So, I know I will get tagged as a racist for asking this question?

Even though I do not fell as though I am, I would try to argue that point but I know no one would listen...and I know I will receive a tongue lashing from many and be made to feel like utter garbage, but this question has been weighing on my mind for a while so at the risk of all that I have just mentioned...I will ask it.

Should the monies that get paid to Native Americans, be received by all Native Americans? I once knew a young man, Native American, who got his check every month from the government...he lived a party life style. Was not looking to his future or doing anything to better himself, was not looking for a career to break into, was always high or drinking and partying with a pretty unsavory crowd. Had fathered 3 children, all with different mothers and who all were also receiving said monies on top of the welfare that their mothers were receiving. I know that we took land, bullied our way through this country, killed of thousands of innocents and did horrible atrocities to the Native American people. But why should my tax money go towards paying people like him, who do not wish to live a productive life and who barely know, or care for that matter, what happened to their fore fathers?

While I am on a subject for which I will surely get bashed...let me ask this one as well. Let us say for example, that it has been discovered that my ancestors participated in the disgusting business of slavery, a fact that I would be greatly horrified by. Now some years later it has come to the attention of a man who feels that he (as the last line of his family) feels that I (as the last line of my family) is owed some reparation from me. Remember this is all example, not fact...lets say that said man is living "thug life". Lets say that he has opted not to go to college, he does not have a job and is selling and using drugs while fathering a number of children...I know this is all stereo type, but it is meant to be for the purpose of my question...this man does not care about his families past or doing anything to rise above the stigma of it. Why then, should I feel pressured to make a monetary apology to him. Why should I pay money, for a crime that I did not commit and which I would have never condoned, to some one who could care less about said crime and has not adversely been affected by it?
I know that many of you will say that his life may have been different if his great, great grandparents weren't a part of slavery. But I don't buy that argument...in these times, fortunately, we have choice and we can choose what to make of our lives regardless of past circumstances...take the Liz Murray story for instance, she went from being the homeless 15 year old daughter of a drug addicted alcoholic AIDS patient, to being a student at Harvard University at the age of 19...we all have the ability to choose. So why then, in the two scenario's that i have listed, should I be obligated and/or pressured into paying money to those people?
Let the bashing begin...

If you don't want to read it...then you should not have bothered to open and answer it you brianless twit.

You're not racist and I actually like your character based on your question. I agree. I"m black and I'm not looking for anything from anyone living today. It's over and done. I do feel what you're saying, why should we have to pay for someone else to get drunk and party. The only thing I can say to that is that it's his money once the government sends it and if he wants to be a fool with it that's on him. "A fool and his money are soon parted." As far as the thug scenario I wouldn't pay that two bit crack dealer one red cent. Period. I don't care what pressures exist thats between some ancient white guy and some ancient black guy. This is the 21st century and if he wanted money he would've went to school and got a job. You have anything else like this just hit my profile and e-mail me because you seem like you'd make a pretty good conversation.

that aint all black men for a start.... i don't think your racist,, but think of it like this... if EVERY racist person was sent to the moon, then i believe that evert black white, indian e.t.c would be willing to work as 1, and gangs would have nothing to prove.. but your question wasn't racist, it was about a person that need to get off his ****, my brother is white, my brother inlaw is black,and they both need to get jobs....
why do people have to bring colour in to it any way????? there are only 2 race's in this world MEN & WOMAN!!!!!!!!!!!

The money he's getting is not based on how he's living his life or what he's doing with it. It's based on what the government stole, misappropriated, and/or murdered in the past from his people.

Should the government refuse to give tax refunds because some people spend the money on liquor and drugs? Why they get the money and what they do with it are two completely different issues.

Don't confuse the two issues. You may disagree with his lifestyle but that has nothing to do with why he gets the money.

For the record, I don't think Paris Hilton should live the lifestyle she lives as she's a lazy trifling whore, but the money is hers and that's that.

It's not like the government will take time out of their schedule to check up on every single individual set to receive reparations. It won't matter if these people are throwing away their lives. They are still going to expect the money...and they'll get it, even though they aren't doing anything good with their lives.

I AGREE

its like people in england that get benefits because they dont have a job but dont even TRY and look for one. or say 'i've to look after the kids', sorry but if you dont have time or money for kids WHY DID YOU HAVE THEM CLOSE YOU LEGS NEXT TIME!! argh lol

I'm not going to bash you, I understand what you mean.
You are speaking as a matter of whether it's right or not.
Personally, I also don't find much of this to be fair either.
Many people make wrong choices and some how benefit from it?
I really don't know how to answer your questions asked but I don't think it's right our money goes out to people who put themselves in bad situations or people who take money for granted and don't think they have to work either.
You sound really smart.
Even the best of people had enemies, that doesn't mean they stopped saying what they believed.
Don't worry about getting bashed.
Speak up.

i did not read all of the question. but i agree with you to a point. howevr, you cannot just put the blame on native americans. i have seen many people of many races ahead of me in grocery lines, buying groceries with government food stamps, and they have name brand new clothes on, nails done, hair done, brand new nikes, etc. this is clearly abusing the law, and i think that the government needs to put more effort into finding these people out and stopping them from claiming government money for the rest of their lives. however, i have also seen several families, including my own, when i was little, using government money to pay for groceries, etc when both parents were out a job, as mine were, and the kids were too young to work. many people legitimately use government money to get themselves back on track, and i do not mind paying taxes to help people like that out becuase someone once did for us. i had to go out and get a part time job when i was 14 years old, and had to lie on a job resume- which is a federal crime- in order to make money for myself and the family. so, i agree with you to a certain extent. there will always be people out there that abuse the system, as well as there will always be people out there who use the system for a legitimate reason.

i agree w/ you (i'll prob be considered racist now too) but i don't feel that we should have to support those that choose not to take care of themselves. welfare was designed to assist people while they got back on their feet to support themselves and now it is being abused. the people that need it for "support" or "assistance" can't get it b/c of these abusers. it's rediculous. the whole welfare system needs to be revised, including the monies to native americans.

No Bashing from me, I choose to not comment, except on Liz Murray, she did Very Well, But I never understood, why when she TRIED TO HARD to get into college, why did she choose to leave, before graduating; & did she ever go back? I don't know that answer.. But why did she leave? when she worked SO HARD to get in.... Why Leave?

Some things, we'll never know the answer too...

You're not racist at all. I agree with what you're saying. People who are just using that money to party and live without a job don't deserve it. Those are our tax dollars. We are paying to support people like that. Of course there are some who do deserve it. People who want to go to college or University and support themselves. Of course they could always just get a job like the rest of us...

We really don't owe them anything. I feel bad for what my ancestors did, but all those people who did that and the native people who experienced that have been dead for nearly a century.

"I know that we took land, bullied our way through this country, killed of thousands of innocents and did horrible atrocities to the Native American people"

Can you just clarify please? You know all this (above) and your country, to make up for their shameful history (we all have one I guess) decided to apologise by waving cash in their face, which they accepted. Are you saying that they don't deserve this apology unless they prove to you that they are really trully greatful for everything you have done for their people?

For the Native American, some things just aren't fair now. There should be some way to ensure that the tax money is going towards working people, but it's hard to make things like that work to a good standard.

As for the slavery one, no. You should (hypothetically) in no way at all owe him anything except for an apology for your ancestors. YOU didn't do anything to him. He wouldn't pay you or anything, would he? Slavery was wrong, but that was a long time ago.