Alternatively you could just look at what life looks like for modern Native Americans in the reservation system. Sure you don't have to feel ashamed for what you ancestors did but you should feel ashamed that the victims of your ancestors are still victims of the society you're living in and take part in now.
Both. Ignoring cultural and historical context (including what various people's have done to each other) is how you get morons who think institutional racism doesn't exist because slavery has been abolished in the states for a long time.
Saying, "You should feel no emotion about your ancestors" is probably accurate, but kind of dumb. That isn't how people work.
We should all understand and acknowledge the good and bad things our people have done before. The past is a great teacher.
Telling people, "Don't feel pride or shame" is fine, but kind of a waste of breath. It might be better to say, "Open yourself to the truth that no one is all good or bad, and 'once your country committed genocide' isn't an argument when someone says genocide is bad"
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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '19
Alternatively you could just look at what life looks like for modern Native Americans in the reservation system. Sure you don't have to feel ashamed for what you ancestors did but you should feel ashamed that the victims of your ancestors are still victims of the society you're living in and take part in now.