lctonka

Did you see this?


Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Racism: Houston Mayor Insults American Indians

Houston's Mayor Pro Tem Michael Berry insulted American Indian listeners during his talk show on slavery and Indians on KPRC Radio 950. The American Indian Genocide Museum in Houston urges others to respond:
Houston's Mayor Berry:
" We need to stop wasting all this time and energy apologizing to the American Indian, which we continue to do ... We give them casinos, we give them special licenses, we give them special scholarships and why I don't understand .."
" We conquered them, that's history - Hello "'
" You got to be against giving welfare to the American Indians because of the fact , that 200 years ago they were whipped in a war. Lets just call it what it is, they lost a war."s:

Lakota Wiyan

I saw it, heard it, and made sure I emailed that guy directly!

JinglnCrazyLilBird

There's an uproar over Imus's comment against African Americans and yet comments like these are spoken everyday against natives. Everywhere on the news people say racism is going to change.... but it seems nowadays that that only applies to African Americans. It still seems like Native Americans are considered less than equal to everyone else. It makes me soooo sad and angry. How far must we go to get OUR voices heard! If I knew how to e-mail MSNBC and all the other big name news places, I'd see what they have to say... they'd probably say nothing.

What's with this belief that scholarships are readily available to natives?!? Where the hell do you think Bush cuts money first!!! I got all of my scholarships by maintaining a 4.0 GPA (which I have maintained for four years of highschool AND college)!!!! Let's see Mr. Mayor do that!!! While my people where cultivating corn and building communities... his people were probably still swinging from the trees throwing feces at eachother!!!

This reminds me of an incident I experienced at my University's open house last Saturday. I was manning the display for our Native American Student Association. A woman marches up and immediately asks "How can I get scholarships for my son? We have a Native American ancestor and someone told me I could get some because there's alot available. I don't want to have to pay or take out student loans." My mom was there and I could just see her blood pressure rising. I guess that Mr. Mayor doesn't realize that what little money available to natives also get taken by the non-indian wannabes. Its not really ours if you guys take it back, Mr. Mayor!!!

GEEEEEZ AYEEE!!! Darnit, I need to go take something for my blood pressure before I have a stroke. It's times like these I wish I could shoot frickin' laser beams from my eyes!

__________________

WILL YOU BE MY FRIEND?! MUAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

lctonka

After I recieved this e-mail about his comments. I e-mailed all my local TV stations and asked why nothing was reported about this. Hearing nothing of course. I saw an Oprah show about Life after Imus. I e-mailed her and asked why nothing was reported about this. I told her we have lived with these comments for 500 + years. That we were slaves before the black man, and after they freed the slaves. California passed a law making it legal to have Indians as slaves. I said he was a public figure elected to represent the peoplle and we are part of the voting public. I then saw an article in Time magaziine and I e-mail them and asked why no coverage was given to this or an uproar make of these comments by a public figure. I recieved a call from DC from Eyewitness News, but they left no message and haven't called back. What is his e-mail address that you wote to him at? I would also like to give him my opinion and there are several others here in Minnesota who would also like to tell him their opinions.

subeeds

I would like his email, too. Notice that the Imus "scandel" fell off radar after the VT shootings? JCLilBird, you must have a very patient mom. I probably would have told that woman what tall building she could jump off of. I am on this forum because it makes me feel closer to my Grandfather and the things he taught me. I have encountered bigotry in my life because I am Cheyenne, but would not presume to know what it's like to grow up on a res and the things encountered there. I could not and would not take any kind of financial aid, just because his blood is in my veins. That woman and her kind are the ones that really make me irritated. Could she name her "Native Amercan" ancestor. Probably not and probably not the tribe either. I eed to get off my soapbox here and go bead. I miss this place and i"ll be back after festival is over next weekend. That thing has nearly taken over my life. Good thing I love beading!!

__________________
Take nothing for granted. Life can change irrevocably in a heartbeat.

whitewave

I saw it too. Its really sad. People can be so very ignorant! I have very little patience for racism and ignorance. I have been working VERY hard over the years to learn to not let it produce hate inside me. We must work to change things. That is the only way. It is likely that this fool was taught ignorance by his family, and unfortunetly the media, government, and "history" books have reinforced these ideas. It is likely that this Mayer's main problem is being smart enough to think for himself. The only way to change things is to teach others, speak out as much as we can, and not allow things like this to be put aside. I have had the hardest time with my own inner peace because of people like him. I get SO enraged at comments like these that it takes over me for AT LEAST that moment. I cannot allow anyone else to have that kind of power over me, but it is a struggle everyday.