Some possible questions to answer are: Do they think that the Native Americans of today were owed an apology for the trail of tears, and other crimes? Was this a good, genuine apology or not? Why do you think this? Did native people applaud the bill? Why or why not? Do you think that this apology bill helps Native people today?
Here is the link to the official apology from Congress in 2009.
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ReplyDeleteI think that the bill was very well put together and organized. the tribes did appreciate the bill but it was not enough. the bill currently is not public so it is not really doing anything.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it was well put together, but I also believe it isn't enough. If people can't recognize it publicly than how can it be an "apology"? So, I think it should be publicly announced.
DeleteWhat else do you think could be done?
DeleteThe apology to the Native Americans was a good idea. Some natives accepted the apology and others were skeptical and didn't because they were either still angry or did not think that it was sincere. Though it took the United States 200 years to make the apology to the natives I believe that it was good and still meant as much even if it had been written earlier.
ReplyDeleteBelow it a quote from the Apology.
"Apologizes on behalf of the people of the United States to all Native Peoples for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on Native Peoples by citizens of the United States."
Why did you choose this quote? What was the meaning of choosing this one, rather than all the others.
DeleteI agree it's good that the government apologized, even though it was 200 years late, but I think it would have been better appreciated if it was given to those who were directly affected by this.
DeleteWhy do you think it took so long for the apology?
DeleteAs nice as it may have been for people to finally realize the wrong white man had caused, I am still disappointed.
ReplyDeleteFirst, this apology did not even get read out loud. It was never on a big news show, or in any big paper, and I had never even heard of it until this assignment. To quote Rob Capriccioso (http://www.danielnpaul.com/AmericanApologyToAmericanIndians.html) "Is an apology that’s not said out loud really an apology?" I have to agree.
Next, this apology wasn't even the best "we" could do. The apology from 2009 was just a "watered down" version of one that was suggested in 2004. It would have been great then, but some people just couldn't play nice. All in all, it's a good start, but a disappointing one.
Sorry about all the quotes, they were lines from my research.
I agree with your first quote, can it really be counted as an apology? And does it really "Settle" the situation after 200 years?
DeleteWhy do you think it was kept so quiet?
DeleteI mainly think that we kept it quiet because we did not want other countrys to see what we did to basicly our own people.
DeleteI find that the apology was a good thing, but was not enough. I find that the apology was late in considering none of us, natives or non-natives, were actually there during that time period and directly involved. Yes, I am glad that “we” apologized, but it really isn’t enough. We damaged their culture and beliefs; we took their lives and we took their rights. Many people were affected by this and I’m sure a lot of traditions and culture was lost because of our actions. As one of my sources said, “…the gesture was appreciated…what happens from this day forward?” The apology was a nice thought, but what does it do to help today? It can’t change the past; all it does is hopefully help fix our nations ties with the Natives.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I wish there was something more America could do.
DeleteI agree as well. We should atleast give the native peoples some of there land back so they can rebuild and start over on a new page and get along with one an other.
DeleteI think that the apology was a very good thing though I don’t think that it was enough. It didn’t consider any of us either. We damaged a lot of people, cultures, and families. We took their lives and everything they had including their rights.
ReplyDeleteAnd as one of my sourses say:
“You might think that something would be announced, that something would be said about it. After all, they’re apologizing to Native Americans, and yet, I don’t know that people have really heard about it."
This quote shows that not enough people heard about it. It didn't do much to the society.
Also, Why did it take us that long to apologise? We should have apologised a LONG time ago. Especially for what we did to the first natives. It cannot change what happened. But I guess this is all that Americans can do to make amends with the Native Americans for the selfish things we have done to them.
I think the apology was a good thing but will never be enough for the hard ships they were put through on the trail of tears or for what they were forced to give up.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this. What were they forced to give up?
DeleteTheir land, homes, beliefs, and in some cases family.
DeleteI think the apology was needed but it is too late to right the wrong. All this meant was people finally tried to atone for the wretched way the Native Americans were treated. The fact that we did finally apologize was a great accomplishment. So many people have kept what happened “in the closet”, but now we’re bringing this out and trying to fix it with words. I think the apology was sincere, and it people honestly felt bad for what happened. I don’t think that this apology actually helped the modern Native Americans at all. Their culture, ancestors, homelands, and lifestyle have already been destroyed beyond repair.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think they meant by "in the closet"? Why can't their lifestyles be repaired?
DeleteI think they meant that they kept it secret by saying it was in the closet.
DeleteTheir lifestyles can't be repaired because the damage to them has gone to far.
I agree with you that what we have done can not be compensated for in any way big or small.
DeleteI think that the apology was a good thing, but wasn't enough. They were forced to give up a lot.Some natives accepted the apology but others did not.
ReplyDeleteI belive that it was a good idea to apologis for the things That we as a country did to them. Although I belive that the apology was sent to late and I don't think that the apology could fix the wrong were did. Plus where we did make the apology I think it acted as a reminder for the native peoples and that gust made them angreyer.
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