Zimmerman acquitted

[msyorktown]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Depeche mode

Thank you... Couldn't remember who it was...

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Affirmative action. I remember it was in effect right before I went to college. Certain number of minorities were allowed scholarships and acceptance in certain schools, but when they said minorities, they meant blacks and Hispanics, not really Asians. I guess they thought we could make it in our own. Isn't that kinda racist too?

The quota system was in place when I went to school in California in 1988.

Your mistake was being Asian in the US. California schools were recruiting overseas. Most of the students at my school were angry Cali residents who were rejected by Standford and UCLA. They had the grades and test scores, but didn't meet the quota criteria. (there was no way to prove this)

Back to scholarships -- I believe the only kind the federal govt has ever given are military related and others that require some kind of commitment to service.

[Mom of 3]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Were their killers arrested?

For my niece he was, and it's still hard, because I see my niece in her daughter's eyes everyday. I hurt because I see her daughter struggle. She is now 16, and I have had her since she was 9. It's hurt the whole family.
Her daughter went to court (age 9) and spoke to this man that killed he mother. The man was a sex-offender, and was wearing an ankle bracelet, but they do not "moniter" them that closely. He had done this before.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Mom of 3

For my niece he was, and it's still hard, because I see my niece in her daughter's eyes everyday. I hurt because I see her daughter struggle. She is now 16, and I have had her since she was 9. It's hurt the whole family.
Her daughter went to court (age 9) and spoke to this man that killed he mother. The man was a sex-offender, and was wearing an ankle bracelet, but they do not "moniter" them that closely. He had done this before.

I am sorry that I missed your earlier posts, and I am very sorry for your loss of 2 family members in such horrible circumstances.

[lynzy420]

Brother killed, brutally murdered, the degree of brutality was discussed in a book....my brother was white, the murderer was black. Thing is I never knew it. Race is not an issue in my life, nor my families...I was somehow shocked when I met the murderer after his release from prison, in the course of my work, shocked cuz my parents never told me he was black. My brother was still dead, race is not an issue for me. Murder is an issue for me. There is no real justice, how could there be? We sit in judgement of people and tell them ok go to jail for awhile (and then release them) or worse we murder them. Ahhhh, justice??? I've come to learn the only Justice is not in this lifetime...how could it be? My brother is still dead.

Trayvon troubled youth, neighborhood watch guy George definitely beaten, I don't know how this became a race thing...if your head was being pounded on a sidewalk and you had a gun?

I'm sorry Trayvon died, I'm sorry that everyday these kids are killing eachother, I'm sorry that the spotlight has been taken off the bigger issues that are plaguing our black teens and young black men and women. I for one and sick and tired of going to these funerals. I've known many of the kids in my community who have killed and been killed, I've loved them and worked with them, hugged them and dried their tears, I've seen them smile, I've made them laugh...I've heard their stories and I've prayed for their safety...time and time again... its horrific and this should be the focus for all of us....

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

While we are discussing treatment against a race of people that would rival the inhumane treatment we often see in puppy mills and dog fighting events, lets take just a moment to remember the horrific things done to the Native American Indians..... THESE are the people that lost the most, sacrificed the most, suffered the most, and have over the years, shown the most courageous and proud and HUMBLE attitudes. They have NO activist, inciting mob riots, pilliaging and vandilizing and burning and killing, over things they have perceived to not be going their way. Your heart MUST go out to our fellow Native American Indians....do we have any here on this forum? I married a man whose mother was 1/4 Indian.....cant remember what tribe, but out of Oklahoma....a proud, respectful people......so my son has a little in him.....

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

You know why? Bc they are almost extinct! When was the last time any of you met a native? You wanna see poverty in the US, go to the Rez.

I know this is OT, but I could not agree more. It's a forgotten, rotten tragedy that we've destroyed Native Americans. The poverty many of them live in is unimaginable. It's always broken my heart bc I've always had an affinity for them, perhaps bc I've read a lot of books about the history. Sadly, their severe poverty often extends to their animals...we have a reservation not far from here in AZ, and the horses in their yards are often near death with starvation ... which means a call to the local Animal Control. So sad all around.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by lynzy420

Brother killed, brutally murdered, the degree of brutality was discussed in a book....my brother was white, the murderer was black. Thing is I never knew it. Race is not an issue in my life, nor my families...I was somehow shocked when I met the murderer after his release from prison, in the course of my work, shocked cuz my parents never told me he was black. My brother was still dead, race is not an issue for me. Murder is an issue for me. There is no real justice, how could there be? We sit in judgement of people and tell them ok go to jail for awhile (and then release them) or worse we murder them. Ahhhh, justice??? I've come to learn the only Justice is not in this lifetime...how could it be? My brother is still dead.

Trayvon troubled youth, neighborhood watch guy George definitely beaten, I don't know how this became a race thing...if your head was being pounded on a sidewalk and you had a gun?

I'm sorry Trayvon died, I'm sorry that everyday these kids are killing eachother, I'm sorry that the spotlight has been taken off the bigger issues that are plaguing our black teens and young black men and women. I for one and sick and tired of going to these funerals. I've known many of the kids in my community who have killed and been killed, I've loved them and worked with them, hugged them and dried their tears, I've seen them smile, I've made them laugh...I've heard their stories and I've prayed for their safety...time and time again... its horrific and this should be the focus for all of us....

As always, I'm so sorry about your dear brother. I have a lot of respect for your parents for being color blind, and not feeling race was an issue -- and that they extended this quality to you.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I know this is OT, but I could not agree more. It's a forgotten, rotten tragedy that we've destroyed Native Americans. The poverty many of them live in is unimaginable. It's always broken my heart bc I've always had an affinity for them, perhaps bc I've read a lot of books about the history. Sadly, their severe poverty often extends to their animals...we have a reservation not far from here in AZ, and the horses in their yards are often near death with starvation ... which means a call to the local Animal Control. So sad all around.

There is a reservation near McCormick Ranch, where we lived in Scottsdale. Maybe that is the one you are referring to? The reservation system is awful.

We learned a lot about Native Americans through my father's work in AZ water rights, and my uncle who is an attorney in South Dakota and worked a lot with the Sioux Indians there.

[Yorkiemom1]

Long ago, when I was fresh out of nursing school, a group of us got together and went to a reservation in Oklahoma, to give immunizations and do testing for diabetes, b/p checks.....this was like going to a third world country.....absolutely unbeliveable living conditions that I am certain not even a handful of us have ever had to endure, or even been exposed to, even at our worst. It absolutely broke my heart and left a lasting impression on me for these noble, proud people.

[Yorkiemom1]

I wanted to share a bit of history of the Nez Perce Indians that has always remained in my heart....these were the Indians that developed the Appaloosa breed of horses, and were the FIRST to actually use selective breeding practices, to produce superior horses within the breed. They were a very noble people that were very very proud of their development of this breed of horse that was superior to any breed afoot during that time. The US Calvary determined the ONLY way to beat these people into submission was to somehow psychologically defeat them and the way to do that was to destroy their horses....they knew that would be enough to absolutely take every fibre of pride and fight from these people, and then they could be rounded up and thrown into concentration camps....oh sorry, "reservations".....I copied/pasted this narrative below....to me, this was one of the most brutal, psychologically defeating and humilating events forced upon these humans.....I wanted to share this with you all.....so tragic....

"The Nez Perce first obtained horses from the Shoshone around 1730.[34] They took advantage of the fact that they lived in excellent horse-breeding country, relatively safe from the raids of other tribes, and developed strict breeding selection practices for their animals, establishing breeding herds by 1750. They were one of the few tribes that actively used the practice of gelding inferior male horses and trading away poorer stock to remove unsuitable animals from the gene pool,[26][37] and thus were notable as horse breeders by the early 19th century.[38]
Early Nez Perce horses were considered to be of high quality. Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition wrote in his February 15, 1806, journal entry: "Their horses appear to be of an excellent race; they are lofty, eligantly [sic] formed, active and durable: in short many of them look like fine English coarsers [sic] and would make a figure in any country.
Peace with the United States dated back to an alliance arranged by Lewis and Clark,[44] but the encroachment of gold miners in the 1860s and settlers in the 1870s put pressure on the Nez Perce.[45] Although a treaty of 1855 originally allowed them to keep most of their traditional land, another in 1863 reduced the land alloted to them by 90 percent.[46] The Nez Perce who refused to give up their land under the 1863 treaty included a band living in the Wallowa Valley of Oregon, led by Heinmot Tooyalakekt, widely known as Chief Joseph.[47] Tensions rose, and in May 1877, General Oliver Howard called a council and ordered the non-treaty bands to move to the reservation.[45][48] Chief Joseph considered military resistance futile,[49] and by June 14, 1877, had gathered about 600 people at a site near present-day Grangeville, Idaho.[44] But on that day a small group of warriors staged an attack on nearby white settlers,[45] which led to the Nez Perce War.[44] After several small battles in Idaho,[44] more than 800 Nez Perce, mostly non-warriors, took 2000 head of various livestock including horses and fled into Montana, then traveled southeast, dipping into Yellowstone National Park.[45][47] A small number of Nez Perce fighters, probably fewer than 200,[49] successfully held off larger forces of the U.S. Army in several skirmishes, including the two-day Battle of the Big Hole in southwestern Montana.[45] They then moved northeast and attempted to seek refuge with the Crow Nation; rebuffed, they headed for safety in Canada.[45]
Throughout this journey of about 1,400 miles (2,300 km)[49] the Nez Perce relied heavily on their fast, agile and hardy Appaloosa horses.[50] The journey came to an end when they stopped to rest near the Bears Paw Mountains in Montana, 40 miles (64 km) from the Canadian border. Unbeknownst to the Nez Perce, Colonel Nelson A. Miles had led an infantry-cavalry column from Fort Keogh in pursuit. On October 5, 1877, after a five-day fight, Joseph surrendered. The battle—and the war—was over.[50][51] With most of the war chiefs dead, and the noncombatants cold and starving, Joseph declared that he would "fight no more forever".[51

When the U.S. 7th Cavalry accepted the surrender of Chief Joseph and the remaining Nez Perce, they immediately took more than 1,000 of the tribe's horses, sold what they could and shot many of the rest. But a significant population of horses had been left behind in the Wallowa valley when the Nez Perce began their retreat, and additional animals escaped or were abandoned along the way.[26] The Nez Perce were ultimately settled on reservation lands in north central Idaho,[a] were allowed few horses, and were required by the Army to crossbreed to draft horses in an attempt to create farm horses.[53] The Nez Perce tribe never regained its former position as breeders of Appaloosas. In the late 20th century, they began a program to develop a new horse breed, the Nez Perce horse, with the intent to resurrect their horse culture, tradition of selective breeding, and horsemanship.[54]

IMO, this is a level of brutality, visited on innocent people, that has not been matched by any other race of people. They actually made them all watch as they herded their magnificent horses into a pit or canyon, depending on the account you read, where those beautiful horses were shot.....that was the culmination of the "psychological warfare" used to break these proud people completely down.

[lynzy420]

On a lighter note...I am literally surrounded by reservations...we got the Tonawanda, Seneca, Tuscarora Cattaraugus Nations and then several more over on the Canadian Side.

Many of my coworkers and friends are Indian. They are successful too. The person who bumped me out of my job is from SixNations Indian tribe!!!

[gemy]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I know this is OT, but I could not agree more. It's a forgotten, rotten tragedy that we've destroyed Native Americans. The poverty many of them live in is unimaginable. It's always broken my heart bc I've always had an affinity for them, perhaps bc I've read a lot of books about the history. Sadly, their severe poverty often extends to their animals...we have a reservation not far from here in AZ, and the horses in their yards are often near death with starvation ... which means a call to the local Animal Control. So sad all around.

I agree here in Canada we are certainly remiss at the least in the treatment of our Native Canadians.

I dated for two years a full blooded Indian. He and his family was off the reservation. But they lived in an actual tar paper shack. I was only 17yrs old and on a work placement during university break. Six children two adults, in maybe a 500 x 500 square foot tar paper shack. No indoor plumbing, no hot water. A stove maybe electric one.

And yet at winter break from university they welcomed me in again. I slept with their youngest in a bunk bed, with another youngster ousted from her bed to sleep with her sister. Let me recap 5 children plus myself in one tiney sleeping room. Kenny slept in the main room in a chair. Their oldest son.

And they both worked. And yet lived like this. Kenny's Mom truly dreamed of in-door plumbing..... Such a truly simple wish.

They neither one were drunks or crack heads or something. They were simple hard working Canadians, that had a whole lot of kids, and limited education and ability to make money.

I don't know what the answer is, I truly wish I did. Because what is now is not working for any-one in terms of the native question.

[Lovetodream88]

So just saw on Aol that the president has said he could have been Trayvon Martin 35 years ago.......... hmmmm

[ColesMommy01]

Just ran across this thread and I am happy we can discuss these things without most of us being hateful and ignorant...on a side note I do not understand how some feel African Americans feel entitled to certain things. When my grandmother was growing up she wasn't afforded the opportunities Caucasians were because she is of African descent. With the scholarships yes they are plenty of "minority" scholarships. Which I think colleges offer "to make up for" this past inability. Racism is still a factor in our society unfortunately and sometimes(most of the time in my experience) it can come from within your own race. I've had more racial encounters with African Americans than with others because I'm Caribbean and married a Cuban American. I've been told I think "I'm too good" to marry within my race. Which if you looked within my family tree is pretty laughable and imo who I marry is none of their dang business! I've been afforded opportunities because of my race and I am GRATEFUL I never looked for a "handout" or felt I was "owed" anything. I'm very sure I was accepted into an Ivy League school based on my race but other contributing factors such as SAT scores, community involvement, and recommendations by people I worked with were not based on race. I worked for those and anyone who says otherwise can "shove it". Everyone has been stereotyped against at some point in their life racism is not just a black or white thing. My husbands mother wouldn't speak to me when we first started dating because she wanted her son to settle down with a nice Cuban girl and have pretty Cuban babies. Now she has a half Jamaican/Cuban grandson she can't get enough of. So for those who say they dont feel guilty for what their forefathers did to a certain race/demographic. Who says you should? Definitely not me, but you should understand why some ethnicities feel wary or singled out based on their forefathers experience with yours.