Understanding the Indian Culture :: Cultural Identity Essays

Daughter: Dad, we’ve got a lot of time before your flight out of Ft. Lauderdale. Let’s take the back roads over to the East Coast -- it will give you a chance to see a part of Florida you’ve never seen before. Father: Sounds okay to me. I’m surprised at all the cattle ranches around here thought we Texans were the only ones with this many herds ... of course, these do look pretty scrawny compared to ours! Daughter: Yes, I know, Dad -- no place like Texas. Father: Who owns all these cattle and grazing lands? Some big corporate group I guess? Daughter: Well, I’m not sure about all of it but The Seminole Tribe of Florida is one of the major cattle ranching enterprises. Father: You mean Seminoles as in Indians? Daughter: Yes, Dad, Indians. Father: (After a few miles of silent observance) Well, I find that hard to believe. All Indians are l lazy. All they do is lay around and do nothing. Daughter: I’m curious Dad, where’d you get that idea? Father: Everybody knows it. I’ve been around the Southwest and Midwest and I’ve seen them lay around and drink. Remember Frank, out in Oklahoma, he’s got some pretty ugly stories to tell. Daughter: Well, I’m sure there’s a few bad apples in every bunch -- white or black, Indian or not -- but I don’t think you could say they are all that way. Father: Maybe. But I don’t like my tax dollar going to support them. Now they have casinos and they don’t even pay taxes. Daughter: I’ve got an idea. We’ve got a few extra hours. Let’s make a couple of stops along the way. Here’s the first. Father: What -- this bingo joint? Daughter: Yes, just for a few minutes. I hear they serve great hamburgers and who knows, it could be our lucky day! Father: (Emerging a little while later with a big smile) That was pretty good. I’ve got a little extra change to head home with too. Sure was a big place. Daughter: It was a pretty impressive operation and it provides a lot of employment opportunities for Indians and non-Indians, too.