Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Very Cool
I think the Australian government has just done a very cool thing. Perhaps it is time that our government follow Australia's lead and offer a similar apology to Native Americans and African Americans. I think the rhetoric of the Australian government is key, as well. I don't see any benefit in assigning guilt or blame to people alive in 2008, but I do think there is a lot of merit in recognizing the wrongs of history and how those wrongs have resulted in institutional racism.
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5 comments:
To wrap around to an earlier comment -- is this governing in prose or poetry? :)
I think it is an interesting idea but ultimately patronizing and meaningless unless it is accompanied with programs to actually assist in dealing with the lingering effects of that early treatment. (which there are pledges to do in the article). Not compensation per se which I also see as problematic.
Maybe I am cynical, but I can apologize all day long but you can be sure I mean it until it costs me something.
Grr. Typing. In the last sentence, "can" should be "can't"
I think that NY State developed an interesting way to deal with the lingering effects of discrimination and death against Native Americans: allow them to have casinos to help the state economy.
OF course, this does not help the tribe at all as most of the money stays with the elites in the group.
Ha! I can't speak to NY but in southern California, they share the money equally but the amount of money coming in is not necessarily helpful. I sat at a blackjack table ($5 min) next to a 18-20 native american girl who was betting $100 - $150 per hand and clearly did not even know the most basic of rules.
The "help" does extend past the elite but....
Ha! I can't speak to NY but in southern California, they share the money equally but the amount of money coming in is not necessarily helpful. I sat at a blackjack table ($5 min) next to a 18-20 native american girl who was betting $100 - $150 per hand and clearly did not even know the most basic of rules.
The "help" does extend past the elite but....
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