Congress May Apologize to American Indians
A resolution that formally apologizes to American Indians for years of government mistreatment and abuse will be part of an Indian health care bill expected to pass the Senate later this month.
8 Responses to “Congress May Apologize to American Indians”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:52 am
It would be something for congress to at least acknowledge an apology. But since it is added onto another bill, it most likely will not pass. The white eyes will always be blind and not see the truth that is before them.
February 23rd, 2008 at 2:56 pm
It is imperative that Congress pass this bill. Congress seems to be passing legislation for American Indians, but the executive and judicial branches don’t necessarily carry it through. Also, th apology will only be meaningful if it is followed by more bills that compensate for the damage and loss. Otherwise, it’s like saying “I was wrong, sorry, but I’m not going to do anything”.
the U.S. has oppressed American Indians far too long.
If this bill passes it will be a very significant, and long overdue moment in American history.
February 23rd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
If they really mean it, they need to give our land back or pay us for it. As they always say, “Money talks, B.S. walks!” I don’t believe any of their empty words.
February 23rd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Chad need to do the same for the Cherokee Freedmen Descendants!
February 25th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Giving Native Americans stipends, reservations, freedom from US laws and the right to secede from the Union isn’t enough. We must also say we are sorry and pass legislation to stop showing reruns of the Lone Ranger.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Did Chad\\\’s Forefathers kill the Whitmires ( Freedmen ). If not, please help me find some Black Descendants of the Whitmires.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Words beautifully spoken will not give back so many lives and so much blood spilled. At least if those words would come from their inner heart, then maybe we could believe in them… but I doubt.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Apologizing for Past while Ignoring the Present
The resolution of apology to Native Americans of Kansas speaks of injustices in the past tense. It references past indignities and apologizes “for all action which brought death, harm, humiliation and suffering to the native peoples….”
It speaks of wrongdoing as actions discontinued, as if Kansans have moved on and embraced a new mindset while expressing a willingness to shoulder responsibility for regrettable deeds done and gone. The resolution speaks of past transgressions as if Kansan powers-that-be would never again stoop to such levels of abuse and disregard….. “as if these practices have ended — as if they are no longer occurring in Kansas,” says Kansas Citizens for Change President Vickie Burris.
Introduced four years ago by U S Senator Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, and newly introduced in the Kansas state legislature in February of 2008 by Kansas state Senator Julia Lynn (R), the resolution of apology seeks “to acknowledge the history of official actions, the wrongful passage of statutes, policies and broken treaties against all native peoples and to extend an apology to them on behalf of the state of Kansas…..” Lynn’s resolution also urges Congress to finally approve Brownback’s apology at the federal level.
But for Vickie Burris, the string of transgressions has not ended — not the humiliations to which Lynn refers, not the covenant breaking and deceptions and certainly not the forcible removal and institutionalization of Indian children from their families to be assimilated into mainstream culture.
Burris is seeking not only recognition of that reality but an official redress of serious ongoing violations of the law against Native Americans and other citizens of Kansas.
For both Senator Lynn’s Resolution of Apology and the response by Vickie Burris of Kansas Citizens for Change, go to www.commonsenseindependent.com