I'm an American everywhere else...

[Ling Ling 22]

My thoughts are that I am proud to be a "native american". I wouldn't want to be anything else. I don't have a complex and I don't want to be lumped in with everyone else.

Not arguing with you...understanding your point, and agree with it.

NATIVE American is pretty cool..and connotes something entirely different from AFRICAN American (especially when I've never been to Africa and don't have any relatives in Africa).

I think we both understand where we're coming from.

But I wondering how you feel about the term Indian, and the whole Columbus day Thanksgiving thing?

I celebrate thanksgiving because I love turkey.

I don't like getting into racial politics in front of everyone because someone is surely to get offended which is why I pm'd you.

Buut...

I personally don't like the term "indian", and I don't care what George Carlin said about it.

If we wanted to get technical we could go by tribes or we could go by "Nishnawbe", but I just say "Native American" because its pretty universal. However, its personal preference as some first nations peoples do not mind the term "indian".

About Columbus, well lets just say I'm not exactly down with him. I think that back then, first nations people were taken advantage of, and we learned from it. I prefer not to stay angry about the things that happened to my ancestors but I acknowledge it, I remember it and I educate myself about it.

On to the topic at hand as discussed with you in PM, we are from two different places. My families history lies in this land for thousands of years, I am native to this land. I don't feel the way you feel, but I could understand the way you feel. I think minorities can easily gain a complex living in this country where you're told you're one thing plus another.

Understood...so I won't even bring up any questions on how you feel about the whole scalping thing.

[Sprailenes 47]

No, I'd stay away from that one. Also wouldn't go calling me Pocahontas either, or asking me if Dance with the wolves, or if I live in tee pee, or call me an indian-giver.

I don't look at the sun to tell time, I don't ask the moon for advice, I don't hear the wind call my name.

[pedroh 21]

u dont know herbal medicines either? damn

[Ling Ling 22]

Oh good grief, I think you just want to challenge everything I'm saying...

My point is....there are people who use the term that have no desire in ever setting foot on the continent.

I'm done now because I'm going home and because you seem to misconstrue quite a bit of what I'm saying. Perhaps I'm not clear enough.

Have a nice weekend.

HEY...You wrote

"I agree it's great to have intelligent friends; you can keep each other on your toes mentally...challenging their ideas while still respecting them as people. But intelligence isn't just about formal education, so I may know people who never finished college who I'd respect their knowledge and opinion just as much. "

Just because I challenge you doesn't mean I don't consider you a friend...and I do like keeping my friends on their toes mentally.

As for formal education, I'm with you on that. I know a LOT of people with degrees that I would not consider intelligent.

Education and intelligence are not the same thing, and can be mutually exclusive.

Hope you have a GREAT weekend...with or without your habit.

[Ling Ling 22]

No, I'd stay away from that one. Also wouldn't go calling me Pocahontas either, or asking me if Dance with the wolves, or if I live in tee pee, or call me an indian-giver.

I don't look at the sun to tell time, I don't ask the moon for advice, I don't hear the wind call my name.

So you heard about the Native American that married a Jewish person?

They named their son "Bargain Hunter".

Sorry...just thought we may as well throw that one in.

Note-my best friend, (who happens to be of the Jewish faith...and is married to a Muslim woman) told me that joke.

It is not intended to offend, but if it does..here's a reciprocal joke about Americans with dark skin.

Why don't Americans with dark skin allow their children to eat Tootsie Rolls?

Because they kept biting their fingers off.

[jundp 191]

You would think that if there were so many 'people' interested in advancing the race dialogue in this country to a point where racial distinctions didn't exist, they'd refer to people for what they were- people.

But....this makes sense....

On another note, why do Americans insist on saying "I'm German" or "I'm Irish" or "I'm Italian" when no one for the last 5 generations in their family has lived anywhere but America?

To be PC I am Portuguese-Welsh-British-German-Native American-American. Please refer to me thusly in the future. TYVM.