Uncle Sam Knows Best

Retell

Land Rich, Dirt Poor:  Challenges to Asset Building in Native America
Meizhu Lui, Barbara J. Robles, Betsy Leondar-Wright, Rose M. Brewer, Rebecca Adamson


These authors explain how the United States Government, throughout its history, has mishandled the Native American's land and money even though they are supposed to be acting in the best interest of the Natives. 

A quote from the first section of this reading explains that things have not changed.  "Even in the last twenty years, as Native people have found new ways to create wealth, Congress has legislated new methods of exerting control that undermine Native sovereignty an take money out of the Native, wealth pot.  Although the original intention of the trust responsibility was to manage tribal resources for the best interest of the tribes, federal appropriation of Native wealth and federal mismanagement has led to lost resources and stolen funds."  (Rosenblum and Travis, 2012, p. 429)

There is a second way in which the U.S. government has hurt the Natives.  They have created laws and policies that force Natives to do things they don't want to do.  For example, taking their children and putting them into white schools so they could become more civilized.  Forcing the Natives to own private lands instead of tribes owning them together.  Basically, outsiders have been destroying the Native America culture since they arrived in the1400's.

As a result of the interference of the government, Native Americans live in poverty.

The authors give an account as to what has happened the Natives through each period of American history.

I believe the main idea of this piece is the fact that the Natives are held under different rules as everyone else.  The authors are asking why.  Shouldn't they be able to do what they want with their land?  Shouldn't they be able to prosper and grow their culture and community?  If I owned land like they do, I would have a lot to show for it.  Money would be coming in every day.  They are not allowed to do with their land what is best for them.  Uncle Sam apparently knows best.


Recall/React
Why are they still treated differently? Why are they still treated like unintelligent savages?  "Indeed, why are Native Americans defined as wards, given that wards are usually children or mentally incompetent adults? (Rosenblum and Travis, 2012, p. 440)  These are things I wonder as well.  This is 2014 not the 1800s.  We the people know this is wrong.  Why aren't more people standing up for them?  Why do we pretend they no longer exist?


Rethink

I have discovered that our own government uses public policy to shape differences in order to benefit those in power.  Native Americans are held back by laws and policies our politicians have passed to keep them from moving forward.  They are being held back form opportunities and rights the rest of Americans are given.  The framework essay of this section gave a great visual that I think I will use when thinking of Native Americans from now on.  This visual is of a birdcage and comes from Marilyn Frye in her discussions about oppression.  "Using the metaphor of a birdcage, she argues that oppression cannot be understood by looking at only one obstacle or "wire"; one must consider the set of wires that together form the cage." (Rosenblum and Travis, 2012, p. 332)

I need to be more active in our political system.  I cannot sit back and believe the men and women in Washington or even Montpelier, are going to do the right thing or act in the best interest of the people of the United States.