> In any case, anyone who knows Indians or has travelled to any extent
> on reservations will know that Indians have, by any meaning of the phrase,
> been quite remarkable in "turning the other cheek." That doesn't mean
> there can't be prayers for the restoration of justice.
> Many Indians can and do forgive now, but Europeans will be unable
> to receive that forgiveness until there is repentance and restoration.
It may sound like a dumb question, but what does repentance and restoration
mean? I think there is a difference between repentance and a sense of
guilt; I've seen a few people who use guilt as an excuse to continue doing
stuff (it's okay as long as I feel guilty afterwards); guilt in itself,
I don't think really accomplishes anything.
And how can things be restored? The land is not what it once was; white people
who live here came are here because their ancestors brought them, and have no
other place they could rationally consider home, and there really isn't any
way of turning time backwards...
I've heard it said that white people just need to concentrate on their
own lives, and getting in touch with our own roots, but does this
offer any kind of restoration?
I understand, injustices are still being done (how could anyone read
the stuff on this list and not understand this?), feel rather
powerless to stop them and wonder what my responsibilities are and
how to fulfill them? How does one go about taking part in restoration
and repentance?
Susan Witt