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Politics : American Presidential Politics and foreign affairs -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: haqihana who wrote (3535)	1/29/2006 11:56:38 AM
From: White Bear	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 71588

I have lived next to a reservation mostly all my life and have known quite a few Indians, mostly men. I have not taken any American Indian Study classes. I don't know beans about them except they can do anything I can do. I also believe they will not give up one square yard of their turf. You learn a lot playing basketball and football with the young men because you have something in common. On more then one occasion I attended get-togethers at a Native American alcoholic halfway house in Northern Wisconsin. What I took away from every meeting is that I did not understand their alcoholism, because it was different, because they were. Help an Indian have a decent education. We all know that is what will promote change, and in their time, with them making the choices. They are the best of us, and maybe those that live apart need to tell their stories to those that still need to listen. How many old men or women have you listened to lately? Hell, we don’t listen, as we know everything. Maybe they will help us to get along, when they learn to get along. They have their leadership problems that are just as stupid as ours, because they choose their leaders also. justgive.org

To: haqihana who wrote (3535)	1/29/2006 10:47:33 PM
From: Peter Dierks	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 71588

Like you, I see people and cultures as changing constantly. As you have said, current Native Americans are getting more engaged in the world outside of the reservation than some of their ancestors. Some of them must realize that there is money to be made in preserving their heritage as well as the cultural benefit. People from around the world will travel to see ancient rituals and ceremonies. It is called cultural tourism. Actually some of the left wingnuts might be inclined to become consumers of that. The whole guilt thing where Native Americans keep claiming to have been victimized by greedy settlers is a chapter of the past. Today, we can take the current situation and move forward from here. Current reality is only a starting point. The whole universe of possibilities is before us. "The Indians do not ask for anything like the reparations, which are a stupid attempt to get more welfare, and all they want is a level playing field." A level playing field is not a thing you can ask for or demand. People skew the field to their advantage all of the time. Would you rather be the one doing the skewing or the one getting skewed? Winners are determined by who wants it worse. Your example, Jim Thorpe, wanted it worse than anyone else. One of the reasons I object to tribal gambling is because it promotes the Native American welfare perception both inside and outside. I skied in the White Mountains. It was amazing to see the workers move and act like they could never be fired because their tribe owned the resort. That experience stood in stark contrast to the well run resorts I had been to over the years. When a tribe is able to provide welfare to their members because of a casino, it is no more motivating than a trust fund or other forms of welfare. Some people might perceive that Native Americans need special treatment to succeed because without it... Like you, I want to see people who are not excelling get ahead. Like you, I believe that those that own the means of production owe everyone the opportunity to work excel and earn their own standard of living.