Native Americans
When the Canadian government first sought solutions to the country's "Indian problem," back in the 19th century, it turned to the cruel yet expedient example set by its neighbor to the south.
All my life, I have heard only one story about California Indians: godless, dirty, stupid, primitive, ugly, passive, drunken, immoral, lazy, weak-willed people who might make good workers if properly trained and motivated. What kind of story is that to grow up with?
The Texas State Board of Education wants to reinforce this knowledge gap, forcing Texas high schoolers to learn a sanitized version of U.S. history in the name of being "pro-American."
WHAT'S HAPPENING
In 1637 the body of a white man was discovered dead in a boat. Armed settlers -- which we tell our children were God fearing, gentle, sharing, kind Pilgrims -- invaded a Pequot village. They also set the village, which included many children, on fire.
No racial group would stand for a team name that denigrated their cultural identity, but Native Americans are expected to stand by and accept this treatment just because some don't see the word as offensive.
The real story of the first Thanksgiving is neither as simple nor as consoling as the pared down account we learned in history class would suggest.
While Native Americans celebrate this 4th of July weekend, probably with hotdogs and fireworks, and possibly a powwow, I wonder whether we might all consider what that three word phrase wrought.
From the late 1800s until the 1970s, the federal government compelled Native parents nationwide to send their children to boarding schools designed to assimilate them.
