America should bow down and kiss our feet
84Ever since April 1584 when Philip Anadas and Arthur Barlowe first traveled from England to the land which would become the United States, our fair America has seen more than its fair share of racial and social injustice. We have demeaned, undermined, enslaved and killed countless numbers of people all because of the color of their skin. While many would say reparations are in order, I disagree. I have compiled a list of the top five races that I believe we as Americans need to bow down to and beg for their forgiveness.
The first race that is deserving of our fiercest and most relentless apologies are Native Americans. These are the people that were the original inhabitants of this country. They are the ones who had a profound respect not only for each other and nature, but for the land that they lived on. For their respect of man and mother nature, they were treated to the Indian wars which they were severly outmatched due to weaponry and the severe greed colonists had for owning more land and that greed is evident in 1626 when Peter Minuit bought Manhattan Island from the local Indians for a load of cloth, hatchets, beads, and other odds and ends that totaled to be worth about $24 today. In 1830, President Jackson empowered the Indian Removal act and eventually Indians were forced onto smaller plots of land called reservations. Now there are those that would argue that the Indians have been repaid for the years they were repressed because they have received government money and because of the casinoes Indians are allowed to run. The problem with this idea is that the Indians do make a lot of revenue from the money that the rest of us spend in their casinoes, but the reality is that they weren't handed these businesses, but worked hard to make these casinoes a reality. Plus, take into consideration the $24 that was used to buy Manhattan and the fact that Manhattan is the wealthiest county in the country since the average income is $100,000 and the land is worth in upwards of $40 billion dollars. Now who among us can say that the Native American has been fairly paid?
First, the Indians were mistreated and in 1619, the first African slaves came to Jamestown and to this day are still facing various forms of mistreatment. The history of slavery can easily be read on many websites, so my focus is not intent on breaking down the roots of slavery. Slavery is widely thought to be the act of chaining or imprisoning a person and punishing them when they don't do what is desired of them to do, but slavery is a complete mental and spiritual imprisonment because it requires breaking a person's will and desire to be anything more than a mindless servant destined to serve only their captor's wishes. Even after the last slave was "freed" in Galveston, Texas, it took a generation or two after that to begin to become accustomed to the true ideal of freedom. Even during this time of self-discovery, blacks faced injustice from unequal treatment, and from many different forms of racism. Leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. didn't just speak out on fair treatment of blacks but on racial unity and harmony yet he and his followers were met with handcuffs, dogs, and fire hoses. Ten years ago, in Jasper, Texas, a black man by the name of James Byrd Jr. was killed by 3 white men in a vicious racist act so even with the strides that we can say have been made, many more need to be taken.
In 1868, the Burlingame treaty was ratified which was intent on establishing formal friendly relations between China and the United States. The treaty recognized China's right of eminent domain over all of her territory, and it gave China the right to appoint consuls at ports in the United States, "who shall enjoy the same privileges and immunities as those enjoyed by the consuls of Great Britain and Russia". The treaty was also designed to grant certain privileges to citizens of either country residing in the other like the privilege of naturalization. Before this treaty was written, at the beginning of 1849, there were approximately only 54 Chinese in the state of California. At the news of the gold discovery, a steady immigration continued until 1876 and at that time, there were 151,000 Chinese in America and 116,000 of them were in California. Chinese were welcomed at this time because they were willing to be the cooks, servants, laundrymen, and other types of laborers and they were willing to do it for less, but amazingly enough as the deposits of gold started to dry up, so did the happy feelings towards our eastern foreigner friends. This anti-foreign persecution went so far that in 1882, the Chinese exclusion act was passed which banned Chinese immigration for well over 60 years.
How would you feel if someone fought you for the land you owned, defeated you and then paid you poorly as a means of "compensation"? When you can answer that, you can get an idea of what it feels like to be a Mexican. Between 1833 and 1848, due to wars with the United States, Mexico lost what it is now the states of Texas, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. For the loss that it suffered, Mexico was paid a paltry $15 million. Now, fast forward 144 years later to 1992 when the idea of the North American Free Trade Agreement was signed by the U.S., Mexico and Canada. In today's times, there are many who offer clever sound bites and propaganda on how "illegal" aliens have taken jobs that Americans could have and this is one of the reasons they're having a negative impact on the economy. One thing that those that want us to fear and despise these aliens have neglected to mention is that due to NAFTA, many manufacturing plants that were once in the US closed and moved to Mexico because of the ability to make products cheaper in Mexico and pay the workers less while importing the products without heavy import fees. Now, which jobs cost the U.S. more...the factory worker or the hotel maid and the fruit picker?
The last race of people that we need to bow down before are Arab Americans. The events of September 11th are tragic because we lost the lives of Americans who were held hostage by terrorists, lives were lost because of those actions of the terrorists and we also lost brave men and women who attempted to save those who were still alive. Another sad outcome of 9/11 is that we bonded together as a nation and united together and racially profiled an entire race of people because of the actions of a particular group.
Now that every race that needs our deserving apologies has been identified, it's time to identify why it can never happen. First off, a room full of "politically correct" men and women can never apologize for years of injustice that their ancestors did against another race of people. We can apologize easily for our own actions but it's ridiculous to think that we can apologize for the actions of someone else especially when that person wouldn't apologize if they were given the chance. There is also no amount of apologies or reparations that can smooth over years of oppression, hatred, intolerance, stereotyping, and racism. The only feasible thing for us to do as humans is to live our lives as we would expect anyone else to and to treat others with the same respect that we expect in return.PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
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I dunno how I feel about kissing anyone's feet. But then again, my ancestor's came over here during WWII fleeing Russia and Poland. Well...that was my Mom's side. I think my Dad's family emigrated over via England and France because they heard that Canada had great beaver and eventually wended their way down and into the U.S. Either way...I think my family sorta missed the annhilation of the native americans, never owned a slave, and couldn't afford to have anyone but themselves do their laundry.
As for Mexicans...while I currently reside in Arizona, I feel a bit removed from the original purchase. I figure since the current population is heavily hispanic, it's probably a good idea to just share at this point...which seems to be working out for me rather well.
Perhaps I was dense after 9/11...but I had no issue with anyone of Arab descent. They couldn't help their ancestry no more than I could help mine. And I guess that brings me to the issue of why I won't kiss anyone's feet. Holding ME accountable for the actions of other people simply because I happen to share a few drops of blood with them is rather silly...
Just my opinion :)
Ik agree, Spryte. Stupid thing in my experience is that it's most often not really a problem, until politicians and interest groups interfere. I personally have never been asked by anybody from Surinam to apologize to them. But as soon as there was this art work in rememberance of our colonial past all of the sudden there was this debate about whether or not the Dutch people should.
And then again, you can't ignore the past either. You can't - like we Dutch did - invite people over for cheap labor and then ten or twenty years later tell them to get out of the country, can you?
You are right...most people go about their lives without an issue like this being a big concern until somebody trying to gain attention stirs the pot. Usually a politician...or some religious spokesperson.
I'd never attempt to ignore the past...it usually makes for a good lesson. But then again, I've never escorted anyone to the shores, pointed a finger and said, "get the hell outa my country you...(insert ethnic group of choice here)!
Unfortunately, prejudice isn't just limited to race or religion...there's gender, sexual preference, smoking, body size...it turns my stomach how we, as humans, find so many ways to differentiate ourselves. We fail to see how much more we could accomplish if we'd only stop and see the similarities.
I'm not sure why that is...do you?
I'm sorry but i can't get pass the native american part, sorry!
You know I had to walk away and then come back for because i was so upset. I know you mean well but your lack of truth on behalf of Natvie americans couldn't be futher from the truth, a truth you should already know all to well.
I commend your writing skills, but even though it's nice it's important not to mention your responsiblity as a writer to relay the truth in all matters and all subject your right about, unless of course it's a personal opinion.
Here's one thing that ran across my mind as to why an apology about past racism won't help. If you aren't directly apologizing to the person who had their land taken away, the person who marched through the streets of their town for racial equality, or the person who you once welcomed, but now exclude, then that apology is wasted. I didn't bare the stripes of my ancestors, but it's because of their stripes that I'm able to stand so since I can't take credit for what they did, I also can't take the apology for what they went through.
to Ananta65 - Thank you for enlightening me about the Netherlands and it's true that the past can't be ignored, but I do feel that we should learn from it, and work on making a better present and future by avoiding past injustice. This is how it should be, but positive change always sounds so easy on paper.
to spryte - One of the biggest reasons we fail to see how much we could accomplish together is because so many of us fear the differences in each other.
to Truth is - I'm sorry that you couldn't get past the paragraph about Native Americans, but the fact is that I don't write about anything unless I do my research on it. The main point I'm getting at it with this article is that in one way or another, every race has suffered slings and arrows due to the color of their skin and apologizing about past injustice is fruitless at this time. I mention government money some Indians have received and casinoes that some tribes own because there are those among us who feel that Indians have received their "just due" from the injustices that they've met with.
I’d say fear and greed are the most important factors, Spryte. You’re right; it’s not just race or religion. People are AFRAID they might have to actually share something (work, housing), they’re AFRAID they might have to settle for less. In essence they're AFRAID of anything that is different from what they're used to and what they assume to be right. If Hitler and the likes (and yes, I personally think Geert Wilders is one of his likes) built their popularity on anything, I’d say they built it on fear.
As far as apologizing is concerned, I don’t completely agree, talented_ink. I agree that there’s no use in assuming an apologizing attitude towards the victims of your ancestors. I treat people from Surinam and Indonesia like I treat any other person. With a normal degree of respect (unless that person happens to be an *sshhole). Apologies at that level are indeed wasted. I can’t take credit for what my ancestors did and they can’t blame for that. That’s right.
However, a few years ago our queen apologized to Indonesia on behalf of the Dutch people. We’ve done some very bad things over there in the past. And I consider this official apology as an acknowledgement of what has happened and a statement that we’re aware of what happened and the intention to not let something like that happen again. By acknowledging the past, we (which is a very abstract concept) acknowledge the past and get it over with. In a symbolical way by us making the apology and them accepting it, we lay the basis for a better mutual understanding in the future.
Truth is – it’s a bit too easy to just say that talented_ink has it wrong. I think you should support that statement with facts and evidence.
Hi Spryte, I agree. I don't mistreat people, and how long must any of us carry the burden of mistakes made in the line of progress? It's horrible, I'm sorry it happened, let them keep what customs they want...life goes on, let's not do it ever again, now get busy improving mankind....I'm a Heniz 57 in my blood bank...and as far as I know, my blood isn't upset at anyone for past history. History should be a teacher, not a burden on the backs of the rest of the world... still important information...
I worked for years with Indian tribes in Oklahoma teaching concepts in child abuse practices, family re-unification, and federal mandates - The Cherokee had their own Indian courts...own investigators, etc.
I had to learn a whole different way of communication, and there were so many things I couldn't say, times when I couldn't even look them in the eye.
Still, as with any group of people, caucasians as well, we hold a lot of responsibility for our own destiny. There is only so much of "well, I'm a victim because...." that society will listen to...
but I don't expect any one to kiss my feet,
and I don't plan on bowing any time soon.
an added thought. - I spent 20 years foster parenting and training other professionals and foster parents about the needs of families in crisis. Here's one thing I learned, tho' it may at first sound like ovet-simplification...a MUST if you're going to gain ground IN a crisis...have to make it simple..
anyway, I spent every minute of every day...teaching kids and families to get over their past.
The goal of any therapy, is what? TO MAKE IT BETTER AND help them COPE. How do you do that? Simply put, by helping people step out of whatever happened, no matter the degree of pain, you still have to help them believe that they CAN move on.
Human nature holds on to PAIN. Why? it's what they know. they are less afraid of that, than letting go. Letting go is terrifying, it means you are in a new place.
but that's what the therapist does, not encouraging you to forever lick your wounds...examine the event...beat it up, chunk it up, deal with the pieces, and then get over it.
That's not cruel...that's healthy. It's a journey, yes. sometimes one of a lifetime.
the only way to progress...is to work on getting over the crisis. not living in it.
end of lecture, =)
Since 1994 (the post apartheid era) we in South Africa have lived with past injustices being corrected. First by the truth and reconciliation commission then Black economic empowerment (BEE) as well as land repatriation (IE Returning land to the original indigenous owners by the principle of willing buyer willing seller) All of these are still issues of daily strife here 14 years later. But we have constant dialogue, a great bill of rights (constitution) and we did not have civil war. Nonetheless 14 years on we are still in vehement debate. Incidentally we had an incident where one of our apartheid protaganists wanted to wash the feet of Reverend Frank Chikane as an act of contrition. This offer was rejected giving rise to more strife and dialogue.
So it is a difficult subject.
sixtyorso your correct, and oh how the heart and mind will get defensive when it gets personal.
Great work. I learned a lot. Keep telling it like it is.
I think this has got to S-T-O-P. *I* didn't DO anything to these people and I never will.
I cannot CHANGE what some whitey's did way back when.
WHEN will the blame stop?
Is a Nations people to be held captive and responsible ForEver for the faults of its Stupid ancestors?
I think not.
Why did you leave out the Chinese, the Irish, the Germans, the Italians?, the Puerto Ricans, the Pacific Islanders and all of the others who have been exploited, downtrodden and discriminated against?
Sixty: I bet it is tough. Compared to some of talented's examples, what South Africa is going through is pretty much recent history. Hell, I remember writing a paper on apartheid in college...so it feels sort of like yesterday. But it's a good thing to point out...at what point does a grievance become a past issue and need to be gotten over (as marisue writes and I agree with)? Do we want to go through our lives with a Hatfield-McCoy attitude? Or do we acknowledge the grievance, do our best to atone for it and then move on, hopefully a little wiser for the issue?
I agree that it's always a good thing to remember...nobody wants to repeat these crimes against humanity (even though the news seems to show us nothing but). However, the self-flagellation over things that occurred before we even existed has to stop since it only promotes further suspicion, hatred and prejudice.
/soapbox off
Amen to that
"The past is a foreign country"
I'm English and the British did some truly awful things in the name of the British Empire (some good things too, of course). I have to say, however, that retrospective apologies do little to right past wrongs. Should the Italians apologise to the English for years of Roman rule? Should the Norwegians apologies to the English for years of Norman rule? Should the Italians (due to Hadrian's actions) apologise to the Israelis for killing so many of them and wiping them off the map? The list could go on ad nauseum. I realise, of course, that you are talking of past wrongs that have a more obvious effect on those who are alive today but still, I'm sure arguments can be made for a lot of other groups who don't really feel that annoyed about things, e.g. the Irish who were sold into slavery.
History has shown that whoever is on top does some incredibly darstardly things. You only have to look at the history of the Balkans to realise that.
In short, humans do some horrific things to one another. No amount of apologising will get around the fact that bad things have happened, do happen and will happen at the hands of one group of people or another. It's a case of whoever's on top at the time, as I said. Only once we've accepted our capacity for dark deeds can we take steps to make sure they aren't carried out.
An apology is simply the makeup that hides the bruises of our species' violence. Understanding our past, realising that we are not like our ancestors and yet have their capacity for horridness is the only way forward. All of humanity is united in its brutality.
Of course, the other side of the coin is pure beauty. We are creatures with an infinite capacity for good, as well.
I just watched a special on Devil's Island, where the French sent prisoners or those thot to be guilty of something...the trials and sentences and treatment of these people was horrid. I think we've proven all nations have things to be ashamed of...when we will ever learn.
I like you all...no matter the color, the shape, the size, the origin, the wealth, the poverty, give peace a chance, let us all get along.
how's that for over-simplification. I'm gettin' pretty good with that!!
It's good that racial equality gets so much attention, and I also hope that all who have written about it and talked about past or even recent injustice are working towards change even if it's just starting with our own attitudes. One last thing to Rochelle Frank, I didn't leave out the Chinese. They were the third race that I mentioned. I wasn't trying to exclude any particular race. I simply listed the first 5 races that I wanted to and then I quickly explained why the idea of apologies or reparations is in my mind preposterous.
Hi talented...You did a marvelous job illustrating how cruel we all are as a people..can't mention every cruelty...too many to name. We all know it will continue as long as people hate....and people do hate. It is so much easier to love, but we have to curb our apetites for me-ism.
Your point that no apology could make up for what is done...is buried and some people may not read it...so readers...read all the words...get the full message...I had to read it twice myself. LOTS of information in this hub....a great job!!
My point was the same, talented ink. We can't undo all the knots our ancestors have tied, nor should we try to. We can only look at the events and resolve to not let them happen again.
I think some people missed the point.
FANTASTIC HUB!!!!! Writing is excellent and it has many debating which is what I appreciate. You spoke it from your point of view and I clearly understand it. All races should be treated with respect and dignity and it should not matter what the color of your skin is or where you have came from WE ALL NEED TO UNITE AND NOT DIVIDE.
Thanks for the hub. The responses are as interesting as the hub is!
I think apologies are worthless. Make it right or stand by it, but don't say "Sorry" and go on doing the same awful things--that's my take on it.
We'll see how far past racism this country has gotten in the upcoming election I think. So far, I'm a little discouraged.
It's time to move on - yes, a lot of hurt and pain has been caused, but in the end, we are all citizens of planet earth. Learn from the past, live in the present and look forward to the future - the three L's of life.
Yawn.
I have Malungeon ancestry. They tried to remove them from these mountains and put them on the Trail of Tears. They are still maligned by many in these parts and are truly mistreated. Where are their reparations? They lie in the opportunity that is now afforded them for higher education and economic advancement. My experience is that most people do not get ahead because of their own beliefs in themselves, after the chains of slavery or bondage have been removed from them.
While I agree on a fundamental level regarding Native Americans, there is no one left in this generation that is responsible for what happened. I do not owe Native Americans an apology. For that matter, I do not owe African Americans an apology. If we are taking responsibility for what our forefathers did, then I should be applauded because my ancestors were part of the underground railroad (I didn't do it myself but as long as we are taking responsibility..). Oh... and my great-grandmother was Native American...
While what happened was completely WRONG and this idea that America was somehow given to us by God and blah...blah...blah makes me want to puke, "we" cannot be blamed for bringing violence into a country that was already violent. It wasn't all hearts and flowers before "we" came.
Exactly how long do people get to whine before they take responsibility for how their lives are NOW?
I didn't get a scholarship based on MY race. I had to prove myself.
I will never apologize for being white.
Ananta65 says:
17 months ago
My compliments. Here in the Netherlands we have a similar situation. In fact, it has been the Dutch who have played a key rol in the trade of slaves. We would get them from the African continent and sell them worldwide (well, the world of haves at that time to be more precise). Back in the sixties and seventies we welcomed Turkish and Marocans to do our dirty work for much less than we were willing to do it ourselves. And similar to the American attitude towards Mexicans that you describe, we (too many of us) want those people out of the country now that economy is slowing down. The 9/11 fever has added to that attitude giving people like Geert Wilders and the likes the opportunity to become popular.