Quote:
Originally Posted by Hog1
Mimpetert has it correct:
"Also wiki has a whole section about terms used to convey American Indian’s and apparently many American Indians arnt cool with the Native" American term we all think is so pc."
I do not believe you will find many instances of Indians referring to themselves as Native American as a matter of routine. That is a term made popular by the White man and basically not dignified by the tribes......and not used. They use Indian....
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For starters, Wikipedia can be edited by anyone. I don't put a lot of credibility toward wiki entries as much as I would a good old fashion history textbook. Logically speaking, I would be correct in saying they should be referred to as Native American, since they are native/indigenous (which are synonyms.) In fact, I'd say all of us, who are native to America, would be considered Native Americans as well. I don't refer to myself as European, because I wasn't born there. I am native to America.
Now, if they are not native to this area, then I would be incorrect. But, it would also be incorrect in saying they are indigenous to America. We can dig further into history and beliefs of where we assume these natives migrated from, but for argument sake, if we're referring to what the "white man" labeled the natives as, we'd simply point to Christopher Columbus and what I had stated previously about his term "indios".
Indios meaning Indian, since Columbus thought he was in the Indies. According to history, that is where the term "Indian" came about. You got it, from the white man! In fact, if we study the term indios more, we find it is actually a derogatory term in Mexico - almost similar to the "N" word.
So, revisiting the argument of Native American vs Indian, in my humble opinion, I cannot find the logic from which we would find the term "Native American" offensive? If it is simply because it is the term that the white man gave them, then the white man also gave them the term of Indios/Indian. So, again, it is illogical of the offense. Both would be "not cool". Why not call them Asian? What about the "white indians"?
Knowing that both Christopher Columbus was incorrect in his destination and the fact that our Southern neighbors find the term "indios" offensive, then I would conclude that wanting to be called "Indian" is both geographically incorrect as well as politically incorrect. And again, that is based on the belief that we are both correct in saying this group of people were in fact native to America.
Not trying to be a smartass, and not trying to bore anybody intentionally. I'm just questioning the logic. I mean, would I honestly be correct in saying I wish to be called British, even though I have never set foot in Great Britain, but do have British ancestry? I mean, if someone called me Native American, they would be absolutely correct.