oh fuck
Yesterday in my Environmental Ethics class I was forced to defend my Honor and my major. We are reading a book by Winona LaDuke that talks about the modern struggles of Native Americans. One chapter is about Anthropologists and Archeologists and how they raped and pillaged Indian burials and continue to do so. Well shit, archeologists dig up everyone’s graves, regardless. Seriously. Graves are dug up in Historic all the time. They are generally put back, but I have to admit not always. And that is regardless of race, creed or gender. No, I take that back. If the religion of the deceased forbids the removal of the bones, then they are left. Mostly Native American Bones, unless they would be damaged or disturbed, then they are simply moved and reburied. There is one in Between Calvert and Kent that was not moved at all once it was discovered. Yes, Archeology has a shady history, but we are defiantly not the monsters that you think we still are. We are not grave Robbers. We are not looters. We are curious about human history and how people lived to better understand the way we live now and perhaps even live better in the future. We want to understand the diversity of human existence. And yes occasionally that means that the occasional grave gets dug up. And yes I do believe that Native American bodies and possessions should be given back. It’s a religion thing. I get that. But don't tell me that what I am doing is wrong. I may be misunderstanding your point of view. But at least I am trying.
In another chapter, The Catholics are to blame for everything that any Christian has ever done to the Native Americans in the Americas. I think many Protestants would be as horrified to hear them being accused of listening to the Vatican as I am at being part of a group that is accused of doing things we didn't do. Yeah Catholics in the past did shitty things, and they continue to do shitty things. I disagree regularly with my Church. But it still pisses me off that I am supposed to be kind and considerate of all the Native religions while they don't have to be nice to me. Ok I think I may be a little hypersensitive on both of these issues. But it upsets me that I feel like if I walked up to LaDuke and started talking with her and she found out that I was a Catholic Archeologist, she wouldn't like me just because of the groups I am a part of. Not nice and not open minded.
Although on the other hand, maybe I should stop joining groups with shady pasts.
In other news, Hollywood is makeing an Ocean's 13. What the fuck. Hollywood has literally NO GOOD IDEAS LEFT. Though to my shame I will still go see it.
In another chapter, The Catholics are to blame for everything that any Christian has ever done to the Native Americans in the Americas. I think many Protestants would be as horrified to hear them being accused of listening to the Vatican as I am at being part of a group that is accused of doing things we didn't do. Yeah Catholics in the past did shitty things, and they continue to do shitty things. I disagree regularly with my Church. But it still pisses me off that I am supposed to be kind and considerate of all the Native religions while they don't have to be nice to me. Ok I think I may be a little hypersensitive on both of these issues. But it upsets me that I feel like if I walked up to LaDuke and started talking with her and she found out that I was a Catholic Archeologist, she wouldn't like me just because of the groups I am a part of. Not nice and not open minded.
Although on the other hand, maybe I should stop joining groups with shady pasts.
In other news, Hollywood is makeing an Ocean's 13. What the fuck. Hollywood has literally NO GOOD IDEAS LEFT. Though to my shame I will still go see it.