I’m saying this with a heavy heart.

I guess one could call this me backing down. I never attended to hurt people by my beliefs and passion. But as my friend (Jerri) said, me talking about this has made her feel guilty for being white and she was upset at me over this. Maybe I'm not just cut out for this activist thing. That I'm not the fighter that my ancestors were. I was just following where my heart was leading me.

I am sorry for speaking about the cause I believe in. I’m sorry for speaking out when I see something wrong. I sometimes get too passionate about things. I guess it’s because, I come from a long line of warriors. Quanah Parker was my great-great grandfather. But I’m big enough to say that I’m sorry to those whom I’ve offended. And I have offended many, whom I considered friends as well.

Throughout my life, I’ve been told by some that I am brave, but called names by others. I guess I’m not a brave as some of the other activists, who have braved both bullets and jail time speaking up for what they believed.

I wish people would understand why I get so upset when they make generalized comments towards the American Indian. It happens everyday both online and in the real world. What’s funny, is that nobody sees what they say as offensive.

In this country it’s okay to make racist & generalized comments towards another race. But what else should I expect? I mean in the country where it’s considered okay to have a sports team with a racist word as their name. (Washington Redskins) and the majority of people see nothing wrong with it.

I just wanted people to understand that when those comments are made, it's hurting others. Those comments are made towards my people. Let me ask a question, would people think twice before saying things like that about any other race? Again this isn’t directed at any one person but society as a whole, it’s just something I see a lot of from my day to day happenings.

I catch a lot of flak for saying that I’m proud to be a Comanche Indian. I catch a lot of flak, when I point out that certain comments are rude, racist and insensitive. Why is that? Is it okay to talk trash about the American Indian? (or any other race or ethnic person) I’ve tried to talk about different things about the American Indian, the history, religion and current events but it seems to have fallen on deaf ears. At least where the American citizen is concerned, the ironic thing is that people from other countries are more open-minded and seem interested in learning more as opposed to the majority of Americans.

well....my wife is a cherokee indian, and ive taken on those native american beleifs to my heart and soul....she herself gets abuse for wearing the feather and ppl always make silly remarks, 'cowboys and indians' they all laugh and find it funny...its just one of the sad facts that native americans indians on the whole are generally disregarded by society and seen wholey as tribesmen who hunt animals savagely and eat them...my marriage was done soin a cherokee ceremony, but strangely its not even regarded as a marriage in society which is hurtful and ridiclous. im not sure whether you spoke to someone here or someone made a jibe, i havent seen any in truth if i had i would have reacted most certainly.

the warrior is in you, just because you are 'backing down' as you call it, there is no reason to feel u arent a warrior. one cannot win all battles, it is a fact of life, but i beleive, and also my wife will agree, is that you should stand your ground, discrimination will always be there, i guess you could sya that the battle from all those years ago of your anchestors still rages on in the modern world....just stay strong and also there will always be questions unanswered and sometimes when you stick your hand out all you get back is a few drops of water when wot you need is a bucket full...

anyway take care, and you arent alone and i know wot yr going thru, also me being a sikh with a turban, walking alongside a cheorkee causes a few stirs....but that is their problem..not ours....and not yours either.

No not here. This place, I have found can be more open minded than most. It' something that I have delt with day to day in the society as a whole. I've made some of my friends angry by speaking out and speaking up when I see or read something that is wrong. My ex boyfriend and I got into a down and dirty fight over this.
As you see by my pic, I'm fair skinned and have blonde hair. My mother was dark, being that she was full blooded. The comments that she got, when others saw her with me. She was asked if she was the nanny or the babysitter or what?

And I guess society would call me part Comanche..but as some of the Elders have said, "Point to what part is Comanche. Is it my foot?"

Anyhows, there were some comments made on another board. I spoke up and some saw me in the wrong and accused me of attacking them.
Yes, I do tend to be outspoken and passionate on this subject.

And I know how you feel, when you get those looks, as I said my family/Mother got them when I was growing up.
It's a shame, it really is, that we judge a person by the color of their skin or the religon they practice NOT by what's in their hearts.

ive never understood why native american indians are so disregarded in socitey....cleary all those western films didnt help...in regards as to your colour mmy wife gets many comments of abuse, and ppl sometimes think she is white...which sends both for us into rage...'is it me or just this world we live in'...alot of sikhs too, stare at us as well, cos they arent sure wot she is...and its veyr upsetting but there is nothing we can do but live our lives...have you heard of a vision quest?

Yes I have, but I've never been on one. I've thought about doing it however.
A while ago, I had a dream, that I believe was a message. It said don't chase the Coyete..walk with the White Wolf. And since then I have made a lot of changes in my life. Which includes speaking up when I see something that is wrong. Of course that has caused a lot of problems.
But if Russell Means and the other activists can do it and risk jail time and bullets than I can stand a few people being mad at me.

Have you and your wife heard to AIM? (the American Indian Movement). I've been trying to find a local chapter here in Georgia but no such luck.

i am always disturbed to hear things like that, and it makes me very very sad. i can't understand why people have such prejudices against other "races", or just people from different backgrounds in general. i have many friends all over the world (from even before i had internet) and all i can say is that in each country and each society you find people you dont like and people you like. austria, where i live now, is a very open-minded country i think. one of my best friends at uni is half iraqi and never faced any racial issues while in austria. but on the other hand, when i was in england i had a friend who was born in ghana but grew up in the UK and considered himself english. when we went through town together people stared at us and said stupid comments. he tried not to let it bother him but i know how such a thing can hurt. even at the college i went to in england there were two or three boys who used to call me a nazi and other things. but i know that you can't blame the whole society for that. there are racist people in every country and to me they are just stupid.

try not to let it bother u too much

no i havent heard of the AIM, where is it based? both my wife and I do vision quests, it is a truley amazing experience, it relaly has abecome a way of life for both of us. if u dream of a wolf that is very very symbolic. fwe yrs ago, there was this mass brawl in florida, where all these idiots where shooting natives, and my wife was shot at but survived, thank god...ppl are so ignorant....they forget that beyond this shell, we have all the same enterties...

Here is the website to AIM http://www.aimovement.org/

I'm sorry to hear about your wife being shot at. And no I didn't hear about that. I'm glad that she is okay.