This news article
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_bin_laden_geronimo
was recently brought to my attention by a friend on Facebook and thought I would reply here...
At the risk of sounding racist which I dont believe myself to be...Does anyone really believe that the use of the code name "Geronimo" was a direct attack on Native Americans or "another attempt to label Native Americans as terrorists"?
Yes, I can see where Native Americans would object to the use of the name of a folk hero in a raid against a world terrorist.
However, I don't believe that it was an intentional or direct attack on the Native American culture or people. Was it an insensitive label to put on the raid against Bin Laden? Obviously it was! That said... the tradition of thinking of "Indians as enemies of the United States" is well founded in the history of the U.S. and I think it would be more accurate to describe Indians as enemies of anyone who threatened their way of life during the "settling" of this country in the 1800's. However, it is not the 1800's. It is the 2000's and the Native American culture is much different today than it was then, as are everyone's. These are the "United" States of America" and I for one do not describe "united" as several peoples at war with each other. Does Racism still exist? Of course it does and it always will.
Now I said all that to get to this one point... Pick your battles!
Racism abounds all over the world and against every conceivable minority. Every race is in a minority somewhere in the world. I think that the fight against racism should be waged where it matters the most and an insensitive code word is not the battlefield I would choose when so many others are available to wage war upon.
That being said... It is your right and mine to speak whatever you feel a mind to about any subject you choose, at least in this great country I live in.
So speak up and be heard!!!! It is that right that thousands of good men and women, whether they be Native American, Hispanic, Asian, Caucasian, African American or whatever have fought and died for.
God Bless the soldiers of these United States of America
John Pope
I agree with you that it was an insensitive label, absolutely. Unfortunately, that label has come at a time when the President can either make or break his re-election and at a time when everyone is on edge.
ReplyDeleteI personally don't like the term 'Native American' (my ancestors are Apache Indians), I don't like 'Hispanic', either, as I've never even been to Hispanola, BUT, my Grandparents were from the part of Mexico which is now known as New Mexico...and I definitely can't stand the term 'African American' because I seriously doubt much of the Black community's close relatives and especially themselves, have ever set foot on the African continent.
I am an American, plain and simple, who thinks that people should be a little more sensitive in throwing around terms and should actually take the time to research their 'label' before casting it, especially when you're about to kill the most wanted man on the planet and you are the President of the United States.
Point taken Melissa, I personally don't like any of the labels I used in this thread and frankly, I tried to use what I thought were PC labels as not to offend anyone. My ancestor came across on one of the first few ships from where I have no idea but I think he was a captain's mate or something to that effect. Which basically means he was a servant. I personally consider myself an American not a European American. I guess we could all be considered middle eastern americans if we date back to the garden in our ancestry :)
ReplyDeleteI don't like the idea of being PC. For me, either people can handle what I say, or they can't. Life is what it is. I think in being PC or expecting people to behave as such, just sugar coats what we actually mean, and I'm not made of sugar, as you know! LOL
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