The Freedom of Real Apologies

Layli Long Soldier is referring to the congressional apology they gave the Native Americans in the Defense Appropriations Act of 2009. I believe she hadn't heard about it before because it was well hidden within the document. I also believe that the US government didn't want to seem weak so it wasn't really public knowledge, it was mainly under wraps.

The phrasing she is referring to in the quote is how they worded the apology. She pointed out that it was carefully crafted and they were like poets so that the wording didn't offend anyone and made it seem like it was no big deal, when it was a big deal. The detail of the phrasing is important because Congress made it sound like they were both in the wrong. That Congress was also a victim in this even though they started it.

Specificity is important in this podcast because Layli Long Soldier wanted to expose the congressional apology. She pointed out how they worded it in a very interesting way, like the Native Americans were at fault even though that wasn't the case. She pointed out specific examples within the apology and basically told us how they were completely misleading to a reader. It's important in my writing so that people don't get the wrong idea about the message I'm trying to tell them. Research has to be very specific and accurate otherwise it turns into an opinionated paper, not a research paper.

The structure of this interview is very formal, Ms. Tippett asked very specific questions and wanted details about what Layli Long Soldier thought about the apology. The tone is very informative and very serious, there wasn't a lot of joking around in it. One thing I can take away from this interview is ask very detailed, specific questions so I can get as much information as possible from my interviewee.