I’m confused,
Is not this country we live in called America and aren’t we called American citizens ? And isn’t the indian that is called an Native American an American Citizen? Why is it that we don’t live by the same aws, rules, that have been passed into law by American Legislatures?
When a person inters this country from another country, does he not have to become a citizen of this country before he is called an American? And then, do they not have to live by the laws of this country?
As I understand it, the Indians are given a piece of this country to call their own and they are called native Americans. Why then, is the native American not called an American that has to live by the same Laws. I understand that the Native American was on this land first and fought a war with the white man and lost. They have places with a boundary’s that are called reservations. If he is indeed a true America, why has the reservation boundary not been removed? Is he a prisoner or a criminal that has to be confined to a special area?
One of them can commit a crime out side the reservation and retreat within it’s boundaries and than he has to be extradited to face the charges. But first the laws have to be hallenged, Why? Don’t tell me it is because of a treaty that was signed long ago. Treaties are signed between two parties or two nations.
The number of Indian reservations in this country is not known by me, But there are many. I thought our country was referred to as The United States of America! As long as the Indian is allowed to live the Indian way with his own culture and not encouraged to learn the American way, there is going to be misunderstanding and problems between the Indian and the white man. This is a nation called America, right?
The Indian fought a war with the white man and lost. Now they ask that we give the land ack to them or pay an enormous price. A price for which they can not agree up-on. Long before the Indian came to this land, it belonged to someone else. They could have been Jews, Chinese or Russian or was it the Buffalo? They were ancestors to someone. Did the Indian buy or trade for it or did they just move in and crowd them off the land. Does it really matter? It is the Americans that hold title to it now.
Treaties are broken by all parties over and over again. Why is a Native American expected to live and obey only selected Indian laws? This is America and America has it’s own laws. Some time back, I was involved in a conversation about Income Taxes. Several of the people were Native Americans. In the conversation one was ask how much income tax he had to pay to the Government. He replied that he didn’t know, only that he paid it every time he bought some thing at a store. Apparently he has never filed a federal income tax form! If this is true, Why and How is this possible?
Each time I pick up a news paper, I see where a new program for Indians is starting or they are asking for donations. How about the one asking for volunteers to go out in the forest and cut and deliver fire wood to people on the reservations, so they could keep warm.
Only the Lord knows how much food is collected and given free to the native American, along with clothing, furniture, TV’s, toys, etc. I know of many needy people, but none of them receive any of these things. I am not one of them although I am considered to be below the poverty line. There are children that live in the same neighborhood that have to ware old hand-me down coats for the winter months. There are also Native American children on the same street that get new coats every year. The white children run along side of the Native American Children who are riding New Bicycles. “Why”? Both families are on welfare programs to assist them with the cost of living.
The government (our government) give the native American any number of items that are of no cost to them. Many special programs are enacted to preserve the Indian heritage. Why are they not taught about America and the American heritage? Why do they consider themselves to be less than they really are. People, regardless who they are, need to learn and to learn they need to be taught. This is the year of 2008, we do not live back in the early days of this nation.
The Native American has lots of time on his hands as work is limited on reservations. He is gifted and real handy at crafts. But he had no place to show his talent. Who was it that built places like The Journey Museum, with the white mans tax dollar. Who has been paying for the up keep on the building and who pays the salaries of people that work there? Then when we go to view what is on the in-side, we have to pay to get in, where does that money go?
Yes, There are many questions to asked, How about some real answers? And one more question, How do I go about becoming an American Indian? I’ve tried sticking a feather or two in my hair, putting paint on my face, taking off most of my clothing and having bells jingle around my ankles as I dance to the beat of a drum!
What am I doing wrong ???????
By; Ben R. Bauer
Is not this country we live in called America and aren’t we called American citizens ? And isn’t the indian that is called an Native American an American Citizen? Why is it that we don’t live by the same aws, rules, that have been passed into law by American Legislatures?
When a person inters this country from another country, does he not have to become a citizen of this country before he is called an American? And then, do they not have to live by the laws of this country?
As I understand it, the Indians are given a piece of this country to call their own and they are called native Americans. Why then, is the native American not called an American that has to live by the same Laws. I understand that the Native American was on this land first and fought a war with the white man and lost. They have places with a boundary’s that are called reservations. If he is indeed a true America, why has the reservation boundary not been removed? Is he a prisoner or a criminal that has to be confined to a special area?
One of them can commit a crime out side the reservation and retreat within it’s boundaries and than he has to be extradited to face the charges. But first the laws have to be hallenged, Why? Don’t tell me it is because of a treaty that was signed long ago. Treaties are signed between two parties or two nations.
The number of Indian reservations in this country is not known by me, But there are many. I thought our country was referred to as The United States of America! As long as the Indian is allowed to live the Indian way with his own culture and not encouraged to learn the American way, there is going to be misunderstanding and problems between the Indian and the white man. This is a nation called America, right?
The Indian fought a war with the white man and lost. Now they ask that we give the land ack to them or pay an enormous price. A price for which they can not agree up-on. Long before the Indian came to this land, it belonged to someone else. They could have been Jews, Chinese or Russian or was it the Buffalo? They were ancestors to someone. Did the Indian buy or trade for it or did they just move in and crowd them off the land. Does it really matter? It is the Americans that hold title to it now.
Treaties are broken by all parties over and over again. Why is a Native American expected to live and obey only selected Indian laws? This is America and America has it’s own laws. Some time back, I was involved in a conversation about Income Taxes. Several of the people were Native Americans. In the conversation one was ask how much income tax he had to pay to the Government. He replied that he didn’t know, only that he paid it every time he bought some thing at a store. Apparently he has never filed a federal income tax form! If this is true, Why and How is this possible?
Each time I pick up a news paper, I see where a new program for Indians is starting or they are asking for donations. How about the one asking for volunteers to go out in the forest and cut and deliver fire wood to people on the reservations, so they could keep warm.
Only the Lord knows how much food is collected and given free to the native American, along with clothing, furniture, TV’s, toys, etc. I know of many needy people, but none of them receive any of these things. I am not one of them although I am considered to be below the poverty line. There are children that live in the same neighborhood that have to ware old hand-me down coats for the winter months. There are also Native American children on the same street that get new coats every year. The white children run along side of the Native American Children who are riding New Bicycles. “Why”? Both families are on welfare programs to assist them with the cost of living.
The government (our government) give the native American any number of items that are of no cost to them. Many special programs are enacted to preserve the Indian heritage. Why are they not taught about America and the American heritage? Why do they consider themselves to be less than they really are. People, regardless who they are, need to learn and to learn they need to be taught. This is the year of 2008, we do not live back in the early days of this nation.
The Native American has lots of time on his hands as work is limited on reservations. He is gifted and real handy at crafts. But he had no place to show his talent. Who was it that built places like The Journey Museum, with the white mans tax dollar. Who has been paying for the up keep on the building and who pays the salaries of people that work there? Then when we go to view what is on the in-side, we have to pay to get in, where does that money go?
Yes, There are many questions to asked, How about some real answers? And one more question, How do I go about becoming an American Indian? I’ve tried sticking a feather or two in my hair, putting paint on my face, taking off most of my clothing and having bells jingle around my ankles as I dance to the beat of a drum!
What am I doing wrong ???????
By; Ben R. Bauer
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