Apology to Native Peoples (contained in defense bill)

Defense Appropriations Bill ^ | December 16, 2009 | Congress

[BruceS]

apology to native peoples of the united states

Sec. 8113. (a) Acknowledgment and Apology- The United States, acting through Congress--

(1) recognizes the special legal and political relationship Indian tribes have with the United States and the solemn covenant with the land we share;

(2) commends and honors Native Peoples for the thousands of years that they have stewarded and protected this land;

(3) recognizes that there have been years of official depredations, ill-conceived policies, and the breaking of covenants by the Federal Government regarding Indian tribes;

(4) apologizes on behalf of the people of the United States to all Native Peoples for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on Native Peoples by citizens of the United States;

(5) expresses its regret for the ramifications of former wrongs and its commitment to build on the positive relationships of the past and present to move toward a brighter future where all the people of this land live reconciled as brothers and sisters, and harmoniously steward and protect this land together;

(6) urges the President to acknowledge the wrongs of the United States against Indian tribes in the history of the United States in order to bring healing to this land; and

(7) commends the State governments that have begun reconciliation efforts with recognized Indian tribes located in their boundaries and encourages all State governments similarly to work toward reconciling relationships with Indian tribes within their boundaries.

(b) Disclaimer- Nothing in this section--

(1) authorizes or supports any claim against the United States; or

(2) serves as a settlement of any claim against the United States.

[BruceS]

I found this in the Defense Appropriations bill just passed by Congress and signed by the President. Now we are sorry for all the bad things we have done to the American Indians. What does this have to do with the appropriatons for the Defense Department?

[Santa Fe_Conservative]

It means that some people just did not read the whole bill!

[K-oneTexas]

Should have been its own separate bill.

This “bundling” by Congress is atrocious and should be stopped. How, I don’t know. I do know they will not do it of their own accord.

[stylin19a]

softening us up for the figure-4 leg-lock: reparations

[NativeSon]

it doesn't make sense and makes no sense to be in a defense bill.

who's sorry for what? how about the current gub'mint apologize for stealing my friggin' money, trashing our way of life, destroying our culture and creating generation of useless beggars?

Just one American's opinion... that happens to be AI

[VR-21]

I was born in El Paso, Texas...and that makes me as ‘native’ as anyone else walking on this continent. Speaking for myself, I believe that the United States government speaks with forked tongue.

[Huck]

The disclaimer is hilarious.

[K-oneTexas]

Reparations!

This is just a fore taste.

We have had reparations already. Clinton to Japanese Americans, 1990(?) I believe.

[Tzimisce]

How many more times am I going to be required to apologize for things I didn’t do?

[Felis_irritable]

This is cool. So I guess it means the English/Scotch part of my family is apologizing to the Cherokee and Comanche parts.

[SoldierDad]

Carlos Mencia said it best when he stated, Should’ve fought smarter”.

[SoldierDad]

Well, actually, Clintoon was elected in 1992.

[K-oneTexas]

Maybe ‘92. I don’t remember the exact date. I remember Clinton was making proclamations about it.

[cripplecreek]

commends and honors Native Peoples for the thousands of years that they have stewarded and protected this land

Driving hundreds of buffalo over a cliff so they could take a few is "stewardship"?

[SoldierDad]

Yes, he did. And, there was also talk about an apology to the Blacks and the Native Americans with reparations.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Precisely. When half of my family arrived, the other half was here to meet them. I guess this is the equivalent of having you apologize to you sister when you punched her in the nose.

[lgjhn23]

This govt. has zero credibility, especially with native americans. Yeah, I’m sure they’re really gonna buy into this latest line of govt. BS; reparations or no reparations. Just ask the Sioux Nation, what’s left of it.

“We did not ask you white men to come here. The Great Spirit gave us this country as a home. You had yours...we did not interfere with you....we do not want your civilization...” Crazy Horse, Lakota Tribe

[K-oneTexas]

That why I said a fore taste. I don’t think it will stop there either.

Add 3rd world countries to the list of reparations too.

And probably 10-20 more deserving groups I’m missing.

[I see my hands]

BruceS

Screw that BS. The wheel-less mud eaters horribly despoiled this land. In the main they were brutal savages who make Al Qeda look like Sunday School kids. If they don't like it here then they can go back to Asia where they came from.

[Thrownatbirth]

I want reparations (casino interest will do) for all the paleface scalps they took.