm pretty tender about being too hard on other Indians.
I don't think you can point to any statement where I've characterized
those Indian individuals who don't hold my exact opinion as "bad." I
usually reserve that appellation for the behavior of those who've put
them between a rock and a hard place! When another Indian speaks on
an issue to do with Indians, I have to consider his views because no
doubt he's lived it out.

> As one born in Haiti, with some roots still there, I believe that
> things are not quite so black and white as you are conveying, yet
> again.
>
> In my opinion, the new Administration has many areas in which to
> prove themselves as agents of "change."  Depending on what they do,
> over the course of --say-- the next 3 months, will show us if they
> Bill Clinton was sincere or not in his various campaign promises.

The new harsher measures against Haitians who only seek what the
Europeans now here originally sought, were put in place at the
direction and request of the incoming administration. I guess as
Indians who were willing to share with those earlier refugees,
that despite the depredations, many of us still are willing to
share with the Haitians, too. I think Americans who've bought into
the comfort culture have lost the true spirit of what was supposed
to happen here, which was represented in the extending of welcome
to those hapless colonists by the indigenous peoples.

--
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Peshewegunzh

peshe%mamia.UUCP@mthvax.cs.miami.edu
mthvax.cs.miami.edu!mamia.UUCP!peshe
peshe@mamia.UUCP
mthvax!mamia!peshe

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