This past Monday, November 27th, President Donald Trump attended a ceremony at the White House to commemorate the role Navajo Veterans played in World War II.

The idea that this event could have been a benevolent and honorable remembrance quickly dwindled when Trump decided to refer to Elizabeth Warren, a member of the Senate, as ‘Pocahontas’. He was not referring to the Native American teenager who played a major role in aiding the settlers at Jamestown, but the fictional Disney movie character. Not only did he reference the fictional character, but he made the statement in front of a portrait of Andrew Jackson, a man who is notorious for the Trail of Tears.

It is not hard to see where this statement was deemed inappropriate. The Native American people have been persecuted since the Age of Exploration. They have been stripped of their land, their nomadic lifestyle, and in many ways, their culture. The Trail of Tears led to the deaths of more than 4,000 Cherokee Indians on their brutal journey to the Western United States. With the development of the United States only came further persecution, resulting in the deaths of many more native people, therefore showing why this was such an important event for both the Navajo veterans and Trump’s administration.

But because Trump and his cabinet will take any opportunity to bash the Democratic party, the comment had to be made. Are we actually surprised, though? No, because this is just one of many times he has inappropriately used his power as an elected official to share his unwanted opinion.

It saddens me that I have become so numb to his remarks, to hear yet another incident where he has disrespected yet another group of people. But why as a society do we collectively decide to ignore the President’s poorly thought out remarks? We have to do better. Twitter rants do not create active change.

As members the Blanchet community it is our responsibility to do something about the injustices we witness on a daily basis. Let your voices be heard.