tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post4246899580609208624..comments2024-02-10T18:19:36.406-08:00Comments on Newspaper Rock: Chief Joseph on good intentionsRobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01478763837213733775noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-81889389838632823262009-03-20T11:40:00.000-07:002009-03-20T11:40:00.000-07:00A common position on the apology issue is that peo...A common position on the apology issue is that people must match words with deeds. Apologies are empty and meaningless without corresponding actions.<BR/><BR/>In the US, apologies tend to be decoupled from legal or monetary claims. In fact, I think the proposed Congressional apology had language stating the apology wasn't an admission of guilt--if that makes any sense.<BR/><BR/>Most Americans acknowledge that "bad things" happened to Indians. Even if they don't acknowledge who did these bad things or how bad they really were.<BR/><BR/>More acknowledgment of "bad things" won't necessarily help anyone. What will help is concrete action: favorable court decisions, services with sufficient funding, cultural and language initiatives, elimination of racism and stereotyping, etc.<BR/><BR/>P.S. Yes, apologizing for killing a few missionaries is a bit silly. Especially since it may have been a justifiable case of self-defense. <g>Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01478763837213733775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-61993279893770231922009-03-17T17:28:00.000-07:002009-03-17T17:28:00.000-07:00Not necessarily apologies are a way of recognizing...Not necessarily apologies are a way of recognizing genocide, however some are quite silly or stupid, a tribe for example once issued an apology for the fact that some of their warriors killed a few missionaries (in the 18th century). Apologizing for that is just a bit much, don't ya think?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com