Elizabeth Warren recently revealed results from a DNA test. Apparently, there are some strong signals that she indeed has ancestors several generations back who were Native Americans.
More specifically, Warren identified as Cherokee. The Cherokee Nation has responded with criticism. They feel that the DNA test is insufficient for her to go around referring to herself as Cherokee.
If you know me, you know that I hate writing what you can read elsewhere. The reason that I have decided to write about this dispute has to do with the reaction to the Cherokee statement. Their official website does not have commenting. What I have been reading is on the post at Twitter.
The reason the replies have grabbed my attention is due to the us versus them mentality that far too many people are embracing. The DNA test discussion started with Donald Trump's questions regarding Warren's claimed ethnicity. In a sense, this became an issue of Donald Trump and the Republicans versus Elizabeth Warren and the Democrats.
In the dispute between Trump and Warren, the Cherokees appear to have sided against Warren. That means they support Trump. Or so it seems. Whether or not Warren should be referring to herself as a Cherokee is very different from whether or not Trump should be demanding a DNA test. It is certainly possible to disagree with both sides.
Most Americans seem to turn towards one of our political parties and against the other. The criticism of Warren from the Cherokees has been interpreted by many as support for Trump. For those of us who reject the concept of blind partisan loyalty, there is an obvious problem with this viewpoint. The Cherokee statement never mentioned Trump or the Republicans. They were acting in opposition to Warren, not in support of Trump.
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