All the best in the future,

m-

1) This sentence makes the claim that Indigenous peoples did not possess or develop self-discipline among themselves until residential schools came along. This is simply preposterous when one considers the strict cultural customs, moral codes and ethical values that Indigenous peoples once lived by before these became eroded by the Christianity that was brutally imposed on them by the residential schools.

2) For Howard to even consider that “the discouraging of animistic beliefs” is a “positive element” of residential schools is another indicator of how this writing is very dangerous and unconstitutional. To make the claim that to subject Indigenous peoples to brutal colonialism in order to erase their cultures, belief systems, community structures, spiritual life ways,and traditional values, is abhorrent and also in disagreement with the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and also the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

3) Howard states that the “teaching of English” is “positive element” of residential schools Despite the fact that many people (even Indigenous peoples themselves) may consider this to be a valid point, one must at the same time address the issue of why the settler Canadians have never taken the initiative to learn how to speak and teach Indigenous languages while including them fully as integral parts of the Canadian life and culture (as French and English are). To state that learning English was “positive” while simultaneously beating children so that they do not speak their own language does not make sense. Stripping peoples of their own languages while force-feeding them your own can never be a “positive” thing.

Still can’t be sure which one will win over, but it’s looking good for 20-10. On almost every morning show I’ve been watching lately (GMA, Today Show, Early Show, Canada AM), they’ve brought up the issue of “two thousand” vs “twenty”. Some chose to go with one, some with the other. For example, Lester Holt of the Today Show says “twenty ten”, but Matt Lauer (on the one day he hosted so far, January 1) said “two thousand and ten”.

Time will tell. Happy new year.