From: StarOwl@uiuc.edu (StarOwl)
Subject: Re: WHAT indigenous people?
Organization: Actuarial Science Program at UIUC
Reply-To: StarOwl@uiuc.edu
Distribution: usa
Keywords: significant words from a document used as an index to content
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Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 21:58:54 GMT
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pearson_steven@tandem.com (Steven R. Pearson) writes:

: Heck, WASP that I am (and a wicked, oppressive male to boot), I am just
: as indigenous as any Native American living today.  I was born here too!
: My ancestors came from Europe, theirs from Asia.  Our common ancestors
: probably came from Africa.

Well, like all titles given to my ancestors, the race of people who 
arrived in the Americas several thousands of years ago, 
"Indigenous People" does leave a bit to be desired.  The most accurate 
term I've heard applied to this race is "Aboriginal Americans," but that
confuses people with the Aboriginial Australians, and the PC folks
get upset, and....  *shrug*  "Native American" I think is almost
standard now.  For the time being, anyway.

: Don't get me wrong; I am not denying that Europeans gave their ancesotrs
: a raw deal. Part of me is sensitive to that.  And I don't have any
: problem with them wishing to preserve their culture.  Another part of
: me says, hey, this kind of thing happens all the time.  Life is tough;
: people get conquered.  Especially if they are outnumbered and not quite
: up to date technologically.  And nothing is ever going to bring back
: "the good old days" for these folks.

True, but it is extremely painful to see one's people's culture
forgotten or misrepresented.  Native Americans were more than
people with a nice tan who went around wearing big warbonnets,
dancing shouting "owowowowowowowowow!", and greeting each other
saying, "How."

In the past 500 years, the traditions, cosmologies, religions,
and mythologies of several American cultures have all but been
eradicated by European settlers.  Yes, nothing will bring that
back, but you can't blame us for trying to hold on to what
little remains, and to try and separate the myths from the facts
in today's tales about "them Injuns."

I agree that people need to look to the future, and adapt to changing
times.  However, it is also important to keep in mind where
we've come from.  It is the past that gives quite a bit of
form to the various cultures in existence.  Yes, let's move
forward, but let's not forget where all we've come from.

Being able to understand and appreciate the differences in the
various cultures and histories of different groups is a big
part of learning to get along with one another.

: That being the case, why can't we focus on the future, that which *can*
: be changed.  It seems to me that the best thing would be to integrate
: Native Americans more fully into the society.  I think this would go much
: further toward restoring their dignity than trying to stir up racial guilt
: over things that none of us experienced and none of us can change.

One of the biggest problems (IMHO) with the US "culture" is the
myth of the great melting pot.  One group of people shouldn't 
try to force another to accept the default culture of the land.
Many people define who they are by the traditions of their 
ancestors.  To try and force them to give up that heritage, and
instead merge with the "default" pseudo-heritage of the country
is cruel, particularly when that pseudo-heritage makes false
stereotypes or value judgements towards the "newcomer's"
culture.

It's fine to take pride in one's own culture.  Different cultures
have different strengths and different weaknesses.  However, tolerance
and respect for another's beliefs and heritage is something
that is sadly lacking in most people in the world today. 

--
Michael Adams (aka StarOwl)	 		"Republicans understand the
Internet:  StarOwl@uiuc.edu			 importance of bondage between
Bitnet:    FREE1217@UIUCVMD			 parent and child."
Anonymous: wi.5467@n7kbt.rain.com			-- Dan Quayle
UUCP:      ...!uiucuxc!uiuc.edu!StarOwl                                    

Marrou/Lord in '92