General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI don't understand how people can continue to be Americans.
You were born into this institution that would commit such atrocities, but you don't have to stay.
Me? I'm not leaving, because I can foment change from within.
The Trail of Tears is a name given to the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations from southeastern parts of the United States following the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The removal included many members of the Cherokee, Muscogee (Creek), Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations, among others in the United States, from their homelands to Indian Territory (eastern sections of the present-day state of Oklahoma). The phrase originated from a description of the removal of the Choctaw Nation in 1831.
Many Native Americans suffered from exposure, disease and starvation en route to their destinations. Many died, including 60,000 of the 130,000 relocated Cherokee, intermarried and accompanying European-Americans, and the 2,000 African-American free blacks and slaves owned by the Cherokee they took with them. European Americans and African American freedmen and slaves also participated in the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee Creek and Seminole forced relocations.
In 1831, the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee Creek, and Seminole (sometimes collectively referred to as the Five Civilized Tribes) were living as autonomous nations in what would be called the American Deep South. The process of cultural transformation (proposed by George Washington and Henry Knox) was gaining momentum, especially among the Cherokee and Choctaw. Andrew Jackson continued and renewed the political and military effort for the removal of the Native Americans from these lands with the passage of the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
In 1831 the Choctaw were the first to be removed, and they became the model for all other removals. After the Choctaw, the Seminole were removed in 1832, the Creek in 1834, then the Chickasaw in 1837, and finally the Cherokee in 1838. After removal, some Native Americans remained in their ancient homelands - the Choctaw are found in Mississippi, the Seminole in Florida, the Creek in Alabama, and the Cherokee in North Carolina. A limited number of non-native Americans (including African-Americans - usually as slaves) also accompanied the Native American nations on the trek westward. By 1837, 46,000 Native Americans from these southeastern states had been removed from their homelands thereby opening 25 million acres (100,000 km2) for predominantly white settlement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_of_Tears
ZombieHorde
(29,047 posts)English-speaking, first-world country, and I'll go.
eta: of course the country I move to should not have a history of atrocities.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)That would be a tough find.
Trillo
(9,154 posts)You wrote, "I don't understand how people can continue to be Americans. ... You were born into this institution that would commit such atrocities, but you don't have to stay." and " A country free from atrocities. ... That would be a tough find."
It's kind of confusing to reconcile.
djean111
(14,255 posts)slackmaster
(60,567 posts)You can rule out Canada, the UK, and Australia.
djean111
(14,255 posts)hierarchy. (I am an atheist, but I don't confuse people of a faith with their quite-unholy leadership).
No one can help where they are born.
Not as easy to just leave a country, either.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)djean111
(14,255 posts)some days I hope some things are sarcastic!
AndyA
(16,993 posts)Many of the tribes are making big bucks with casinos, but they aren't helping their very own people when it comes to wages, health care, etc.
I guess something happens to people when they make it to the top. They stop caring about the folks who depend on them to get on their feet and have a chance at making something of their lives.
A $250 million casino expansion was just announced here, and the forums are full of comments about how the tribal leaders will spend this kind of money to build new buildings, but won't address wage issues, lack of access to health care, and other things that would help everyone be successful.
It probably isn't the Indians that actually own those, but the casino corporations that found a loophole in the law by which they can put their casinos on Native American land.
All Indians do not live in teepees (or casinos) by Catherine C. Robbins might explain better.
nyquil_man
(1,443 posts)Stateless persons don't have it quite so easy.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)nyquil_man
(1,443 posts)Good luck choosing not to live in a nation.
StarlightGold
(365 posts)As choosing a religion, come on!
Picking up family and relocating to another land or driving two blocks away to another church.
Golly gee, I guess they're both the same!
People CAN change religions, but they just don't WANT to. I CAN change my lifetime membership in a club that excludes and demonizes Blacks, Jewish, women, etc., but it's been wonderful for ME. I got mine, so too bad about the demonized and discriminated against. I'll just play the "Family Tradition" card and that will rationalize it.
Cirque du So-What
(25,941 posts)but relocation is impractical for many people. Aside from monetary considerations, there is also the matter of leaving family behind in many cases. Besides, what nation has squeaky-clean hands regarding how they treated indigenous peoples, those considered 'outsiders,' or even their own peoples, for that matter? Iceland may come closest to 'purity' regarding indigenous peoples, but I may be mistaken.
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)What exactly is your point??
jollyreaper2112
(1,941 posts)It's easier to leave a religion than a country.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)jollyreaper2112
(1,941 posts)Ok, how do I go about not supporting the US government? Renounce citizenship? Move to Cuba? Become a tax protester out in the midwest and get killed in a firefight with federal agents?
I don't support our government's policies. I have no idea how to translate that into action.
I don't support organized religion. I can translate that into action by not belonging.
I don't support the Democratic Party's selling out of party principles. That's why I'm an independent.
I don't support the GOP at all and was never a member.
The logical fallacy you're making is "Well, we can't feed everyone in Africa so let's not feed this kid."
treestar
(82,383 posts)Whoever brought up the idea didn't have a good one.