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Re: Iroquois and the Constitution
L.W. Hasten (LWHNY@AOL.COM)
Fri, 9 Feb 1996 15:37:39 -0500
In a message dated 96-02-07 22:30:51 EST, jackechs@EROLS.COM (Mr. E) writes:
>Ruby, That's Native Americans not "American Indians". I wish you'd follow
>your own dogma, Ruby
I have a professor at Brooklyn College, Dr. John Beatty, who is a
linguist and fluent in several "Native American" languages. He has three
Apache half-brothers and his father is part Mohawk. He is considered by his
brothers, and by their Apache peers, to be Apache as well. So much for his
credentials. He has repeatedly indicated in class that the Apaches and
Mohawks he knows always call themselves "American Indians." The only people
who call them "Native Americans" are outsiders who are trying to be
politically correct. I therefore submit that it's a waste of breath (or
typing) to make such corrections. Who is fit to name these people?
Anthropologists or the people themselves? It seems both naive and
self-important to be chasing down such things.
As a student who has been lurking on this list for a while, I find
myself wondering why there is such combativeness going on here. Can't we all
just lighten up a little? We're not discussing a cure for AIDS, you know.
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