Obama notes ‘tragic’ US past

CHICAGO » Sen. Barack Obama, speaking to a gathering of minority journalists yesterday, stopped short of endorsing an official U.S. apology to American Indians but said the country should acknowledge its history of poor treatment of certain ethnic groups.

"There's no doubt that when it comes to our treatment of Native Americans as well as other persons of color in this country, we've got some very sad and difficult things to account for," ... "I personally would want to see our tragic history, or the tragic elements of our history, acknowledged," the Democratic presidential hopeful said. "I consistently believe that when it comes to whether it's Native Americans or African-American issues or reparations, the most important thing for the U.S. government to do is not just offer words, but offer deeds."

[more moral equivalency where there is none: you can't judge yesterdays actions by today's morals. Put in the context of its time, Americas treatment of natives needs be compared to the common practice of enslaving or exterminating conquered populations. Re: reparations: truly harmful idea: All of my ancestors were 20th century immigrants - their role in Obama's 'tragedies' was what? It's the perpetuation of 'victim politics' as a means to affording special privilege/leverage - always accompanied by the resentment of those not included. This is the 'unifying' candidate?]

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