Indian Giver

Back in the days of the Pilgrims in the States and then the French and Scottish settlements in Canada, the natives had a ceremony called a 'potlatch,' where gifts were exchanged.

What nobody explained to the Europeans was that after an Indian potlatch, they were supposed to throw an even bigger party........ and so on!

After a few attempts, the Indians got pissed that the white man wasn't keeping up his end of the bargain and wanted their gifts back!

Starting to get the picture?

There are also stories about the white man giving the Indians stupid, worthless gifts for items of great value. (One of the best stories is how the Europeans bought Manhattan for 24 dollars worth of beads!)

The sad truth is that due to a misunderstanding, the Indians never really sold the land since they considered all real estate as belonging to The Great Spirit, and could not be owned by humans.

(When the white man started putting up fences they asked what was going on........ and after they got the gist of what Whitey was doing they said "people can't own land," it was there for everybody........, and they gave the trinkets Back!)

Whatever version of 'Indian Giver' is true the story got twisted around to make it look like the poor, stupid natives were at fault.

So, that's the story, and here is the reason for it!

CBC television has a financial show called "O'Leary and Company" and the host, Kevin O'Leary" (Who by the way, is an asshole!) was heard to describe someone as an "Indian Giver!"

No big deal as far as I'm concerned, but a whole bunch of left wing reactionaries like you see at the Gay Pride Parades, G20 demonstrations, feminist rallies and 'save the horny owl' protests got wind of what he said, and started picketing the CBC studios. (DON'T THESE PEOPLE HAVE JOBS?)

The CBC, being a staunch left wing organization, has demanded an apology from O'Leary, and as far as I know he doesn't want to take the comments back because then the right wing could accuse HIM of being an "Indian Giver!"