[George L.]

On July 4, 2001, a group of movie stars read sections of the Declaration of Independence on national TV. Most of the participants read three or four sections. The American Indian representative read one line. It was the only place in the Declaration where Native Americans are mentioned – it tells of the trials and tribulations of pioneers who had to deal with these ‘ merciless savages.’ To have a Native American read this, without comment, in a setting that clearly glorified the Declaration, seems to me to be in very poor taste, at least. Anyone else notice?

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Name : George L., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 57, City : Flourtown, State : PA, Country : United States, Occupation : psychiatrist, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[ACC25039]

I didn’t notice that, and neither did any other native people I know or native activist groups I’m in touch with. Maybe it’s because, since every weekend during football and baseball seasons we see the near-equivalent of Klan rallies in terms of the level of insult done to native people when sports teams and fans think of Indians as mascots no different than animals, this seemed downright mild by comparison. After all, the reading didn’t insult and mock native religions like the ‘tomahawk chop’ the Atlanta ‘Braves’ use or the ‘Dancing Illini’ of the University of Illinois does, and it didn’t present a racist cartoon caricature of natives like the Cleveland ‘Indians’, or use outright vicious and hateful epithets like the Washington ‘Redskins.’ But based on what you say, it does seem a strange and misguided way to show diversity. Perhaps they meant to make it clear what the Founding Fathers really thought about natives and not gloss it over like so many do. But why then, didn’t they have someone black read about the Three Fifths Compromise in the Constitution, or a woman read the parts that repeatedly refer to the rights of men alone?

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Name : ACC25039, Gender : M, Race : Mexican and American Indian, City : Phoenix, State : AZ, Country : United States, 

[Justin27095]

The fact that it popped out and caused you to reflect on our legacy of colonialism was perhaps the effect the event director was trying to bring across. I don’t think it’s impossible to simultaneously respect the Founding Fathers and acknowledge their hypocrisy.

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[Daniel27214]

I did not get to see this, but I agree strongly that it was tasteless. I and other members of our Nations are working hard to make changes in this field. I appreciate you pointing this kind of thing out.

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Name : Daniel27214, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : American Indian, Religion : Native American, Age : 18, City : Middletown, State : CT, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Allen Retasket]

Most people don’t know it but the US Constitution is based on Native American style of Government. When Jefferson and Franklin were writing the Constitution, they were so taken by the Iroquios Confedercy style of government the incorporated much of it in the Constitution. If you don’t believe me, look up the Iraquios Confederacy. Their style of government was very advanced. Native Americans were advanced far more than our history books teach us because history was recorded by white people and they wrote a very slanted view of us as Indian people. We actually contributed much of the food on your plates today and about 60% of the meds you take have Native American origins.

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Name : Allen Retasket, Gender : M, Race : American Indian, Religion : Native American, Age : 56, City : wenatchee, State : WA, Country : United States, Occupation : Services Co-ordinator, Education level : Technical School, Social class : Middle class, 

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