On Sun, 19 Jan 2003, Sellam Ismail wrote:
> Well, to call Native Americans that is to assume that this land was called
> "America" before Columbus discovered it for the Europeans. So even the
> title "Native American" is improper. I prefer "Indigenous Peoples of this
> Land", but it's too long (and annoying) to say.
By the way, this is not original philosophy. I lifted it from a King
Missile song called, "The Indians":
The Indians lived all over this land before we came and killed them.
That was very bad of us.
We thought we needed the land,
But for the most part,
We just ruined it anyway,
And now, nobody can use it.
That's the way we are.
We're pigs.
One of my favorite foods to eat is called corn.
The Indians call it "maize."
We call the Indians "Indians."
This is because Columbus thought he was in India
When he first came to this land.
Some people say we should call the Indians, "Native Americans,"
'Cause they were here in America before us,
But before us,
This land wasn't called "America."
It was named "America" by a mapmaker who never even came here.
He just lived in Europe
And made maps and when he found out about this land,
And put his name on it,
'Cause he could.
That's the way we are.
We're pigs.
As I was writing this,
A cockroach fell from the sky and onto the table.
I killed it,
'Cause I did.
That's the way I am.
This doesn't really have very much to do with the Indians, though.
I guess I got kind of sidetracked.
Anyway, I hope you see my point.
The Indians - King Missile (C) 1991 Atlantic Recording Corporation
;)
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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Received on Mon Jan 20 2003 - 00:52:01 GMT