Quick: The Ethnic Group Most Disproportionately Represented in the Military is...
Didn't know this one. Would never have guessed this one. But the ethnic group most disproportionately represented in the US military is Native Americans. Native Americans make up barely one percent of the population, but 1.6% of our military forces.
Why even bother with this bit of trivia? Two reasons:
Today - November 28th, 2008 - is Native American Heritage Day. A day set aside by federal legislation to "honor the contributions American Indians have made to the United States."
Contributions like, you know, losing their land so we could have a nation.
If you had zero idea that today was a special day, don't get panicky and self-conscious. The legislation creating the day was only signed last month and only covers 2008.
Insult to injury. An afterthought that's not even an annual afterthought.
Tribal reps, however, are pushing to make the day a regular calendar event. Though, probably not the day after Thanksgiving as Thanksgiving's like a big, flipped middle finger to a lot of Native Americans.
And reason #2 that I bring up the stat about Native Americans serving in the military? It's another opportunity to remind people that, ironically, it seems those most historically disenfranchised by the government often have the least reluctance to step up and serve their country. Blacks. Japanese-Americans. Gays. When it comes to fighting for freedom, those who are willing to fight should not be limited by our bigotry. Only rewarded with our gratitude.
No, you didn't know about Native American Heritage Day - neither did I - and it might not be around next year. But while it's on our minds, and while we're giving thanks for those willing to protect our country, let's take a moment to recall the sacrifices past and present of Native Americans.
For more perspective visit That Minority Thing.com
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As a Desert Storm Veteran and Navajo the comments are very true to the mark. Daily racism here is horrible, life is pretty basic, yet I must state we cannot allow the continuing blight of colonization to blacken our hearts. Why would our son's and daughters, my brothers and sisters fight for their country even for one moment? For the promise of having Hope, jobs, a home, a life for their children. In the middle east I saw women owned like slaves... Here I am the matrilineal leader of my clan in my family, grandaughter of a medicine woman. I only pray that we return to traditional ways... meaning for me our religion... Christianity though I respect it, is the final nail in the coffin for us. Take pride in the traditional... ceremonies, dress, language. Here in Northern Arizona we have the Sacred Peaks and the ski lodge owners only see money. I see the first woman, changing woman, where prayer bundles are sacred and their sanctity with the prayers of my people got me home safe and sound... Yes, there are many Natives in the services, and they are quiet unassuming people. Our destinies are intertwined now and we must stand together.... Sending my love to our service people overseas... you are not forgotten!
great post!!
Lets not forget "Every Treaty agreed to by Native Americans and the Federal Government were also broken every time by the government. Its very hard for native Americans to "Trust" a government that "Lies" at the drop of a hat.
A government that has "Outright" stolen their resorcuces, and continues even today, a government that put them on lands where no others would want to live, A government that made promises and once again broken them, and lest "we " wonder where the "Greed, Selfishness, was born from.
Since Native Americans statistically maintain the highest ethnic rates of diabetes and other chronic diseases largely preventable or manageable by dietary changes, the debate over national health care can be a microcosm within their community. If we educate the true indigineous founding mothers and fathers of this nation about the benefits of a plant-based (IOW vegan) diet including as much organically grown, ripe fruit & vegetable matter as possible, their rates of diabetes and other dieases linked to morbid obesity & related conditions can be drastically reduced and thereby improve their prospects for personal & career success. One key potential long-term benefit of this approach would thereby be lower drug addiction rates (including alcohol) and appeal for more casinos, as compulsive gambling is at least as insidious a force in American society as other addictions, regardless of ethnic group. If we consciously resolve to eat as healthful a diet as possible, which necessitates excluding animal products as a matter of course, our health care costs will effectively plummet in the long term as we spend less time visiting MD's and less hard-earned cash on drugs, surgery & other avoidable dangers of allopathy, as we are ultimately the best judges of what our bodies need for maximal health. Self-esteem among Native populations is key to improving their chances for societal and political success, thus diminishing their de facto segregation from mainstream society, which I found to be a glaring contrast from the integration of aborigines in white-dominated Australian society.
Dapperd72,
Actually, indigenous peoples around the world didn't have high rates of diabetes or chronic diseases until after they began eating a diet based on grains (especially wheat) and refined sugar.
I can't cite the study, but a decade ago there was one done with some Hopi, providing the original local diet for a group of diabetics ... and the need for insulin decreased markedly. Fat, sugar, and refined starch isn't good for anybody, but it's especially bad on people whose systems were introduced to it over such a short period.
And what became of the study that suggested the elimination of mequite based foods correlated very well with the indigenous people's metabolic dysfunction?
Australian = settled by criminals
Beyond simply declaring Native American Heritage Day an annual tradition, I firmly propose that Columbus Day be abolished in favor of Native American Day instead since the former is a grave insult to all those indigenous Americans, specifically the Arawaks, who were massacred into extinction under the auspices of Christopher Columbus & the Spaniards sent by King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella of Spain in 1492. As Hans Koning documents explicitly in his illuminating book, "Columbus: His Enterprise," Columbus & his Spanish troops were initially seen as angels from Heaven by the Caribbean natives when they first sailed into what they named "Hispaniola." As Columbus realized how naive and trusting were the Arawaks relative to the Europeans' ulterior motives, the latter under Columbus resolved to take full advantage of their trust and exploit them for every last bit of gold that could possibly be extracted from the land. After setting an impossible monthly gold quota, Columbus ordered his troops to wield their axes in amputation of Arawaks' limbs, killing men, women & children en masse to punish them for not delivering enough gold. Columbus' ruthless greed and hubris is morbidly symbolic of the founding principles of Western uncivilization. Native Americans should be held in the highest esteem by all Caucasians who now reside here.
This is the best post I have read all day. Yes Yes Yes
Now that's a side of history you don't hear often. Sorry to say, but I was always taught that Columbus was a "saviour." I'm so disgusted to hear about the massacre..and the fact that there is a holiday to honor him. Education is everything.
The Colubus holiday is the de facto Italian American Holiday, just like St Patrick's day is the de facto Irish American Holiday, and of course not to be left out of the ethnic holiday parade Martin Luther King Birthday is the de facto Black American holiday.
It makes a lot more sense than making an invisible "holiday" the day after Thanksgiving. Columbus should be reviled, not honored.
It is not suprising that a larger proportion of Native Americans, as percentage of population, are serving in the Armed Forces. Native Americans that I have known are very patriotic and have a sense of duty to their fellow man that is inherent in their nature. They also have a warrior ethos that is unsurpassed. It is also a way for many poor young men and women; whom have not had the opportunities, other mainstream Americans have had, to further theirselves through the military.
We should make this day a national holiday. Also, we should be investing into the tribal nations to help make them self -suffcient.
But dont forget those free marketeer Republicans. Better not help out those Indians, let them pull themselvesup on their bootstraps just like my daddy did. What, my finance company is going under because of sub-prime loans, better get a government bailout. If I dont get my trophy wife that rock she wants for Christmas, shes cutting me off. Compassionate Conservatism exposed.
Mr Ridley, want an understanding why Native Americans join the military in disproportionate numbers? Travel to Gallup New Mexico and hang out in a supermarket parking lot. Get out of your car and observe. I promise a reality check. Crushing poverty and rampant alcohol/drug abuse has crushed the dreams of many local inhabitants. They view the military as an opportunity to raise themselves up, to escape a dead end existence with a chance for education.
I really am an old softie. It seems I cry a lot lately.
When I hear, read, or think about what has happened to the Native Americans on this continent; I tear up. Not because myself or my family are directly effected; I am a middle aged white guy with no Native American ties living in an area that is almost completely devoid of its original residents.
However, I know the stories well of the tribes from the northeast who have for generations provided the high steel workers that have helped build our nation’s soaring, urban infrastructure. The brave Navajo “code talkers” who were a critical part of defeating the Japanese in the Pacific in WW II.
I am most touched by the story of the Cherokee’s, who inhabited this area, and who, after cooperating with the white man and attempting to acclimate to his culture, were forced off their land and marched west along the “trail of tears” to reservations in Oklahoma.
I want to thank all native Americans for their past and continuing service to out country and express my regrets for the actions of my forefathers toward your people. I will be sending messages to my congressional delegation supporting a national Native American Heritage day every year on whatever day our Native American citizens desire.
I agree and I am reminded of the way in which the United States Of America acquired Hawaii. I want to offer my apology for this country taking your Queen prisoner until Hawaii was part of the USA.
That is not entirely true. She was not taken prisoner, yet a group of American Businessmen basically changed the governance of Hawaii from a Monarchy to a constitutional monarchy, and then they just voted to abolish the monarchy. Queen Liliakau (sp) came to Washington to plead her case before Congress and the President. Washington sent an envoy to Hawaii to see what was going on, and when they saw what this group of Americans had done in Hawaii they restored the Monarchy. However the group of Americans rejected what Washington D.C. ordered and declared themselves an independent nation completely free from Washington. Then reality struck with WWI and at that point Hawaii was headed for statehood.
Mexican immigrants of primarily Aztec decent, are they counted in this study?
Evidence please. It appears that the areas that most Mexican immigrants come from are too far north to be Aztec.
And yet the genesis myth of the Aztecs places their origin point to the North - a fact attested by early chroniclers who noted that the Aztecs were partly unpopular because of their non-native (to the Valley of Mexico) origin.
Why do the most disenfranchised people serve in the military? Because they understand the consequences of losing.
no..more likely it's because that is the only way out of poverty and continued disenfranchisement...
Losing what?
Wise words, thank you.
I just read all the comments so far and am sadly reminded of the majority of America's general ignorance of the contibutions of the original inhabitants of this great nation.
Not the least of which Native Americans enlist in the military to protect and defend what is after all, our country first and foremost. I previously worked in a museum that honored Indian Veterans. I have family who served in WWII, my father in Vietnam and there is not one person on this reservation who has not had a relative serve, and serve willingly for the values we as nation exemplify. For some it is a family tradition.
My people, yes I am Native, are survivors of a rare kind. The colonizers tried to exterminate us but we are still here, fighting. Now our warriors fight for you too-and I think you all should bow down and acknowledge.
I bow down, Mzwild.....well said...
Give a gift, in someone's name, to an American Indian college!! I do every year. I wonder what the difference is in college attendance between Indians and other cultures?
For the soldier who was with a soldier from Oklahoma, (my home state) it hasn't changed much.
I have a dear friend who is Navajo and is a champion bullrider. When the hanta virus was discovered on the Navajo reservation Tom Brokaw told people not to visit the area because there was a horrible illness there. During this
time my cowboy friend was driving to Oklahoma , stopped to eat in Amaillo and every white customer got up and walked out.
. The term for the illness was "The Navajo Virus".
I am a photographer and traveled with the Navajo cowboys/families and we were subjected to racist comments..even when we filled the truck up with gas. We ate out of a cooler most of the time. The virus originated in another state!
I have many, friends on the reservations who do not have electricity, running water, phones and good roads to travel on. The government allows strip mining and just recently allowed a group to put forward a plan that would allow them to build a ski resort on the reservation and make the artificial snow out of "purified" sewage. It hasn't been done yet.
Mr. Ridley, I really appreciate your article. Did you know that the one of the first women that was killed during our "war" was a Navajo? A mountain on the reservation was re-named for her.
The Navajo tribe turned out to vote for Barack Obama. (They have a very contenious relationship with McCain)
Mine, and probably every other American, thought that a reservation was off limits to the public. Hmm. Kalyn Free has an Indian website that should be checked out. They have empowered themselves via the vote and I highly recommend other tribes attend their training seminars to learn how to do the same. The public is behind the American Indian. As a true capitalist I want to see EVERYONE participating in trade. Poverty helps no one and is a drain on a country's human resources. For the very wealthy, poverty to them isn't about trade, it's about power and so their input should be discounted. Together we can lift the Ameircan Indian and others.
The public is generally 'behind' the American Indian only so long as it doesn't hurt them to feel kindly about First Nations people. You go out to the Dakotas or Four Corners area and see what "the public" thinks.
Besides -- it is NOT all about capitalism. Capitalism was the driving force that raped this land and decimated the people who lived here. Why do you assume that every culture wants to be just like the greed-based European model? Native tribes considered the effect of their actions on their children down seven generations; Wall Street doesn't care about anyone even seven months out.
Sorry, here it is:
http://www.indnslist.org/
The so called purified sewage is what you use on your lawn if you have an aerobic septic system. We are going to have one installed in our place, and I will be rolling on the lawn as will my dogs, visiting kids, etc.. I have NO problem with that, so I hardly see why there should be any kind of an uproar over the snow made from the same stuff. The water is only not as completely treated as drinking water is. Hell even the astronauts are drinking their own water from their urine. If it is good enough for me and astronauts, I don't think these folks have any real complaint.
It depends on what's left in the sewage, and what's put INTO the sewage in the first place. I worked at a major university in the 80's, when a systematic assessment of public water sources was done. Some of our profs worked on the project.
The results -- most cities (and cities have the best purification systems around, because of the population density) had water far below recommended standards.
Do you know what Reagan's response was?
The standards were lowered.
What we need are facts regarding what is IN the sewage, and what residues remain in the snow. Otherwise it's all speculation. But knowing the tendency for businesses to blow off safety concerns .... well, would YOU eat that snow? I sure wouldn't.
"I have many, friends on the reservations who do not have electricity, running water, phones and good roads to travel on. The government allows strip mining and just recently allowed a group to put forward a plan that would allow them to build a ski resort on the reservation and make the artificial snow out of "purified" sewage."
You are being totally inconsistent. Economic development is an effective way to pay for the electricity etc. Strip mining, if done with appropriate economic safeguards, not only creates royalties for the tribal government, but can create good jobs. Clearly any arrangement for this has to provide that the residents on the reservation get first priority in hiring. The same is true for resorts.
Destruction of the land is not 'development.'
Navaho kids have something like 17 X the rate of leukemia found in other places in America. Because when mining is done on Indian land, the radioactive dumps are left to leach into the water.
Go visit a reservation sometime, please. I don't think you realize the enormity of the problem.
Thanks for this article; as an African American I feel very strongly that Native Americans should be formally honored for all their sacrifice. I heard Barack speaking on this when I was listening to NPR yesterday. I don't know the date when he actually spoke, but heard it yesterday. Native Americans absolutely should be recognized in this manner and more.
As Native American I appreciate and thank you for your words of recognition.
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