Coultergeist gets her head handed to her

[cliffdweller]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

I don't think you missed the point - the point is these people are being ridiculous - and for some reason they find it annoying and horrid when a woman (she's from the US - but of Mexican heritage I think) - and says Spanish names properly....not all anglicized like everyone else

Glad I'm not the only one who sees this as ridiculous - that's pretty much my point - it's okay for other names to be said properly but not Spanish ones

I have noticed this too Deanna. People can be so insensitive, thoughtless, and multicultural-phobic to the point of tittering at such a ridiculous thing. They were probably embarrassed that they couldn't pronounce it right!

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by cliffdweller

I have noticed this too Deanna. People can be so insensitive, thoughtless, and multicultural-phobic to the point of tittering at such a ridiculous thing. They were probably embarrassed that they couldn't pronounce it right!

I used to be embarassed to pronounce things correctly (self-loathing problems) and now I try very hard to be proud of how I am and take pride in my Hispanic heritage - especially since now I'm truly a minority (I wasn't so much in New Mexico)

I had an argument with my boss the other day about a Spanish name that he SWORE was pronounced one way that was totally against the real way to pronounce it - it was Pacheco (Pah-Cheh-Ko) - he swore it was (Pah-CHEE-ko) I was like....dude...that's totally against the Spanish alphabet - so annoying....

[cliffdweller]

Originally Posted by estranged4life

I want to learn Japanese...So when the chance presents itself I can give up my US citizenship and move to Japan & mess with their heads by knowing how to speak their language (Along with knowing some Cherokee language!)

Ooooooh, just think of a Japanese-Cherokee hybrid language! That would be awesome.

You know Brian, it's a shame that our colonialist ancestors exterminated the Native American populations in this country early on in our history, and that we don't have more representatives of those languages teaching them. I think it would be amazing to learn a Native American language.

[cliffdweller]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

I used to be embarassed to pronounce things correctly (self-loathing problems) and now I try very hard to be proud of how I am and take pride in my Hispanic heritage - especially since now I'm truly a minority (I wasn't so much in New Mexico)

I had an argument with my boss the other day about a Spanish name that he SWORE was pronounced one way that was totally against the real way to pronounce it - it was Pacheco (Pah-Cheh-Ko) - he swore it was (Pah-CHEE-ko) I was like....dude...that's totally against the Spanish alphabet - so annoying....

!!!!

[cliffdweller]

Originally Posted by Lux

My ex had to understand that when your meal is 5 minutes late, it's polite to just sit there and understand that not everything happens like McDonald's, and that that is a good thing. He also had to learn that when you get assistance in a store, just making commands at the assistant doesn't go down well, a conversation or two will usually have to be endured. The big thing though was that stores close at reasonable hours and that up until recently, most things were closed on Sundays.

Everything must be done in 5 minutes and every store should be like Kinko's and be open 24 hours. And the part about "enduring a conversation" with a salesperson, so true, so true... Although, everyone is different of course, you've hit on some truthful generalizations. I can't stand this about our country, and what people don't really think about is that convenience comes at a price. When you have people working long, hard hours to ensure "convenience" it's a bit sick. Americans generally aren't concerned with "quality of life" when you put it in those terms. We pretty much don't question working our lives away, in fact, we believe it's necessary and something to be proud of! I say, give us 6 week vacations, health care for all, more maternity leave, better childcare, and education. I'd work for less for those things!

[amber]

Originally Posted by Lux

Everything over here is just that bit slower, we like to take a little time to enjoy life. There's the famous Australian goodbye. Leaving someone's house takes about half an hour and occurs in stages, each one closing in further on the door.

Yaaaaaaaaargggghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! I gotta go!

Originally Posted by Lux

He also had to learn that when you get assistance in a store, just making commands at the assistant doesn't go down well, a conversation or two will usually have to be endured.

A conversation? When you are just trying to buy some stuff and get on with your life? Geez, my life is boring enough, let alone having to hear about someone else's, and then try to say something appropriately vague yet friendly yet meaningless about it all.
HEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLPPPPPPP!!!! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
I like to take time to enjoy life, that's why I like to get things done in a hurry. Then there is more time left for enjoying things. Things besides, uh, making small talk with clerks in stores, or....slowly easing my way out of someone's house....

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by cliffdweller

Everything must be done in 5 minutes and every store should be like Kinko's and be open 24 hours. And the part about "enduring a conversation" with a salesperson, so true, so true... Although, everyone is different of course, you've hit on some truthful generalizations. I can't stand this about our country, and what people don't really think about is that convenience comes at a price. When you have people working long, hard hours to ensure "convenience" it's a bit sick. Americans generally aren't concerned with "quality of life" when you put it in those terms. We pretty much don't question working our lives away, in fact, we believe it's necessary and something to be proud of! I say, give us 6 week vacations, health care for all, more maternity leave, better childcare, and education. I'd work for less for those things!

I heard a story recently about this - and about how people are working WAY more now than ever in the US and such - crazy!

[amber]

Originally Posted by Lux

It's these little things that makes life more pleasant. As a waitress, nobody got angry at me and it takes about 15 seconds to share a pleasantry with someone. When I was in America I felt like I was being shoved on. Just relaxing a little and sharing a few more courtesies takes no effort.

Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans. Hmmm, I've heard that before.

It takes effort for me, and usually doesn't make my life too much better. And in fact often results in unwanted advances, and possibly a leer or two. A pleasantry is fine - but for me the ideal would be that it merely includes a smile/and or a "hello...I would like a ....." But then, I'm not a huge "make small talk with strangers" fan. Obviously, I see your point, and also I think if you are a waiter/waitress it's different. At least for me. I've already chosen to take the time to sit down and eat, so why not have a short, pleasant chat with the waitress? I'm already sitting there, after all. Life is what gets in the way when you're busy making other plans. But to be fair, I'm rarely not in a hurry, and when i'm not, I've usually allotted the time for something else. I regularly walk at a 5 mph clip, ( ) and sometimes have the attention span of a gnat on crystal meth. And, if I'm out with my friends or something, and get bored, I will just go home, instead of continuing to be bored. so...

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by cliffdweller

Ooooooh, just think of a Japanese-Cherokee hybrid language! That would be awesome.

You know Brian, it's a shame that our colonialist ancestors exterminated the Native American populations in this country early on in our history, and that we don't have more representatives of those languages teaching them. I think it would be amazing to learn a Native American language.

Native language's are sadly dying a fast death here in the "Indian Territory", Most of the younger generation are more interested in jumpin' on the whole "I'm a badass gang-banger..."G".."word"..."Bling-bling" " bandwagon instead of learning to preserve their heritage through language & tribal beliefs.

But I dont blame the colonial ancestor's for that as much as I place blame on the United States government for stripping Native's of their lands, their religions & their languages by forcing them into "detainment camps", Forcing their children into Government sponsored "education systems that stripped one of their true language & beliefs and forces the white man's way onto those savage's".

The oldest Native generations are the last remains of the children who were forced into this "brainwashing" of one's self...They were also the handful who kept their languages alive though the Government wanted otherwise. Now that they're dying off noone is left to pass on the languages, I dont see our much "beloved" government helping the matter (Btw, F**k the BIA!!!), Hell they more-than-likely are enjoying their "final solution" for the American Indian...They finally got their wish and turned the Natives into people who are more similar to the "White Man" that they hold so f**king dear

http://www.native-languages.org/cherokee.htm

[cliffdweller]

Originally Posted by estranged4life

But I dont blame the colonial ancestor's for that as much as I place blame on the United States government for stripping Native's of their lands, their religions & their languages by forcing them into "detainment camps", Forcing their children into Government sponsored "education systems that stripped one of their true language & beliefs and forces the white man's way onto those savage's".

You're right. The fact that something like this actually happened in the not so distant past is frightening to me.

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by cliffdweller

You're right. The fact that something like this actually happened in the not so distant past is frightening to me.

in the past, the US government did this practice up until as late as the late 1950's...Civil rights in this country? HA!!!

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by Lux

What's really alarming as an Australian is that the government were removing Aboriginal children from their families and placing them in institutions or fostering them to white families, as recent as the 70s. The 70s is far too recent to comprehend. We have a terribly racist history, as do all the colonies I guess.

happening here to a smaller degree (If a Native family is unable to raise a child due to economical problems/etc, the DHS/BIA will take that child out of the family situation and place them in either the "system" of BS known as the Dept. of Human Services (aka Destroyer of Home Situations) or they may luck out and end up in a school that teaches only those of Native blood.) in the former "Indian Territory" known as Oklahoma...

Ah yes, The former "Indian Territory", A useless piece of real estate (If there ever was one) UNTIL the discovery of the 2nd largest oil deposit (Of that era) in the US in the late 1890's/early 1900's...Then BOOM, the same US government who ILEGALLY forced the Natives to this "Red-land" once AGAIN pulled the lands out from under those "Redskin savage's noses" and made it a state...Oh HOW convient of them

[skcin]

Originally Posted by Lux

The 50s is so recent. What's really alarming as an Australian is that the government were removing Aboriginal children from their families and placing them in institutions or fostering them to white families, as recent as the 70s. The 70s is far too recent to comprehend. We have a terribly racist history, as do all the colonies I guess. But to think that this recently children were removed by force because they believed they should be raised as the Europeans. Not only this but our PM has refused to say a symbol "sorry" to what is known as The Stolen Generation, which just leaves the wounds open.

Isn't this what the movie Rabbit Proof Fence is about? That movie blew me away - so disturbing. The entire time, I'm thinking "but why would they just take these kids from their families?" And the fact that these kids ran all the way across the country to get home, then had to do it again?!?! Disgusting.

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by Lux

The word 'sorry' has invaded the public sphere on many occasions. I've seen in in skywriting, the closing ceremony of the Olympics showed Midnight Oil performing in clothing with the word on it and I'm not sure but I think it's been displayed on either the Sydney Harbour Bridge or the Opera House. I remember at school, we invited the original inhabitants of that land to a ceremony where we said sorry despite our government and many such events have occured on larger scales. Atleast it's being recognised now but the native people here continue to get such a raw deal that it needs to be officially addressed.

doesnt exist in the US government's vocabulary towards the Natives of this land..."Sure toss us some $$$ and we'll forget everything, Shee-hah right, And monkeys will fly outta my ass!"

BUT, Guess who has the last laugh? The US government (Out of sympathy only) gave some tribes lands that run along waterways that are used as sources for water for large metropolitan areas. The property maps clearly show that the water in the waterways is now clearly owned by tribes and the Natives are returning the screwjob to city government's by charging astronomical prices for access to their waters, So either pay $$$ for the water or do without ("Remember we are ignorant redskins")

Hell, I LOVE the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma (Another of the 5 Civilized Tribes;Along with the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek & Seminole), They have bought ALL the and that runs along I-35 from the Texas state line to within a few miles of Norman (Which is an OKC suburb...So it is about 120+ miles if not more) and will now be spending $110 million dollars to expand their casino (Located a few miles within the Oklahoma state line from Texas) in hopes to make more $$$$ so to buy even more properties (More local newspaper companies, Manufacturing facilities, etc.) to help their own...All the while other as ethnic groups (Mainly Caucasians/Rednecks & Blacks) here in Oklahoma complain it isnt fair, I say it is fair!!!

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by Lux

I never understood the casino thing. See, I don't even know what it is, "casino thing". Great description. I couldn't site all situations but I'm not aware of even such a thing as a payout to the Aboriginals. Not that it is a positive thing, but I guess it's better than letting them rot, which is how our government treats the natives. Many live in conditions below living standard and their lack of literacy is an appalling reflection on federal policy. The only Aboriginals I've seen in the city have been a few homeless ones at the shelter near the film studio and the metho clinic. The only things they receive are slight advantages in financial assistance (we're talking about weekly payouts of a few dollars more) which without proper education and social structure goes straight to destructive things, most notably alcohol. The problem with alcohol in the native communities is so appalling that when I visited one I could literally see it in the form of a line of men carrying cartons of beer back to their homes, being plastic sheets hanging over a rope between trees. The government just lets them waste away and the law enforcement subjects them to such injustices that we have a severe problem with Aboriginal deaths in custody.

I could go on but I think you get the point.

the difference between the Aboriginals of Australia & the Native Amercians here in the US is simple, Just each resides in a different part of the world...They are treated EXACTLY the same (You could send the Aboriginals here and the Native Americans could come "downunder" and ya would see no differences whatsoever!)

As for the "casino thing", it's easy...How do you earn a large amount of $$$ (To use for supporting your tribe WITHOUT having the BIA/US Govt. sticking their noses into your business) by giving up smaller amounts of $$$ to those greedy individuals who believe they can win larger amount of $$$ by wasting all of the hardearned $$$ playing at a casino? Especially when those "highrollers" bringing the $$$ are not Natives. It's sort of a "You screwed us in the past, Now will we screw you now LEGALLY and show ya how professionals do it" mentality.

Think of the "casino thing" as the Fleetwood Mac fan club, someone gets screwed while someone collects large amounts of $$$ and those screwed cannot do much about it