I will just say this trend of "land acknowledgements" feels like the worst flotsam of liberalism - it is performatively solumn, prescriptive "on behalf" of some marginalized people, but ultimately meaningless. It feels like the liberal version of a "thoughts & prayers" response.
It is especially misguided since the acknowledged "true owners" of the land usually didn't subscribe to the concept of land ownership. The whole concept is just weird and I don't understand the objective. To be appreciative of the land's history? Why would this be required in a college course syllabus?
I say this as a liberal in SF who is part Native American - who the hell wanted this?
I will just say this trend of "land acknowledgements" feels like the worst flotsam of liberalism - it is performatively solumn, prescriptive "on behalf" of some marginalized people, but ultimately meaningless. It feels like the liberal version of a "thoughts & prayers" response.
It is especially misguided since the acknowledged "true owners" of the land usually didn't subscribe to the concept of land ownership. The whole concept is just weird and I don't understand the objective. To be appreciative of the land's history? Why would this be required in a college course syllabus?
I say this as a liberal in SF who is part Native American - who the hell wanted this?
It can be performative and helps show that one is aligned with prevailing political orthodoxy.