SQUAW

[deersweetme_PREV (deleted)]

DOES ANYONE ELSE FIND THE NAME SQUAW OFFENSIVE..or is it just me? I just saw 2 ID's "LILSQUAW" and REDNECKSQUAW" on here....and I do find the names offensive..

[horses379_PREV (deleted)]

Though, I am not of Native ancestry, I do find that term offensive. That being both for the stereotypical reasons, and for what it eventually came to mean. I have seen ID's with that word as part of it, or as the entire ID as well. I always wondered what The Native American people on this site would think when they came across them. Me I'm a little confused as to why this site even allows that term to be used.

[fullblood10 (deleted)]

I think the persons with the ID.s were not intending to be offensive . We that are native have faced alot of trials with real racism in our lives. Live life freely and don't throw yourself under the bus at each little irritation .There is alot of things that I notice that are out of kilter in this society, if you want to find an issue with words you could spend all of your time,energy being upset . Live proper and the people that think less of you will notice that you are honest ,caring and intelligent. Stereotypical indians are the ones that perpetuate the image of being drunk,lazy,and everything else that we don't want to be labeled. Turn around and look at what it took to get you here, you will see all of your ancestors that struggled and suffered things that we have no clue about and why we were allowed to survive. I try to leave a positive impression and most people tend not to forget this native guy.

[horses379_PREV (deleted)]

I do not think that they intended to offend either. I don't think I was throwing myself "under the bus" by feeling as I do. Still it's possible I was but didn't realize it. I'm someone who is very open minded and not easily offended or made upset by things/words. I don't sit around looking for an excuse to be that way either as it does waste too much time and energy. There is too much to nit pick about and that is off kilter, so it would be very easy to point things out, but what purpose whol it serve? I get what you say in that respect. There has been a lot of racism directed towards the Native people, and there's still some today. I think that at this point it's mostly from ignorance.There could be more to it but I don't know. I have some Native friends, and they are far from the "Stereotypical Indian" Those that may be that way are like every other person that is like that. People who just slipped through the cracks. I know it took a lot to get me here, as it did for everyone in this world. If my ancesters didn't encounter the people in the place/time they did, I might be here but I would not be me.The same with yours and everyone else living in this world. I don't know what to say when you say your race was "Allowed To Survive" the only thing I can say is that in doing what we did we killed ourselves. I try to do the same, that is to make a positive impression, while at the same time being myself. You have made a positive impression with me, and I would like to hear more from you. One can never have too many friends.

[jennooo (deleted)]

Im not native american, im actually english lol. But whenever anyone in england says squaw is because of being sat cross legged.Ive never heard anyone use it a ...racist way. For example : ''you look like a squaw sat like that '' . But i can guess why you would find offensive if you were native american.

[deersweetme_PREV (deleted)]

Oh puleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze...and ur in Native American passions looking for a native man...? SLAPS MY FOREHEAD! GAWD!

[wings_PREV (deleted)]

deersweetme wrote: Oh puleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze...and ur in Native American passions looking for a native man...? SLAPS MY FOREHEAD! GAWD!

[wings_PREV (deleted)]

To me the word "squaw" sounds negative. And i think, that also comes from that damn old western movies, about cowboys and indians. Where the cowboys were the good heros and the indians the "wild" and dangerous. And "squaws" were women, who had nothing to say and were just slave-like workers.
I am from germany, and we all grew up with that kind of movies over here. But luckily i was smart enough as a kid to have my own opinions and beliefs. With my eyes i saw wild (free!!) great looking people, defending themselves, and having all the rights to become "wild" and dangerous to do so.
By the way, here in germany, we had some other movies too. The author of the books was Karl May. He had never been to North America as far as i know, but his books - and later the movies - were a great success. The heros were Winnetou, apache chief and his bloodbrother and friend, Old Shatterhand, a white. The movies about friendship, honesty and respect, even though they hadn't been very authentic.. i guess, they are a reason why the germans like the native people.
Anyways .. love and peace to you all!.. and stay wild !

[speller1 (deleted)]

thanx wings u said it all
oh yeah an gonna stay wild & free no matter what they say
my life is a Adventure

[nisi_PREV (deleted)]

Hi, I'm Nisi, I'm Anishinaabe, Cherokee, german and french. I'd like to add my two cents here, if I may, the word is a derogatory and degrading word the Americans of yesterday knew that when they sneered and snubbed our people and called it out when referring to the young girls ladies and elders of our nations.They continue that. The shameful aspect of this is when it the meaning is disregarded and used as a descriptive name or nickname by some esp, our fellow native sisters! Have a little pride and dignity for yourselves and others and know your past so as to teach the youth of the nation that that is wrong and not neccesary. The same is true of team mascots and insulting depictions of our nations as a whole . We NEED NOT ASSIMILATER for THEM! THEY DO FOR US!! Nisi.

Nisi

[speller1 (deleted)]

You are right the term "Squaw" is degrading it was meant to put Native wemen down so the term isn't cool

[horses379_PREV (deleted)]

As I said before that is an offensive term, but it seems more degrading, and derogatory. More than that though it's just plain disrespectful. Being a non-Native, I know that I will most likely never be able to see the whole picture. this is due to lack of exposure to the Native people and culture, not to mention the troubles they sometimes face. That's not to say, that I will never understand, I think in some ways I will, but will I ever be able to see the whole picture? I don't know, but I hope so. Yes the Americans of yesterday, were that way. They used many more derogitry terms, and Native or not we all know what they were, and that they were just as desrepectful and hateful as the one we are discussing now. I think in some ways the same disrespect is still going on. Nisi you called it, when you spoke of the trend of team mascots. This goes for not just the pro teams but also those of minor teams and those in schools. The Native American people are not objects, and your ways/relgious symbols should never be reduced to that. If a team or school decided to take something of religious value from a tradition that was not their own or depict a people they were not a part of, there would be scandal and outrage, especially if it were shown in a corrupted way. Said team/school would promptly be made to change it to something else. Yet despite the outrage of the Native Americans at having their ways, and themselves portrayed in this way, they are not heard, what's worse is that they are depicted in ways that the Americans of yesterday would have been familiar with. This is th 21st century we need to start growing beyond these ways of depicting people the way we do. We need to quit the ignorances of our forefathers, and not seek to assimilate those who are different. It's our differences that make us stronger. You're right Nisi all children should be taught that. Don't lose who you are, take all the oppertunities for growth, but do not forget who you are, or where you come from. I'm mainly saying this to the Native Americans who may read this, though it applies to everyone. Shaksepear said it best, when he said "To thine own self be true."

[bearlover (deleted)]

I believe the word to be offensive, people should understand what the word means before they go using it .

[kavic86]

well not everyone knows what the word means.... i know what if means and how it came to be i think of it a the worst word directed at our native women, but the word came to be because when "White Man" the native women they would squill sorta like pigs and the word was coined because of the sound that was made when those horrific things happened. I say this because no one has said what it means thats what it means and i beleave ignorace is not an excuse.

[lcj (deleted)]

don't be naive. the people who use it. know what it means. and intend to offend. make no mistake