OTHER OPINIONS : American Indians
Posted: October 18, 2009 at 8:24 a.m.
HAYS, Kan. — Congress is making a habit of begging forgiveness for this country’s past behavior, or at least acknowledging our predecessors did not always make the best decisions. …
Last week, the Senate approved such a resolution as part of a defense spending bill. The official statement, which was introduced by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., and Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., indicates remorse for years of ill-conceived policies and acts of violence toward American Indians. …
Apologizing for misdeeds that took place centuries ago strikes us as rather short on substantive meaning. The broken promises and treaties, massacres, thefts and forced relocations are all in the past. Presentday conditions on purposefully isolated reservations include extreme rates of poverty, crime,illiteracy, infant mortality and substance abuse. …
Replacing yesteryear’s beads and trinkets with today’s casinos and bingo halls should not be enough to rectify the wrongs of our forefathers. Neither should saying we’re sorry.
American Indians need reparations, not apologies. …
And they don’t need it in the form of cash payments. They need it in specific programs, laws and mindsets that eliminate the possibility of future acts of prejudice. They need it in the form of education that continues decreasing our fear, mistrust and hate of “others.” They need it in legal vows not to seize any more territories for our own expansionist desires.
They need it in the actual practice of equality for all.
Deeds, not words, are needed.
- The Hays (Kan.) Daily News
Opinion, Pages 14 on 10/18/2009
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