Today I
found “Native Roots” in a different part of the mall, occupying a slightly
larger space. I decided to go inside and strike up a conversation with the shop
assistant. I passed by beautiful hand-made native knick-knacks, adorned
leather, some beads, jewelry, some colorful dresses, wooden boxes, belts, and
other unique items you can’t find anywhere else.
An entire
wall had nicely folded t-shirts on wooden shelves, the very same two t-shirts I
had passed by for years in the window of the previous location. I assumed such
native items are very popular in the upscale mall in Fairfax County, one of the
richest counties in the nation. How else could they afford the expensive rent?
The shop
assistant was a native Ecuadorian who was proud of their help for the native
tribe whose wares they were selling. She did not mention the name of the tribe
or whether the tribe was Native American or an indigenous tribe from Ecuador. I
only hope their stuff was not made in China.
I brought up
the two t-shirts that had bothered me for a long time – still prominently
displayed and sold in numerous colors. One was adorned with pictures of Indian
chiefs with the phrase, “Homeland Security – Fighting Terrorism since 1492.”
The second t-shirt was a composite of four Indian chiefs superimposed over the
American Presidents on Mount Rushmore, with the words, “The Original Founding
Fathers.”
I am a
naturalized American citizen and I certainly resent the fact that I and my
fellow Americans are called terrorists by these people. I asked the woman how
she felt about those t-shirts. She responded that this is the Native Americans’
country and we are all terrorists because we took it away from them in 1492 when
Columbus discovered America. What does that make you, I asked her? She gave me
a blank stare.
I also asked
her what the name of the country was when Columbus discovered it. Which tribe
was killing their neighboring tribe for supremacy at the time? Do nomadic tribes
living here and there make up a country and how do you claim a country? Do borders,
language, and culture make up a country? If not, how do you define a country?
She did not answer any of my questions, she just shrugged her shoulders.
I am not
sure what these Indian chiefs, “original founding fathers,” have founded. She
wasn’t able to clarify that matter either.
I tried to
explain to her that commerce is based on appeasing all customers; she and the
owner of the store must be appeasing the hate-fringe in America who believes
that we have no right to our own country because we took it unjustly from
natives. There is not one country on the planet that was not established either
by occupation, conquest through war, or through a massive land purchase.
How did she
expect the rest of America to buy her hand-made merchandise when she is calling
her customers terrorists? What kind of business model is this? It seems to me
like a business model built on hate, on disrespecting the country that has
taken her in as a resident, legal or illegal.
She told me
in her broken English that I should address those questions to her Ecuadorian
boss.
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