Is it time for a change?

[ironglowz]

   It has been a couple hundred years now, that land was set aside for the conquered native peoples of the present USA, to keep as" homelands"

  That was a time when it must have been expected that they would go on hunting and gathering as a subsistence lifestyle, which in most cases, no longer works.

  Around here, the six nations have their reservations, but have the right to live off the res and never have anything to do with it.  Or if they wish, enjoy both cultures.

  Now, I know promises such as, " as long as the grass grows and the sun shines", were made, and they must be kept, but is it not more realistic to consider that it is time the reservations and it's people were absorbed into the greater nation ?

   Some of the western reservations, seem to be awash in societal problems, would they be better served if held accountable and guided by the same rules?

  Of course we have 3 reservations here in my county, and little differentation is found, but some, mostly in western states, seem to truly struggle.

  ..But then, perhaps, seeing the corruption involved in child/elder care, in some states..perhaps they should be left alone... 

  What are your thoughts concerning this issue in your home area ?
.

[Bob Riebe]

            The American Indians have lied to and cheated by Fed. and State Gov. for 200 years; it is the Indians turn, paybacks are a bitch.

[Land_Owner]

When does bringing a spear or bow and
arrow to a gunfight exceed the capacity
of an armed and hateful populace with
handguns and rifles? Regardless, our white
ancestors "tamed" the West. Whatever
"agreements" they made, good or bad,
lies or truth, went to God long ago with them.
Keeping treaties  alive from generation to
generation should be stopped. Like "reparations"!
Bwhahaha. You didn't get them then, you don't get
them now.

[scattershot]

If anyone in this country has a break coming, it’s the Indians. The way we treated them is a shame. Leave them alone.

[Bob Riebe]

       In the old days it was - White men speak with forked tongue - they would have been more accurate saying - You can tell if a white man is lying, his lips are moving!

[nw_hunter]

       In the old days it was - White men speak with forked tongue - they would have been more accurate saying - You can tell if a white man is lying, his lips are moving!

The white man doesn't own that title exclusively. Every race is equally guilty. The Noble Red Man wasn't very NOBLE! They were killing each other with spears, bows and arrows and rocks long before the first so called White man appeared. Just not as affective as lead and gun powder. To the victor goes the spoils. The way it goes. Actually the Red man is better off than before. Even the descendants of the slaves in America have it better than any other place on the globe. Especially Africa.

[ironglowz]

If anyone in this country has a break coming, it’s the Indians. The way we treated them is a shame. Leave them alone.

      Yes; there have been some dirty tricks played, ... by both sides.  However, they were perhaps the recipients of one of the greatest concessions ever given to a defeated people..

   Let's take a look.  Let's start back with the old empires...Persian, Greek, Roman, Ottoman etc..  Empires struggled, often over what Hitler called "Lebensraum", or
  "living room"...put simply LAND  and lots of it !

   Almost invariably, the victor was the one which was better organized and had better technology...which holds true in the case being discussed.

   The native American population for what is the United States in 1620, is estimated to be between 3 million and 6 million.. but they were far from organized.

   Matter of fact, they were quite busy trying to "colonize" one another !

     So after being conquered, what was the "greatest concession" they received ?

    So here it is, rhetorically;
     
 What other empire, once their native foe was defeated, has set aside small 'nation states' in the original land, where the defeated can live, undisturbed, govern their own and carry on their lives as they see fit ?

   I'll answer that !  NONE !  Neither the .Persian, Greek, Roman, Ottoman etc., set aside self-ruled mini states within the conquered territory.  Most of the survivors of the old "enemy", were either killed off or absorbed within the conquering
occupiers.

     In fact, that is exactly how the Indian tribes in America treated their defeated opponents.

  My concern here is humanitarian.  While some reservations are doping OK. some it seems are a complete failure, with crime, drugs, alcoholism and unemployment being their fate !

   So, I ask again..is not the reservation system ready to be disposed of per mutual agreement?