Haven't native Americans suffered enough at the hands of our government ?

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 15:39:44 -0400

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/12/indians-say-epa-trying-swindle-them-mine-spill/

Indians say EPA trying to swindle them in mine spill

The EPA is trying to cheat Navajo Indians by getting them to sign away their rights to future claims from the agency’s Gold King Mine disaster, tribal officials charged Wednesday, adding more to the administration’s public relations problems over the spill that threatens critical Southwest waterways.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Aug 12 at 2015 4:46 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 16:46:12 -0400

This is a tough one, not appropriately answered in a glib blog posting or response. On the one hand I find it sad that native Americans were excluded from the American experience. How much better would it have been had they not been relegated to a special class of persons. On the other hand it's hard to imagine how a stone age people could integrate into a modern society as did all the categories of immigrants who came to America. Yes, it would have been difficult, but wouldn't it have been preferable to the treatment they have received as a "protected class"? Much like blacks in the South and Hawaiians in the islands, they were "cared for" like subhumans. Yes, they were educated (as servants and laborers). Yes, they were wards of a government that felt they could never be fully functioning adults. So, no they haven't suffered "enough"; they've suffered too much. I would offer them the same advice that T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) offered to the Bedouins: "No one can give you freedom".

Response by PO1 Tony Holland made Aug 13 at 2015 5:07 AM

PO1 Tony Holland — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 05:07:46 -0400

Taking a lesson from DOD/VA with respect to their despicable actions in regards to Agent Orange and Gulf War Syndrome -- What could go wrong?

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 14 at 2015 4:41 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 04:41:32 -0400

Gov't Cheat the Indians out of something, Say it ain't so! When I saw this the first thing that ran thru my head is the Primary Chemicals used to separate Gold, Arsenic and Mercury then to hear that this came from and old Abandoned Mine. Arrrggghhh. What Happened to the Superfund that there used to be to address things like this. Like always a day late and a dollar short, Reaction instead of Mitigation.