The ranchers were steadily in the news earlier this year while the Sioux of North Dakota, not so much. Do you wonder why that is? Obviously there is big government and big money involved, but my query led to the media. Why would the media give practically round the clock coverage to a group of "cowboys" staying in an empty wildlife center miles from any town, while including daunting adjectives; yet Native Americans have been camping for months with their families and others joining them, only to receive very scant coverage, at best? The one difference that I should mention is: The Standing Rock Protest began on private land, while Malheur is federally owned. Federal used to mean "of the people . . ."
To cause division is the difference and division of the people is the goal. An accusation of racism has been attempted, but there are just too many people in this country who have Native ancestry or are married to someone who does. Who can be racist against Native Americans without having a family feud on their hands? Besides, it's politically correct and rather trendy to have Native ancestry, so this issue just won't fit in the racism box. I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard a blue eyed blond share that their great grandma was an Indian princess.
Big Oil is so greedy and invasive to so many on both sides of the aisle, Bernie and Trump supporters can find a mutual ground against Big Oil. No one is really talking about the fact that the possibility of contaminating the longest river in the country is at stake with this pipeline. Can you imagine an oil spill in the longest river of the country? Is that a potential crisis the government won't let go to waste . . . ? Now that Bayer and Monsanto are discussing a merger, we don't need Big Oil and Big Gov't in charge of the water. The Protectors at Standing Rock are just not a divisive issue for the media to use to manipulate the masses.
The ranchers, however; are another matter. Besides the fact, their protest was spontaneous and poorly planned, it divided the conservatives. Some conservatives determined the ranchers were at fault and belong in jail, while others see the BLM as today's American "brown shirts." The potential for conservative division is what gave the ranchers more media coverage. I watched a couple of Wild Bill's videos as he vacillate across both ends of the spectrum, for his 15 minutes of fame on the subject; but his last video that I viewed on the subject, lost him more than one subscriber. Dividing over the land just seemed to lay the foundation for the further division of the conservatives through this very unusual presidential campaign.
The liberal side of the country seemed pretty much in agreement and openly hostile toward the ranchers. I was unfriended by a few on social media over the issue, but I don't really consider that relevant. The "friends" I've lost over various religious and political issues will be remembered when the excrement hits the oscillating device. Those of us who have come to unity in our understanding are cherished. I've learned a great deal from a great many people, and been able to share, as well.
The division is being spread and fed, like gasoline on a wildfire. Just as Standing Rock was gaining a bit of mainstream media coverage, the racial rioting began again, and the coverage has been wide spread. As a journalist, I do try to cover the lesser known stories and issues, but I am obviously biased in my articles . . . all of them. I'm not going to describe my view or writing as "fair and balanced" as Fox News has completely redefined the meaning of both of those terms.
There are some of us who are simply trying to let the Other 1% know they are few in number, but they are not alone.
Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in The Way. a Proverb of Holy Scripture
Monday, September 26, 2016
Friday, September 09, 2016
Standing Rock
But in a development that stunned even the tribe’s lawyers, the decision by District Judge James E. Boasberg was effectively put on hold by a federal order to stop construction near the tribe’s reservation until the Army Corps of Engineers can revisit its previous decisions in the disputed portion. Washington Post
As I've watched the situation at Standing Rock develop, I've been saddened beyond words. This is my first attempt to express what I've been contemplating. I see the courage in those who are standing, and I pray all those who are going in support are truly supportive. What I see in all this, though; is this problem started long before Standing Rock, and as much as I'd like to, I can't lay all the blame on the white man. Being of Native American descent, I've always been proud of my ancestry, but in many ways for several years, it was just a cubbyholed fact of my DNA. I'm blessed to be obviously Native American in my appearance, as I've met a great many blond, blue-eyed folks who claim a Native heritage, but that isn't the point. A part of me, was earthy and spiritual, but it wasn't until our Heavenly Father a.k.a. The Great Spirit healed my mind, that I more fully understand what it is to be tribal. Now, I'm not going to make Standing Rock about my personal journey, but rather use this opportunity to express how wrong it's been for so long, and do my best to not incite any bigotry and lay down my own. Standing Rock is by far not the first battle of the Great Plains, but it should be the last, and for the first time in American history, the side of greed should not win.
These brave souls of Standing Rock want more for their children and are willing to fight for that. They haven't sold out to the ridiculous notion many of us of indigenous ancestry did. For so many of us, our thinking was, "to try to give our kids everything we didn't have as kids, and higher public education is the path to success." I was one of those! On top of trying to live by and teach the next generation the mainstream programming, I failed to teach, or set the example of respect of the elders, either. I've been reaping the bitter harvest of that for a number of years, and probably will for the rest of my days.
For the last several months my daughter has called me to discuss nothing but her latest career and big plans to make big money. The call before the last one, was regarding her change of companies. She informed me that she is now working the downtown developments, 'in her element' and she could smell the money . . . This is in Arizona, state of much tribal history and the last territory to be made a state, in the contiguous 48. Now, to our last conversation. She wanted to share in solidarity against the greed of the pipeline, even mentioned that we should go together and stand with them in Standing Rock, since we're tribal, ya know . . . Just a few months ago she was in this area and had conspired with her white grandmother to exclude me from the family gathering and keep her visit a secret from me. Now she wants to go 1000 miles to be "family." I had spent her childhood trying to buy into the corporate capitalism of America, and she has a college degree, worked in banking through the bailout years, and now real estate. But she is against Big Oil . . .
I've contemplated long and hard about what I can actually do. I have ministered both spiritual and natural health to The Nations in Oklahoma. I need to do more, but what? I share the pro-Native American memes on Facebook! Yay me! Being Native American isn't about DNA and bloodlines . . . well it is, but it's so much more. It's spiritual! It's a different lifestyle and culture. It's a respect for our Creator, and a responsibility for creation. It's an appreciation of nature that many of us have lost and certainly failed to teach. These brave souls at Standing Rock are teaching their children what so many of us failed to do. Seems everyone likes to claim a Native heritage as they bustle through their hectic schedule on their way to the next "white culture" appointment or event. America doesn't reflect the culture of Native Americans and that's been a mistake for far too long, hundreds of years too long. As much as I'd like to lay all the blame on white corporate greed, some of the blame lies at the feet of those of us who are Native American, were and are aware that tribal reality is not taught in the public school system, or reported on mainstream media, or represented in Washington, and failed to impart the spirituality of tribal integrity to the next generation.
The biggest change and greatest help I can offer is to boycott any product that is provided by Dakota Access Pipeline Company, but that is going to take some research. The next thing I can do is to offer financial support to these individuals who are courageously taking a stand and have been since April of this year. The third thing I can do is to share and teach the Scriptural spiritual truth of a tribal culture to those who are willing to learn. The last thing I can do is to offer an "heritage" to those who are serious about Scriptural truth and Native endurance.
It's time, also that women stop trying to be equal with men and realize Native American culture is a matriarchal culture. We've lost a lot in that regard. Even the white folk have a saying, "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." So, as a society, we chose to abandon home, hearth, and rocking the cradle for money. This is where we, of Native ancestry would have to set aside bigotry and realize our nation would be greatly benefited if we taught the white people, our way of life. If we could lay the greed aside and truly reach out in peace.
I truly would love to just blame those fat cat, white elitist of Big Oil, but the reality is, we all had a responsibility to teach our children better than we did, and those at Standing Rock are doing just that. In the course of writing this article, it was announced that a judge has ruled against those standing at Standing Rock, then an injunction was put in place to stop construction. The outcome remains to be seen. Those brave hearted people simply do not have the same odds that our ancestors had at Little Big Horn, although; they do have the same values.
I have asked forgiveness for my failings and repented. I pray for the Native Americans, they are my people.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. a Proverb of Holy Scripture
As I've watched the situation at Standing Rock develop, I've been saddened beyond words. This is my first attempt to express what I've been contemplating. I see the courage in those who are standing, and I pray all those who are going in support are truly supportive. What I see in all this, though; is this problem started long before Standing Rock, and as much as I'd like to, I can't lay all the blame on the white man. Being of Native American descent, I've always been proud of my ancestry, but in many ways for several years, it was just a cubbyholed fact of my DNA. I'm blessed to be obviously Native American in my appearance, as I've met a great many blond, blue-eyed folks who claim a Native heritage, but that isn't the point. A part of me, was earthy and spiritual, but it wasn't until our Heavenly Father a.k.a. The Great Spirit healed my mind, that I more fully understand what it is to be tribal. Now, I'm not going to make Standing Rock about my personal journey, but rather use this opportunity to express how wrong it's been for so long, and do my best to not incite any bigotry and lay down my own. Standing Rock is by far not the first battle of the Great Plains, but it should be the last, and for the first time in American history, the side of greed should not win.
These brave souls of Standing Rock want more for their children and are willing to fight for that. They haven't sold out to the ridiculous notion many of us of indigenous ancestry did. For so many of us, our thinking was, "to try to give our kids everything we didn't have as kids, and higher public education is the path to success." I was one of those! On top of trying to live by and teach the next generation the mainstream programming, I failed to teach, or set the example of respect of the elders, either. I've been reaping the bitter harvest of that for a number of years, and probably will for the rest of my days.
For the last several months my daughter has called me to discuss nothing but her latest career and big plans to make big money. The call before the last one, was regarding her change of companies. She informed me that she is now working the downtown developments, 'in her element' and she could smell the money . . . This is in Arizona, state of much tribal history and the last territory to be made a state, in the contiguous 48. Now, to our last conversation. She wanted to share in solidarity against the greed of the pipeline, even mentioned that we should go together and stand with them in Standing Rock, since we're tribal, ya know . . . Just a few months ago she was in this area and had conspired with her white grandmother to exclude me from the family gathering and keep her visit a secret from me. Now she wants to go 1000 miles to be "family." I had spent her childhood trying to buy into the corporate capitalism of America, and she has a college degree, worked in banking through the bailout years, and now real estate. But she is against Big Oil . . .
I've contemplated long and hard about what I can actually do. I have ministered both spiritual and natural health to The Nations in Oklahoma. I need to do more, but what? I share the pro-Native American memes on Facebook! Yay me! Being Native American isn't about DNA and bloodlines . . . well it is, but it's so much more. It's spiritual! It's a different lifestyle and culture. It's a respect for our Creator, and a responsibility for creation. It's an appreciation of nature that many of us have lost and certainly failed to teach. These brave souls at Standing Rock are teaching their children what so many of us failed to do. Seems everyone likes to claim a Native heritage as they bustle through their hectic schedule on their way to the next "white culture" appointment or event. America doesn't reflect the culture of Native Americans and that's been a mistake for far too long, hundreds of years too long. As much as I'd like to lay all the blame on white corporate greed, some of the blame lies at the feet of those of us who are Native American, were and are aware that tribal reality is not taught in the public school system, or reported on mainstream media, or represented in Washington, and failed to impart the spirituality of tribal integrity to the next generation.
The biggest change and greatest help I can offer is to boycott any product that is provided by Dakota Access Pipeline Company, but that is going to take some research. The next thing I can do is to offer financial support to these individuals who are courageously taking a stand and have been since April of this year. The third thing I can do is to share and teach the Scriptural spiritual truth of a tribal culture to those who are willing to learn. The last thing I can do is to offer an "heritage" to those who are serious about Scriptural truth and Native endurance.
It's time, also that women stop trying to be equal with men and realize Native American culture is a matriarchal culture. We've lost a lot in that regard. Even the white folk have a saying, "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." So, as a society, we chose to abandon home, hearth, and rocking the cradle for money. This is where we, of Native ancestry would have to set aside bigotry and realize our nation would be greatly benefited if we taught the white people, our way of life. If we could lay the greed aside and truly reach out in peace.
I truly would love to just blame those fat cat, white elitist of Big Oil, but the reality is, we all had a responsibility to teach our children better than we did, and those at Standing Rock are doing just that. In the course of writing this article, it was announced that a judge has ruled against those standing at Standing Rock, then an injunction was put in place to stop construction. The outcome remains to be seen. Those brave hearted people simply do not have the same odds that our ancestors had at Little Big Horn, although; they do have the same values.
I have asked forgiveness for my failings and repented. I pray for the Native Americans, they are my people.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. a Proverb of Holy Scripture
Standing Rock
But in a development that stunned even the tribe’s lawyers, the decision by District Judge James E. Boasberg was effectively put on hold by a federal order to stop construction near the tribe’s reservation until the Army Corps of Engineers can revisit its previous decisions in the disputed portion. Washington Post
As I've watched the situation at Standing Rock develop, I've been saddened beyond words. This is my first attempt to express what I've been contemplating. I see the courage in those who are standing, and I pray all those who are going in support are truly supportive. What I see in all this, though; is this problem started long before Standing Rock, and as much as I'd like to, I can't lay all the blame on the white man. Being of Native American descent, I've always been proud of my ancestry, but in many ways for several years, it was just a cubbyholed fact of my DNA. I'm blessed to be obviously Native American in my appearance, as I've met a great many blond, blue-eyed folks who claim a Native heritage, but that isn't the point. A part of me, was earthy and spiritual, but it wasn't until our Heavenly Father a.k.a. The Great Spirit healed my mind, that I more fully understand what it is to be tribal. Now, I'm not going to make Standing Rock about my personal journey, but rather use this opportunity to express how wrong it's been for so long, and do my best to not incite any bigotry and lay down my own. Standing Rock is by far not the first battle of the Great Plains, but it should be the last, and for the first time in American history, the side of greed should not win.
These brave souls of Standing Rock want more for their children and are willing to fight for that. They haven't sold out to the ridiculous notion many of us of indigenous ancestry did. For so many of us, our thinking was, "to try to give our kids everything we didn't have as kids, and higher public education is the path to success." I was one of those! On top of trying to live by and teach the next generation the mainstream programming, I failed to teach, or set the example of respect of the elders, either. I've been reaping the bitter harvest of that for a number of years, and probably will for the rest of my days.
For the last several months my daughter has called me to discuss nothing but her latest career and big plans to make big money. The call before the last one, was regarding her change of companies. She informed me that she is now working the downtown developments, 'in her element' and she could smell the money . . . This is in Arizona, state of much tribal history and the last territory to be made a state, in the contiguous 48. Now, to our last conversation. She wanted to share in solidarity against the greed of the pipeline, even mentioned that we should go together and stand with them in Standing Rock, since we're tribal, ya know . . . Just a few months ago she was in this area and had conspired with her white grandmother to exclude me from the family gathering and keep her visit a secret from me. Now she wants to go 1000 miles to be "family." I had spent her childhood trying to buy into the corporate capitalism of America, and she has a college degree, worked in banking through the bailout years, and now real estate. But she is against Big Oil . . .
I've contemplated long and hard about what I can actually do. I have ministered both spiritual and natural health to The Nations in Oklahoma. I need to do more, but what? I share the pro-Native American memes on Facebook! Yay me! Being Native American isn't about DNA and bloodlines . . . well it is, but it's so much more. It's spiritual! It's a different lifestyle and culture. It's a respect for our Creator, and a responsibility for creation. It's an appreciation of nature that many of us have lost and certainly failed to teach. These brave souls at Standing Rock are teaching their children what so many of us failed to do. Seems everyone likes to claim a Native heritage as they bustle through their hectic schedule on their way to the next "white culture" appointment or event. America doesn't reflect the culture of Native Americans and that's been a mistake for far too long, hundreds of years too long. As much as I'd like to lay all the blame on white corporate greed, some of the blame lies at the feet of those of us who are Native American, were and are aware that tribal reality is not taught in the public school system, or reported on mainstream media, or represented in Washington, and failed to impart the spirituality of tribal integrity to the next generation.
The biggest change and greatest help I can offer is to boycott any product that is provided by Dakota Access Pipeline Company, but that is going to take some research. The next thing I can do is to offer financial support to these individuals who are courageously taking a stand and have been since April of this year. The third thing I can do is to share and teach the Scriptural spiritual truth of a tribal culture to those who are willing to learn. The last thing I can do is to offer an "heritage" to those who are serious about Scriptural truth and Native endurance.
It's time, also that women stop trying to be equal with men and realize Native American culture is a matriarchal culture. We've lost a lot in that regard. Even the white folk have a saying, "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." So, as a society, we chose to abandon home, hearth, and rocking the cradle for money. This is where we, of Native ancestry would have to set aside bigotry and realize our nation would be greatly benefited if we taught the white people, our way of life. If we could lay the greed aside and truly reach out in peace.
I truly would love to just blame those fat cat, white elitist of Big Oil, but the reality is, we all had a responsibility to teach our children better than we did, and those at Standing Rock are doing just that. In the course of writing this article, it was announced that a judge has ruled against those standing at Standing Rock, then an injunction was put in place to stop construction. The outcome remains to be seen. Those brave hearted people simply do not have the same odds that our ancestors had at Little Big Horn, although; they do have the same values.
I have asked forgiveness for my failings and repented. I pray for the Native Americans, they are my people.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. a Proverb of Holy Scripture
As I've watched the situation at Standing Rock develop, I've been saddened beyond words. This is my first attempt to express what I've been contemplating. I see the courage in those who are standing, and I pray all those who are going in support are truly supportive. What I see in all this, though; is this problem started long before Standing Rock, and as much as I'd like to, I can't lay all the blame on the white man. Being of Native American descent, I've always been proud of my ancestry, but in many ways for several years, it was just a cubbyholed fact of my DNA. I'm blessed to be obviously Native American in my appearance, as I've met a great many blond, blue-eyed folks who claim a Native heritage, but that isn't the point. A part of me, was earthy and spiritual, but it wasn't until our Heavenly Father a.k.a. The Great Spirit healed my mind, that I more fully understand what it is to be tribal. Now, I'm not going to make Standing Rock about my personal journey, but rather use this opportunity to express how wrong it's been for so long, and do my best to not incite any bigotry and lay down my own. Standing Rock is by far not the first battle of the Great Plains, but it should be the last, and for the first time in American history, the side of greed should not win.
These brave souls of Standing Rock want more for their children and are willing to fight for that. They haven't sold out to the ridiculous notion many of us of indigenous ancestry did. For so many of us, our thinking was, "to try to give our kids everything we didn't have as kids, and higher public education is the path to success." I was one of those! On top of trying to live by and teach the next generation the mainstream programming, I failed to teach, or set the example of respect of the elders, either. I've been reaping the bitter harvest of that for a number of years, and probably will for the rest of my days.
For the last several months my daughter has called me to discuss nothing but her latest career and big plans to make big money. The call before the last one, was regarding her change of companies. She informed me that she is now working the downtown developments, 'in her element' and she could smell the money . . . This is in Arizona, state of much tribal history and the last territory to be made a state, in the contiguous 48. Now, to our last conversation. She wanted to share in solidarity against the greed of the pipeline, even mentioned that we should go together and stand with them in Standing Rock, since we're tribal, ya know . . . Just a few months ago she was in this area and had conspired with her white grandmother to exclude me from the family gathering and keep her visit a secret from me. Now she wants to go 1000 miles to be "family." I had spent her childhood trying to buy into the corporate capitalism of America, and she has a college degree, worked in banking through the bailout years, and now real estate. But she is against Big Oil . . .
I've contemplated long and hard about what I can actually do. I have ministered both spiritual and natural health to The Nations in Oklahoma. I need to do more, but what? I share the pro-Native American memes on Facebook! Yay me! Being Native American isn't about DNA and bloodlines . . . well it is, but it's so much more. It's spiritual! It's a different lifestyle and culture. It's a respect for our Creator, and a responsibility for creation. It's an appreciation of nature that many of us have lost and certainly failed to teach. These brave souls at Standing Rock are teaching their children what so many of us failed to do. Seems everyone likes to claim a Native heritage as they bustle through their hectic schedule on their way to the next "white culture" appointment or event. America doesn't reflect the culture of Native Americans and that's been a mistake for far too long, hundreds of years too long. As much as I'd like to lay all the blame on white corporate greed, some of the blame lies at the feet of those of us who are Native American, were and are aware that tribal reality is not taught in the public school system, or reported on mainstream media, or represented in Washington, and failed to impart the spirituality of tribal integrity to the next generation.
The biggest change and greatest help I can offer is to boycott any product that is provided by Dakota Access Pipeline Company, but that is going to take some research. The next thing I can do is to offer financial support to these individuals who are courageously taking a stand and have been since April of this year. The third thing I can do is to share and teach the Scriptural spiritual truth of a tribal culture to those who are willing to learn. The last thing I can do is to offer an "heritage" to those who are serious about Scriptural truth and Native endurance.
It's time, also that women stop trying to be equal with men and realize Native American culture is a matriarchal culture. We've lost a lot in that regard. Even the white folk have a saying, "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." So, as a society, we chose to abandon home, hearth, and rocking the cradle for money. This is where we, of Native ancestry would have to set aside bigotry and realize our nation would be greatly benefited if we taught the white people, our way of life. If we could lay the greed aside and truly reach out in peace.
I truly would love to just blame those fat cat, white elitist of Big Oil, but the reality is, we all had a responsibility to teach our children better than we did, and those at Standing Rock are doing just that. In the course of writing this article, it was announced that a judge has ruled against those standing at Standing Rock, then an injunction was put in place to stop construction. The outcome remains to be seen. Those brave hearted people simply do not have the same odds that our ancestors had at Little Big Horn, although; they do have the same values.
I have asked forgiveness for my failings and repented. I pray for the Native Americans, they are my people.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. a Proverb of Holy Scripture
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