# How is genocide defined, with an emphasis on cultural genocide?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-genocide-defined-with-an-emphasis-on-cultural-genocide/944198>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [June 13, 2021, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-genocide-defined-with-an-emphasis-on-cultural-genocide/944198 "2021-06-13T23:23:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 174

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**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-genocide-defined-with-an-emphasis-on-cultural-genocide/944198/174 "2021-06-18T02:52:12Z")

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> [@Martin\_Hyde](#):
>
> I think a better question is how many want to leave the reservation if they had the financial means to do so? The reservations are often not even anywhere remotely close to the tribe’s historic lands, and many of the people living on them probably would enjoy life elsewhere. Giving them that freedom is a virtuous act. Largely because we, collectively, put these people on the reservations, they deserve the agency to decide if they want to leave.

Give them the money, and let them choose whether they want to leave their existing communities, or to use it to improve those communities and their lives within them. Giving them the money only if they choose to leave is not giving them “agency.”

> [@Martin\_Hyde](#):
>
> I never claimed it was either or, at all. Maybe you could point to where I did (you won’t, because you can’t.)

Right here.

> [@Martin\_Hyde](#):
>
> Like their material life situation isn’t improved by “awareness” campaigns about bad things that happened 50+ years ago.

> [@Martin\_Hyde](#):
>
> I haven’t “guessed” one way or the other, right?

Sure you have.

> [@Martin\_Hyde](#):
>
> I also think the existing native Americans might care more about actually seeing quality of life improvements.

What is that “think” based on, if not on a guess? I asked you whether you had any evidence for it, and you haven’t provided any. I provided evidence of existing Native Americans/First Nations who care a great deal about bringing to light what you want to write off as having happened years ago, and you’ve ignored it.

> [@Martin\_Hyde](#):
>
> Seriously, if you can’t debate honestly, fuck off.

I look forward to your taking your own advice.

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