What is America's most shameful act in its history?

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: novon
Hiroshima

First thing that popped in my mind...

Then there was that whole slavery thing of Blacks and Chinese, not to mention the Tuskegee Experiment in which they injected syphilis into African Americans and let it run its course to see what would happen. Did not even apologize for it

link

*edited

LOL, almost forgot how the whiteman ran all my people off my land and sentenced half of them to death during the Trail of Tears.

<Tupac>I ain't mad at ya

 

[Psorak]

I only got so far in this thread, since the ignorance started to turn my stomach.

Originally posted by: bradruth
How about rounding up Japanese-Americans into concentration camps during WWII.

Look up what the definition of concentration camp is before sputtering out your ignorance.

Originally posted by: MrBond
I doubt it's the things we did in the past that cause a lot of the world to hate us. Look at Germany and the holocaust. That is WAY worse than ANYTHING anyone else has done and people don't hate Germany the way they hate America.

America is at the top, the only surviving superpower. You would need to change the history of the world in its entirety but take ANY country and make them #1 and they'd be hated. If Canada was the most powerful nation they'd be the most hated.

Originally posted by: jumpr
I think America's most shameful act is the brutality carried out by the Birmingham PD on black citizens, denying them the right to assemble. It's horrible to watch a supposedly tolerant nation as its peace officers turn fire hoses, tear gas, dogs and nightsticks on its enfranchised citizens.

I think this was sarcasm, it must be.

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
slavery by far.

The people in Africa were enslaving their own people, and sold their own sons and daughters for trinkets.

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Virtual genocide of American Indians.

America did not do that. America was not a sovereign nation at the time. You can blame all the European nations that settled here for that. America is the result.

Originally posted by: novon
Hiroshima

I somewhat agree, we're the only nation to use atomic weapons against another. I wish that step was never taken.

 

[spliffstar69]

Originally posted by: Dr Smooth

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Everybody who said something about slavory needs to realize that the U.S. wasn't the first nation to incorporate the use of entire races as slaves. Nor were we the last. Nor were we the only one to do it on such a large scale. Jeez...

To say, another country had slaves does not resolve the US of the fact it was wrong. The title of this thread is "What is America's most shameful act in its history?"

about a 3 on the ownage scale.. lol

 

[BDawg]

Isn't it the Tuskegee project where we infected black men with syphallis?

 

[SweetSweetLeroyBrown]

the Kent State incident...very bad.

 

[iamwiz82]

i find it interesting that each race or group of people is claiming the things the US did it his or her people the worst. IMHO, it was the treatment of native americans that was the worst. I am not native american, though.

 

[MystikMango]

By far it has to be treatment of the American Indians. The American Government took advantage of them, plain and simple... that is shameful. But I like to think that they learned a lesson, because they could have easily done the same thing to the Hawaiians.

Slavery was bad, but it can't be America's burden alone. Europeans began taking slaves in the 14th century (long before the "plantation days"), and by the 17th century, it was fully supported by the Christian Church as a method of converting savages. Blame the Dutch for bringing the first "indentured servants" to America in 1619.

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: kami333

Originally posted by: Elitebull

Originally posted by: SuperMachoMan

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: novon
Hiroshima

gimme a break. that was neccesarry to end the war without a million combat casualties + additional civilians

you need to think of the lives SAVED by the bomb, rather than lost. that was the problem with the atom bomb, and thats the problem with iraq. thousands of people are being indirectly saved by having saddam removed, you just see the lives that are lost.

This is absurd.

The Japanese in a hapless position. They had no food or oil. It was only a matter of time before they surrendered. The main stumbling block was the deposition of the Emporer who was a religious figure to the Japanese people.

In the words of Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower -
"I told him I was against it on two counts. First, the Japanese were ready to surrender and it wasn?t necessary to hit them with that awful thing. Second, I hated to see our country be the first to use such a weapon.?

Exactly! Dropping the bomb after the Japanese had pretty much already lost... now that is absurd.

Interesting side fact: A greater number of Japanese people died from regular bombings on Tokyo than were killed by the a-bomb in Hiroshima.

There were also political issues involved as well, mainly whether the Soviet Union would believe that the US would have the balls to use such a weapon, "Dirty Japs" or not.

My honors thesis was on the implications of dropping the atomic bomb in Japan

Since you did your thesis on this, could you provide some more information that has not already been mentioned? Also, do you think the dropping of bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were warranted? There are alot of opinions here, but I doubt many have actually studied it and see the big picture.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: Psorak

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Virtual genocide of American Indians.

America did not do that. America was not a sovereign nation at the time. You can blame all the European nations that settled here for that. America is the result.

The U.S. Army had nothing to do with the widespread massacre of Native Americans? The Louisiana Purchase, and its opening of over 800,000 square miles to American pioneers/settlers had nothing to do with angering the Native Americans?

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: Psorak
I only got so far in this thread, since the ignorance started to turn my stomach.

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Virtual genocide of American Indians.

America did not do that. America was not a sovereign nation at the time. You can blame all the European nations that settled here for that. America is the result.

You'll have to tell the native americans your theory...

1610 - 1622 - Deliberate genocide of Powhatans by London Virginia Company. It involved the manipulation of English Law by Sir Edward Coke a prominent jurist whose writings on the English common law were the definitive legal texts for some 300 years. There were two Anglo-Powhatan Wars accompanied by racist polemics preached by associates of the Company in London.
May 26, 1637 - English troops attacked a large Pequot village on the Mystic River in what is now Connecticut. The village was set on fire and the women and children were killed as they attempted to flee. One observer later wrote: "it was a fearful sight to see them thus frying in the fire and the steams of blood quenching the same, and horrible was the stink and scent thereof," William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation, page 296. In this and the succeeding campaign about 700 members of the tribe were killed including men taken captive. The tribe was disbanded and the survivors adopted by neighboring tribes.
1777 - deliberate devastation of Six Nations as British allies (estimated killed?)
April 22, 1818 - Chehaw Affair - 7 men killed (estimates from 7-40 killed), American troops attack friendly Indian village during First Seminole War
1832 - Black Hawk War - 850 men, women, children killed in war many at Bad Ax Massacre, Bad Ax Wisconsin by American militia and Indian allies
1838-1839 - Trail of Tears - 4,000 Cherokees, mainly died from disease and exposure during forced relocation. (see Indian Removal)
March 3, 1860 - Eureka, California - 80-100 men, women, children, Wiyot tribe killed by local hooligans
January 29, 1863 - Bear River Massacre - fewer than 250 killed
April 24, 1863 - Keyesville Massacre - Keyesville, California - 53 military age men, Tehachapi tribe
November 29, 1864 - Sand Creek Massacre - Sand Creek, Colorado - 150 men, women, and children killed, Cheyenne Indians
November 27, 1868 - Washita Massacre - Washita River, Oklahoma - 100 people killed; this is often considered a battle, not a massacre
January 23, 1870 - Marias Massacre - 200 Piegans, mainly elderly, women, and children
December 29, 1890 - Wounded Knee Massacre - Wounded Knee, South Dakota - 300 (est.) people killed.

 

[SweetSweetLeroyBrown]

oh...btw some white dudes died there...and I ain't white

 

[Psorak]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: Psorak

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Virtual genocide of American Indians.

America did not do that. America was not a sovereign nation at the time. You can blame all the European nations that settled here for that. America is the result.

The U.S. Army had nothing to do with the widespread massacre of Native Americans? The Louisiana Purchase, and its opening of over 800,000 square miles to American pioneers/settlers had nothing to do with angering the Native Americans?

Nice example, I'll try to avoid calling you a moron with that rolling eye icon. Who owned the land in the first place to sell it in your mentioned Louisiana purchase. Please only answer if your knowledge is more extensive than what you saw on "Schoolhouse Rock."

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: Psorak

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: Psorak

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Virtual genocide of American Indians.

America did not do that. America was not a sovereign nation at the time. You can blame all the European nations that settled here for that. America is the result.

The U.S. Army had nothing to do with the widespread massacre of Native Americans? The Louisiana Purchase, and its opening of over 800,000 square miles to American pioneers/settlers had nothing to do with angering the Native Americans?

Nice example, I'll try to avoid calling you a moron with that rolling eye icon. Who owned the land in the first place to sell it in your mentioned Louisiana purchase. Please only answer if your knowledge is more extensive than what you saw on "Schoolhouse Rock."

No one really "owned" the land back then. French explorers (among others) had mapped out much of the land and laid claim to it despite the fact that...oh...it was already inhabited!!

The purchase was made in 1803, long before most Americans even thought about venturing west.

All of the slaughters of Native Americans in the west were then done under the control of the U.S. Government.

Although, maybe your grandaddy and his grandaddy were some of the buffoons involved in killing thousands of innocents.

 

[Psorak]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: Psorak

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: Psorak

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Virtual genocide of American Indians.

America did not do that. America was not a sovereign nation at the time. You can blame all the European nations that settled here for that. America is the result.

The U.S. Army had nothing to do with the widespread massacre of Native Americans? The Louisiana Purchase, and its opening of over 800,000 square miles to American pioneers/settlers had nothing to do with angering the Native Americans?

Nice example, I'll try to avoid calling you a moron with that rolling eye icon. Who owned the land in the first place to sell it in your mentioned Louisiana purchase. Please only answer if your knowledge is more extensive than what you saw on "Schoolhouse Rock."

No one really "owned" the land back then. French explorers (among others) had mapped out much of the land and laid claim to it despite the fact that...oh...it was already inhabited!!

The purchase was made in 1803, long before most Americans even thought about venturing west.

All of the slaughters of Native Americans in the west were then done under the control of the U.S. Government.

Although, maybe your grandaddy and his grandaddy were some of the buffoons involved in killing thousands of innocents.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: Psorak

So, you have nothing to back up your opinion other than your opinion.

Run along now.

 

[Psorak]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: Psorak

So, you have nothing to back up your opinion other than your opinion.

Run along now.

You made a completely moronic statement and I bolded it. You've made it quite apparent that you're clueless, and a hypocrite since your stated home is in Kentucky.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: Psorak

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: Psorak

So, you have nothing to back up your opinion other than your opinion.

Run along now.

You made a completely moronic statement and I bolded it. You've made it quite apparent that you're clueless, and a hypocrite since your stated home is in Kentucky.

Au contraire.

An earlier post of mine even shows how the U.S. nearly wiped out the Nez Perce.

Where's your proof that the U.S. gov't had nothing to do with the genocide of Native Americans?

BTW, how the heck does me living in Kentucky make me a hypocrite?

 

[SP33Demon]

Hard to say what the most shameful thing in our history would be, you'd have to ask someone with a history degree for the best accurate and educated response.

IMO, I think the Japanese internment camps were the worst, because we did this to our own citizens... What if we had imprisoned anyone Arab/Muslim/Saudi etc after 9/11 because they could have been a terrorist? How shameful would that be? 2,335 soldiers died at Pearl Harbor, and 2800+ civilians died at WTC in similar acts of terrorism/war, there are similar parrallels... Just something to think about.

The environment, well of course this would rank up there too. The tragedy of Union Carbide in India who got off with a slap on the wrist (the WTO is partly responsible for many foreign injustices in the name of free trade), the extinction of species such as the carrier pigeon in decades, our CO-2 emission percentage vs that of the rest of the world, and our pollution of rivers which affects our bordering neighbors. The environment is a biggie too.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I've seen a Japanese internment camp in Holly, Colorado, it was a chilling experience. Thank god the hysteria didn't cause us to kill them.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I've seen a Japanese internment camp in Holly, Colorado, it was a chilling experience. Thank god the hysteria didn't cause us to kill them.

 

[Psorak]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: Psorak

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: Psorak

So, you have nothing to back up your opinion other than your opinion.

Run along now.

You made a completely moronic statement and I bolded it. You've made it quite apparent that you're clueless, and a hypocrite since your stated home is in Kentucky.

Au contraire.

An earlier post of mine even shows how the U.S. nearly wiped out the Nez Perce.

Where's your proof that the U.S. gov't had nothing to do with the genocide of Native Americans?

BTW, how the heck does me living in Kentucky make me a hypocrite?

OMG! I cannot even speak to your points. You tell me my grandaddy killed all the indians, what does that have to do with me? That statement in itself is beyond ludicrous and I should just completely ignore you. I'd ignore an idiotic statement like that IRL so I should follow that credo here. Now I'll just let you get the last post in after mine so you think you "won".
Since that is your stance on this matter: the land you are presently living on belonged to the Indians. With this knowledge I hereby decree that you do the right thing and give it up, pack your bags and go back to whatever country your origins are from.
You have a link to another forum, I think it's time you run along there and not be telling people to run along here.

 

[ajpa123]

My 0.02 cents:

The government could have and can still be doing a lot better job in regard to War Veterans. Especially those came back with mental health issues or physical ones like agent orange exposure. Many of them got lost in the crowd sank to the bottom of society and some are homeless today. I think that is pretty shameful. All that sacrifice for me and you.. and they get treated like $hit.. Not all cases, but quite a few i bet !

 

[GiLtY]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: LOLyourFace
waiting for the... (attacking iraq) post.

See, that's where I think you're wrong. I don't think there was anything inherently SHAMEFUL about what transpired in Iraq. Saddam was a cruel leader, and we fought his corrupt army to get him out of power. Good for us. It was the events LEADING UP TO the invasion of Iraq that could be construed as shameful. However, they're nowhere near as shameful as some of the earlier acts the government has committed against its own citizens.

It's similar to how the mentality was at the time of the Vietnam war. You can only judge better in hindsight.

--GiLtY

 

[J Heartless Slick]

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt

Originally posted by: Orsorum
For those of you bemoaning the plight of black slaves in America, I would encourage you to read up on the treatment of Irish and Chinese immigrants during their respective times of immigration. Black slavery absolutley pales in comparison. At least black slaves had monetary value.

But the blacks push their bullsh|t so much, you'd think the Chinese and Irish were standing there next to good ol' whitey!

What?

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: Psorak

Originally posted by: conjur

Au contraire.

An earlier post of mine even shows how the U.S. nearly wiped out the Nez Perce.

Where's your proof that the U.S. gov't had nothing to do with the genocide of Native Americans?

BTW, how the heck does me living in Kentucky make me a hypocrite?

OMG! I cannot even speak to your points. You tell me my grandaddy killed all the indians, what does that have to do with me? That statement in itself is beyond ludicrous and I should just completely ignore you. I'd ignore an idiotic statement like that IRL so I should follow that credo here. Now I'll just let you get the last post in after mine so you think you "won".
Since that is your stance on this matter: the land you are presently living on belonged to the Indians. With this knowledge I hereby decree that you do the right thing and give it up, pack your bags and go back to whatever country your origins are from.
You have a link to another forum, I think it's time you run along there and not be telling people to run along here.

Wow. Your reading comprehension is about the worst I've ever seen. I highly recommend you go back and read my 2nd reply to you.

And, as far as my claim to this land, well, you just firmly inserted both of your feet into your mouth. My grandfather's grandfather (my great-great-grandfather) was full-blooded Cherokee.

And, again, I ask you, where is your proof that the U.S. Gov't had nothing to do with the slaughter of thousands of Native Americans. You don't have any. Now, again, run along.