Inkanta
Group: Admins
Posts: 1453
Joined: Feb. 2000 |
 |
Posted: Mar. 15 2011, 08:17 |
 |
| Quote (wiga @ Mar. 15 2011, 03:45) | | And these trendy jokes attacking Americans are just as dubious as those mocking black or Asian people. |
I am looking at this as an opportunity for understanding, for those who haven't seen this as an issue, because in the USA, many wouldn't understand that there isn't a difference, as you say.
In fact, the American Indian Library Association many years ago wrote a position paper entitled, "I is not for Indian: The Portrayl of Native Americans in Books for Young People," which examined the continuing stereotypes, discrimination, and issues they were facing while strides were being made in other areas of race relations, etc. In the small Midwest town where I worked at the time, one of the floats in the Homecoming Parade comprised a giant Panther paw pinning down an Indian (Panthers vs. Indians). There would have been an outcry had it been any other ethnicity. Why was that tolerated? That's when I started getting involved with groups that were working toward cultural understanding. No one person (Native or otherwise) and certainly not I can speak for Native America--it's too vast, too many cultures, etc.-- but for me to have not taken this opportunity to share a bit of what I have learned over the years would have seemed selfish and cowardly, though it's not particularly comfortable to do.
Oh--Kev--your post came in while I was on my rant! So glad you're continuing to hang out, yay! Well said about Canada's First Nations. Re: Hollywood movies--I tend to root on the side of the Indians.  And loved Dances with Wolves. And Smoke Signals (Native written, produced, acted). Hope you have a chance to see that one, if you've not. It's based on two Sherman Alexie novels. A couple years ago when he was signing books, very rotely (huge line), I presented my few to him and muttered, "My daughters love Smoke Signals (I'd just bought the script)." He was nodding politely seemingly not paying much attention, focusing on signing, until I added, "in fact, my youngest who is 14 (at that time) takes it along to all her sleepovers." At which point he looked up startled, and smiling said, "Really?" In his earlier talk, he'd mentioned how sometimes he doesn't think people get it.
Now for that drink! Oh--Milamber--hope pilgrim is behaving well fer ya. She gave me lots of problems and nearly threw me into the middle of the road! I nearly mosied over her indeed, hahahaha. Hahahahaha. Sorry. Too much sasprilla. Aye--once had a horse named Pilgrim, nearly lost a limb, then found an Appy (Appaloosa) mare named Rio's Dawn (as opposed to...Omma Dawn! )  (err...is that...shocking?? )
--------------
"No such thing as destiny; only choices exist." From: Moongarden's "Solaris."
|
