After rereading your post I see your trying to ride the fence and not choose sides, nice attempt..."the thing about oppression and the oppressed is that the oppressed do not even realize when they aid in their own oppression" Immortal Techinique. I want to add that ignorance is obsolete once it is identified and reconsidered, actions after the reconsideration confirm naivety or wisdom
You call it riding the fence, I call it a balanced perspective that includes *all* the facts, not just the ones we prefer.
@Seamaiden you are the last person I would have thought that would come to his rescue as it is my perception that this is what you did. Even if you tried to remain semi neutral. I would ask you both this, @Seamaiden @NightsWatch How do you reckon either of you would feel if I were to talk about your family and loved ones like this. The thread was to show support for the tribes involved, correct me if I'm wrong @chickenman Then we have fella come along who clearly doesn't have much love or respect for Native Americans and sets a negative tone to what was supposed to be a thread to spread love and support. So friggin upset I can't even think straight for chris sakes.
I didn't read the post from NightsWatch as being all that negative, it has historical/archaeological accuracy. As is what we've read and learned about the Spaniards. The subsequent post regarding life on the reservation I didn't read until today, I hope you understand that my response was crafted solely for that information put out. I haven't made further comments regarding what a Chiracauhua Apache friend had taught me about some dividing lines among NAs, and in order to not stir the pot I won't post them here, but I know now they exist, much to my surprise, which means that NAs are pretty much just like all other human beings. They have foibles, they have follies, they have loves and hates and opinions and knowledge and idiots and all of it. They're humans, just like us. I am often taken for NA. I have been taken for black. I have been taken for Turkish and Persian and Gypsy and... just name a swarthy breed of people, I've been taken for that, so yes, I've heard a lot and have learned to react less and think more.
You would be surprised what I've heard and experienced in my life. It colors my perspective, to be sure, as I understand
everyone's perspectives are colored. :)
If you're like me though, you test yourself, often, and force yourself to be with and around others with opposing views, question your own views, test them, figure them, do they hold up? I do my best, it's all I can do.
