|
The fact is European settlers captured, moved, or killed Native Americans living on the lands from
the Atlantic to the Pacific. Regardless of the point that natives didn't really believe in
ownership, regardless of whether they were truly the first people to live here, it is an undeniable
fact that we took this land from their enjoyment and/or control.
If invincible aliens came to Earth and had a way to colonize floating cities in the air directly
above our own cities, and shot down our planes and satellites and shoved Americans to tight little
reservations in the regions the aliens didn't want, we'd think they stole from us. They might say
"but you weren't able to live in the air so we didn't take anything from you", or "you don't have
binding laws about who owns that air so it was free for us to take. It would be a crock no matter
how they tried to justify it. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
I agree. Andrew Jackson forced Native Americans off their lands and gave them no other choice.
Today, they only have a few reservations left. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
I didn't think there was any debate about this at all, we came we saw we conquered. That's how it
went and "So it goes" Kurt Vonnegutt
We believe we are a unique nation and that is what you are taught in our federally funded schools.
Why would the government spend it's money to teach you about all of the bad things it did? |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
The history of how the natives of the American continent had their land stolen from them is one of
the sorriest chapters in the history of the human race. What makes it truly repulsive is the
hypocrisy with which it was done. One people stealing land from another through violence is not that
rare in history. Telling yourself that it's actually noble and right and justified while you butcher
and steal is.
A number of justifications were invoked so that the Americans didn't feel bad about stealing the
land while they did it. For example, it was said that the Indians lived by hunting, rather than by
growing crops on the land, which was more efficient. By stealing their land, we will force them to
make better use of it, turning to cultivation instead, said Jefferson. This was a lie. The Indians
already knew about cultivation.
Then it was claimed the Indians were savages. They had no societal organization, no constitution, no
proper government. Some of the Indians made the mistake of taking these criticisms seriously. The
Five Civilized Tribes developed a constitution much like the US one. They maintained good relations
with their neighbors and acted in every way like a morally upright community. Still they were
expelled and their lands stolen. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
I agree that the Europeans did steal the land from the Native American when they first came here.
The Europeans pushed them out and forced them to leave or move elsewhere. This is not only evident
with the Europeans and Native Americans. People in the US also stole land from Mexico. Most of the
southern states once belonged to Mexico and the people in the US took that land from them.
Therefore, we have no right saying that people in Texas, New Mexico, Southern California, Arizona,
and other states are illegals. It was their land before it was ours. Europeans are popular for
stealing land from others. |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
No.
The land, as viewed by Native Americans, could not be "owned" as such.....
They did not conceive of the notion of anyone "owning" the land, which is how the whites were able
to take the land from them and enslave the Natives. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
The natives supposedly came from Asia, over the Russian-Alaska land bridge. Before that, there was
believed to be no one else there. The natives took it from the hedgehogs, and then the Europeans
took it from the natives, and then the US took it from both. What a happy thought. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
There is no definitive proof that Indians were here first. According to science, at one time there
was a land bridge between North America and Europe, so any group of people could have been here
first. Possibly Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
None of us really 'own' anything. We may have a piece of paper that says so, but it really all
belongs to God. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
You can't steal what isn't owned and all of the Indian tribes I'm aware of thought that owning land
was absurd. I'm not going to say that the Indians didn't get screwed, they most certainly did, but
there was no theft involved. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
The native Americans were neither an organized and unified society, nor did they claim to own the
land or any property rights whatsoever. Additionally, Europe was overpopulating at an incredible
rate. The desire for exploration and glory may not be justified but who are you to question the acts
of people who lived in a world of different standards and norms? To claim that you know for certain
that you would have done differently is fallicious in nature. First, you did not grow up in that
world and accustomed to that liniage of thought and second, you do not know what your judgements
would have been after being conditioned in that way |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
27 Feb 2008 15:44
Sign In
For and Against Recent Activity
