@Dip Dibbler Wow. And they straight-up LIED to our faces about the whole thing in fucking HISTORY class. Should have been called "Propaganda of American Exceptionalism" class. Remember when Trump was in office and he was saying that schools need to teach more about how America is the greatest country in the world? Like....oh wait, you mean I just imagined the twelve-year stream of American Exceptionalism bullshit we were subjected to?

When we learned in school about the expansion of railroads and white "settlers" to the west, they did mention the slaughter of the bison. They said how a trainload of white men with guns would roll right up to a herd and shoot them all and then just leave the carcasses. It was horrifying, but even so, it wasn't the truth. You see. they portrayed this slaughter-to-the-point-of-near-extinction as mere foolishness or ignorance; that the "hunters" were so excited about the new "prey" and so "caught up in the sport" that they "unthinkingly" were very wasteful and didn't use the meat (because they were "shooting for sport," you see, and not for food) and that it was all just a big "oopsie" that the Plains became empty of bison. Only MUCH, much later did I learn the awful truth. It was a calculated, on purpose plot by the U.S. Government to wipe out the most major component of the food, clothing, tools, fuel, shelter, culture, etc. of the Plains Indians. With the bison nearly all gone, it was much easier for the Army to move in and send people away, onto reservations, across the country... Wiped them out ON PURPOSE. Just like purposefully infecting people with smallpox, a virus their immune systems had never seen before, conveniently opened up lots of prime real estate for the invaders. And it's this mindset of the conqueror, I think, that is the root of white nationalism and racism. I think it's naive to think that racism or white supremacy is about thinking that Black people or Native people or any immigrant people are somehow "inferior." On the contrary, whites know full well that the other groups are not inferior in any way. BUT the whites live in a nation where they have the POWER because they were the invaders and conquerors and enslavers, and they will NEVER give up that power, even though they KNOW they have it illegitimately. And flying racist flags is one way they signal to "the others:" WE are in power, WE conquered and murdered and displaced and enslaved you and don't you forget it! We WILL protect this power structure and won't hesitate to terrorize or kill to keep it in place, just the way we like it.

@WTF Vax Up Yes, Cattaragus County/Salamanca, that's exactly where the park is. I had simply gone online to look for a cabin rental in a state park near a lake within a 5-hour drive from me, found this place, drove there and fell in love with the cabin and the natural beauty. Had no idea I had wandered into a hive of rabid racism. And that was BEFORE 2016. Effing white nationalists.

@DeathofRats-BadgeHoorMaroon I don't think they're confused, though, Rats. I think they display the racist flag to make sure the local tribes don't forget that they are a conquered people.

@Yet Again You don't need a dick, you can just use a pee funnel to stand and pee! There are lots on the market, I think SheWee is one brand?

We went on vacation at Allegany State Park a few years ago. Beautiful park in southwestern New York state. When we drove out of the park to go to the grocery store, I was surprised at how many Confederate flags were displayed in yards, in windows, and on cars. I was confused because I thought Confederate flags were used to terrorize Black people and keep them "in their place," and as far as I could see there were virtually no Black people in the area. Later it hit me, those awful people were displaying those flags out of hatred for the Natives!! It's Seneca-Iriquois territory.

@Kathmandu Yes, you are "present company;" it was just a pompous way of saying, "I think I'm smarter than most people *except yinz guys, of course*!"

Wow!! What a life! Have a great trip this summer!

@Delusionalmale Oh, so you're Chaz! Hi!

@DeathofRats-BadgeHoorMaroon Yes, rightwing loon antivax nutter. OF COURSE I want to get divorced, (like, duh, lol.) I also have kids and don't want to be dirt poor; have you SEEN rents these days?? I can't possibly make enough to live decently on, let alone find a place where I can live with four cats and a dog and two kids. So, kind of stuck for the time being.

Where it says "a specific Constitutional amendment," it should say, "a specific Constitutional article and clause OR amendment." or you could say something like, "a specific provision of the Constitution."

Young middle-aged woman in a small big city (or is it a large small town) between the east coast and the midwest. Spouse was on the edge before but went all the way to crazytown since the election and pandemic. Will I be widowed or divorced first, place your wagers now. My dog is a Mittel Spitz, not a "Pomeranian mix," thank you very much. The more I learn, the more I understand how very little I know, and I feel like that realization makes me smarter than most people (present company excluded.)