General Urban Cambridge Updates and Rumours

[Bjays93]

the idea that descendants of Europeans have some sort of inherited guilt is ridiculous, and more importantly, unhelpful.

I think it's important you (and all else) do feel something. It isn't ridiculous nor unhelpful as you claim it is.

It doesn't need to be guilt, but to us people of colour, we don't always want to just pretend everything is okay, that we all live here together now, that we're all some homogenized mass where there is no X Y Z. We are here and need representation - and need it always, not just on some National Aboriginal Day or something. I think white people in particular need to feel something - and if that means guilt, okay - but I would prefer a gnawing thing in your mind that reminds you of why you get to live a luxurious life here on this particular place on earth. Just remember what you built this country on. Genocide, slavery, cultural assassination, eugenics, rape. Keep in mind that currently you're living on land that isn't yours - it's part of the Haldimand Proclamation Tract. We're building all of this on land that belongs to a group of Indigenous people that have no power to stop it, even though they own this.

When white (and all other people) can acknowledge this and try their damn hardest to be able to reconcile with us, the better. Let's build more affordable housing high in the sky (and nice condos for those who can afford them). NIMBYs can complain and we'll listen to their voices too, but a handful of privilege white boomers and their heritage groups should not hold so much power to change things when we can't even get enough affordable housing built for people of all classes and races.

I think this thread has derailed quite far from its intent, however, so maybe we ought to stop the conversation or move it elsewhere.

With all due respect this is merely your opinion. Part of the problem is there will never be unanimous consensus on things. I agree we the people of today should strive to build bridges to communities that our ancestors marginalized in the past. All people should strive to live in harmony with eachother regardless of the past. 

However even amongst indigenous people there is such a wide range of varying views. Being white, and not knowing much about indigenous people other than them being "Indians" when I grew up, i took it upon myself to learn. I've spent multiple summers on reserves, not to.go partake in some white saviourism where I fix a broken community, but rather to listen and learn. And I have listened and learnt so much and now some of my best friends are indigenous and I cant believe I never met an indigenous person until I was 16. 

But one of the many things I've learnt is that surprise surprise even in the first nations communities the difference in opinion amongst people is just as divided and polarized as the rest of society. Some think it's time for the government to stop doling out money to tribes and time to integrate with the rest of Canada, and others see anything and everything that isnt native as attempted assimilation. 

What's the best way forward. I couldn't tell you I have no clue. I have my own opinion but that doesnt really matter that much when it comes to solving the actual issues at hand. But the issues run much deeper than just white people recognizing what their ancestors did wrong. I'm not saying that's not a start but societal polarization to me is the most glaring issue right now.