Quote:
Originally Posted by CaramonLS
Bullcrap. How is a potlatch considered a "deadly sin"? There are not any laws forbidding the potlatch anymore.
You mean their ancestors? On events that happened Hundreds of years ago?
Members of my family were killed by Nazi soldiers (great uncles and aunts), but guess what? Life goes on and I don't resent the current generation of Germans, nor will I demand compensationfrom them for the actions of Hitler.
How would you like us to help them regain their pride? By ignoring the numerous social problems caused by some Native Americans (at a much higher proportion than the rest of the population) which are spilling over into society? Saying the things I said are not racist or stereotyped generalizations, they are cold, hard facts.
I've said before I judge every person by their own individual merit. Don't try to assume things here. I give each and every person regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation their own chance before I judge them. You assume way too much.
Do you think I hate Native Americans or something? Or not want to give them a hand up in society? Pointing out some of their problems isn't racist.
|
My band (Cree) doesn't have potlatches as they're mostly a NW Coast thing, especially with the Tling'it and The Kwak'itl. They may be legal now but the tradition and practice was completely decimated for almost a century by the colonialists and the church. Sure they're not illegal anymore but so much of the knowledge and lore of the potlatch was stolen, even to speak about it was forbidden. A deadly sin? probably not, but they were outlawed and like so much in our culture that knowledge and practice was decimated and is only know finally starting to make a resurgance.
Oh and just for the record, I wear very nice clothes on the train and I don't drink.