Back in the 1800’s, after the United States bought the Louisiana Purchase which extended its territory from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains, our young nation encountered Indian nations living on the lands we bought. Conflicts ensued, which were settled by a series of treaties.
The land on which the statute of Christopher Columbus sat on the grounds of the State Capitol was not “stolen” from the Indians. The Indians sold it to us.
Now, the Indians want it back. That’s the behavior that gave rise to the term “Indian giver.” The fact the Governor and Lt. Governor don’t understand the history of the state they govern, is shameful.
Joe Doakes
True enough.
But to Big Left, it’s never about history, math, or any other factual basis of analysis.
It’s inevitably about because shut up.
See not everybody is tearing down cherished historical monuments
A German medieval church has reinstated an antisemitic sculpture depicting a Jewish male in an obscene pose with a pig after a local authority ruled that the object had protected status.
https://www.thejc.com/news/world/german-church-reinstates-antisemitic-jew-sow-sculpture-1.500693
Generally I agree with you Joe, but I have to take issue with you on this occasion. There was definitely undue influence and negotiations completed under threat. The treaties were not fairly negotiated. Plus in many cases the tribes were lied to and payments were not made in a timely manner. The treaties were not made in good faith and the land was basically stolen.
The 19th century treaties were really not something to hold out as a shining example of fairness.
Every square foot of the earth is “stolen” land.
The Spanish hidalgos stole Mexico from the Aztecs, who stole it from the Mayans, who stole it from the Olmecs.
The Ojbwe & the Dakota were fighting over Minnesota when the French missionaries arrived in the 19th century.
Germanic tribes drove the Celts out of central and northern Europe and took their land. They drove the Sami out of Scandinavia & took their land.
The question is not whether the US is built on “stolen” land, but why people care about this & not about other “thefts” of land.
The people who promote the “stolen land” story want to delegitimise the United States. They want to delegitimise me. I, an American, resent it as much as Israelis resent the attempts to delegitimise their existence.
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