Rob Capriccioso: Obama remains silent on Native apology

Opinion

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

"Did you know that President Barack Obama signed a historic apology resolution addressed to American Indians in December, but he hasn’t drawn any attention to it?

As I reported in January, no press releases went out; the White House didn’t make any announcements; and the president didn’t tell any tribal citizens or leaders about the apology he had signed.

The question from several Indians I interviewed at the time centered on whether this was a real apology. After all, is an apology not said out loud, and not drawn attention to, really an apology? I titled the piece, “A sorry saga.”

“What kind of an apology is it when they don’t tell the people they are apologizing to? For an apology to have any meaning at all, you do have to tell the people you’re apologizing to,” said Robert T. Coulter, executive director of the Indian Law Resource Center.

“I have had my doubts on whether this is a true or meaningful apology, and this silence seems to speak very loudly on that point.”

The story has been popular in Indian circles, and Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., drew more attention to it in an interview he did with me after the president’s signature."

Get the Story:
Rob Capriccioso: Obama signs apology to Native Americans, but doesn’t say it out loud, nor issue announcement (True/slant 4/27)

2010 Defense Appropriations Act:
Bill Text | H.R.3326

Apology Resolution:
H.J.Res.46 | S.J.Res.14