"American Indians"

We all remember the Pilgrims and Indians from the Thanksgiving stories of our childhood. I always identified much more with the natives than I did with the pilgrims. I have never been very pilgrim-like. And before anyone gets upset at my use of the name "indian" when I refer to the aboriginal North American people, I do realize that is a poor name. Such are the perils of common usage. Regardless of what I call them, I have great respect for all of their cultures, even if I disagree with some specifics. No one can justify what the US government did to them in the name of progress. On a forum I am a member of, someone posting as FreedomMonkey made this remark about the power of government to destroy a culture: "it took less than two generations to take some of the fiercest individualists on this continent (the Lakota, Cheyenne, etc.) and break them down and domesticate them. Kill the leaders, destroy any oustanding individuals, take their children away, destroy their traditions and make them utterly dependent upon socialist handouts and gov't bureaucrats." I agree. It always saddens me to see the old photographs of the indian children with their "white man" haircuts and clothes being taught to be "civilized" at some "indian school". I don't want any do-gooders interfering with my culture,and I do not want any do-gooders interfering with anyone else's culture either. Live (by the ZAP) and let live. Happy Thanksgiving Day.