First of all, I don't believe American Indians are a race.
Having said this, how could calling Warren by the name Pocahontas be racist.
IMO it is just a lame attempt by our president at a put down which many of his followers love to use.
Cmon man. That’s really bad. You can do better. Stop trying to justify what he’s doing.
This is going to sound harsh, but I see your views as ignorant about what the usage of the term means to other people.
Native Americans are a group of people. Trump derisively refers to Warren as one of the most famous members of the group. And it’s not as if he’s elevating that group of people by using the name. Clearly, he’s using it in a derogatory way towards Warren. As if it’s a bad thing that she identifies as a Native American.
Put another way, he could call her out by being wrong without using a group stereotype to do it. He should know better by now, but no one has shut him down from doing it. In fact, he’s been encouraged in most of the right wing media world.
If Warren claimed to be of Argentinian descent, and he kept calling her Eva Peron, wouldn’t that be out of bounds? He’s basically saying that all members of the group are exactly like Pocahontas, which is blatantly wrong. Native Americans as a while were a pretty diverse group.
Plus, like many historical figures (like Eva Peron), she’s not always seen as the most positive historical figure by the descendants of her group. Pocohantas may be seen as a positive figure by you, but that’s not a universally shared opinion/view. Her legacy is mixed, as are the legacies of many historical figures. Have you ever thought that some native Americans view her as one of the forces that led to their demise in this country? Or, that the Disney type depicticion of her allows non native Americans to feel better about what America did to native Americans?
How did you take his “trail” comment? I’ve heard people suggest that he’s not that smart, but we all know he’s always reading about himself, and by default, his attacks on others. Right wing media LOVES putting down Warren. She’s the new Hillary, in many respects. So, I’m pretty sure he knew what he was doing. It’s not the first time he’s said racist things, so I tend to view this as another one.
When it comes to trying to demean someone, the guy takes the time to do it well. In a very childish way, but it’s one of the things he takes great pride in doing. He gets some kind of sick joy out of fighting.
For me, it was abundantly clear what the intent was behind his tweet. Evoking the trail of tears in some kind of twisted joke is beyond the pale. Along with the Japanese internment camps and slavery, this event is within the triad of American shame re: racism. Yet another brick in the wall that is Trump’s overt racism, IMO. The guy either doesn’t try to understand (super entitled and narcissistic), or understands and doesn’t care. It’s unnaceptable either way. This type of stuff should be out of bounds for anyone, let alone the leader of our country. How can you expect others to “be best”, when your leader doesn’t even pretend to try?
This is the problem with not even recognizing racist behavior. I’ve seen several interviews with tribal leaders post Trump’s election, and none of them appreciate Trump’s continued usage of the term. And if they’re offended, that’s what actually counts. Not how you view it.
You’d be better served and educated on this issue if you just kept that simple way of looking at it in mind. In other words, it ain’t about you. You’re not the one affected, or unwillingly involved. If they’re offended, it’s offensive.
Native Americans deserve better than what we’ve done to them, and the least we can do is to avoid rationalizing this type of crap.
Not trying to be harsh Hoot- just want to point out a few things that I’m sure you haven’t thought of about this topic.