LEONARD PELTIER CLEMENCY Pt 2

Lot of talk about clemency for Peltier -some seem to think it is a given on Obama’s way out of office.

Of course we’ve heard that before when Clinton’s administration was winding down.

Personally I don’t feel as though short of accepting responsibility and cooperating to bring a closure to the issues that haunt the nations Peltier should ever be released.

On the other hand if he were to be I think it should be linked if not to the  above listed conditions then  full disclosure….the release of all pertinent documents including Peltier’s parole board hearings.

I’ve also suggested there be an impartial truth commission and suspect there is as much chance of that happening as the one I propose now.

Now as a “warrior”, “political prisoner”, and a “human being whose been wronged”, I can’t see how Peltier or LPDOC could have an issue with that.

I’d like it if LPDOC’s financial records were a part of such an agreement, but will forgo suggesting such as I wouldn’t want to leave them any wiggle room to protest or  cause them to feel compelled to oppose such a plan or take  the fifth.

Deals are routinely made-kind of like the one that allowed Dave Hill to walk-so if Peltier is allowed to then let it likewise be because a deal was struck and not some cobbled together myth.

AND WHEN NECESSARY, CONFRONT

I’m not the kind of person to believe every written or spoken word, and I encourage others to be of like mind.

Often before arriving at an opinion I will browse through several books, pdf’s, court docs and various articles- I also consider the source, it’s integrity, and whether something is to be gained by misrepresentation.

Having gone through that process if I express an opinion it is because I believe it and I am committed to it.

That isn’t to say an opinion expressed by me is infallible, only that I have attempted to do the work myself rather than leave it to another or become a bot in an endless chain.

It’s fairly obvious that below a certain level no one is familiar with all the nuances and information relevant to the issues addressed in this blog- some may think they are but the reality is something entirely different.  I for one know I am not, odds are none of us ever  will be.

Too many vested interests, too many liabilities, too much face saving and avoiding accountability, too much turf to protect, and too many reputations.

In the end we are left with a blurred photograph, but one sufficient enough when enhanced with words written and oral sprinkled with a little common sense to arrive at a reasoned determination.

We all have enough personal  experiences  to understand when something doesn’t sound right-when it flies in the face of what we know to be a norm.

If something stinks there’s a reason for that, same as if a lie is told, or if a story has to undergo multiple revisions in an attempt to keep pace with what becomes known in an effort to offset it.

If individuals were murdered and buried in secretive graves within WK2 membership in Mensa isn’t needed to understand that those within WK2 are responsible, and should be held responsible.

Rhetorical twists and turns, denial, or wishful thinking, cannot  alter that simple fact for anyone with an IQ above ten.

Deception and wishful thinking might seem to, but reason never can.

Anyone addressing these issues is tasked with a burden, something more than expressing an opinion on the net-it is an assumed burden for the majority, not an obligatory one as it is for the survivors of victims.

That being the case we should assist in lightening the load, not adding it to it-and the best way I know of to do that is to devote the time and effort to arrive at a reasoned opinion, to question, and when necessary, confront.

Common truths are shared, they belong to everyone-lies belong only to those who give voice to them.

LEONARD PELTIER CLEMENCY

Advocates of a clemency or pardon for Leonard Peltier often raise the issue of the amount of time he has served-closing in on four decades.

That’s a long time, not a record, but nonetheless a long time.

What they seem to fail to grasp is that the passage of time is inclusive-that it doesn’t stop and remain fixed for any other than victims whose lives have been taken.

It stopped for Annie Mae Aquash, Ray Robinson, Buddy Lamont, Nogeeshik Aquash, Jack Coler, Ron Williams, Roque Duenas, Jancita  Eagle Deer, those who lay in hidden graves as the result of WK2, and others who may never be known.

The advocates will often talk of a complicity in these murders by the feds-if there is a value in that then they must likewise assert that as a member of AIM-more specifically one of Dennis Banks security grunts, then Peltier must likewise be complicit.  Begins to get a little murky and places an onus on the advocates doesn’t it?

Of those victims listed above no one to my knowledge has claimed that Peltier had a direct physical involvement in their deaths with the exception of Williams and Coler – despite the nagging time line, the exposed lies of when he was in jail in Canada, and Peltier’s own admission that he was in and out of the country during pivotal dates.

Yet time or the memory of these murders hasn’t stopped for the families  and friends as each fell-there is no pardon or clemency that can be  sought that will release their loved ones from the graves they lay in.

No surcease of sorrow-nothing to fill the void in a child’s life, or the vacancy left in a family-something to consider with each new attempt by Peltier to portray himself as a victim worthy of release.

He wants to mentor youth? What he has done for the now adults who were the youthful children of his victims?

Did he teach them to paint or counsel them in the right and wrongs of life, remember them during Christmas toy drives, or contribute to college scholarships?

Has he ever done a single thing to alleviate their suffering?

Did he tell them of the value of being a “warrior” which he claims to be and will never truthfully ever be able to make such a claim?

What has he done for the children of Annie and Ray to assist in obtaining the justice they deserve other than to obstruct, lie, support the murders, and in the end say he wouldn’t help put another indigenous man in prison?

Even Banks and OJ went through the motions of offering a reward or conducting an “independent investigation”.

Often overlooked is the fact that family members of a perpetrator are in some ways a victim, and made to suffer as well-what has Peltier done for them other than to construct a prison where they also serve  each day and allowed to live only a half life?

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

Kind of checking out events in the political world this morning-predictable “news” with an occasional tweak or two depending on the party.

Strikes me how many most of the topics are media driven-guess that’s what sells advertising space.

What’s overlooked in the eagerness to accept what is reported as absolute fact and to throw a few verbal ingredients into the pot are the inherent pitfalls, that an eagerness to do so often lends itself  to having to extract one’s foot from their mouth-or in  some cases their cloven hoof.

A phenomena that occurs throughout the food chain, from top to bottom-politician to citizen.

A lesson either seldom learned or routinely ignored.

Been thinking lately of what is referred to as the Butterfly Effect ,a tenet of the Chaos Theory, the  interconnectedness of events and basically all things large  and small.

It’s an interesting concept that has been romanticized to a degree, but also one that bears consideration.

The rez, as well as intercity or suburban ethnic enclaves are “closed societies” in some measure or another, that being the case this so called Butterfly Effect and the impact that can be delivered by it may not be fully  understood or appreciated.

But I’m a believer- a market fluctuation on the other side of  the planet, civil unrest that threatens the flow of oil or other resources, drought, natural disasters, government policies, toxic waste, radiation leaks like the one at Chernobyl, currency manipulation, or any number of other influences and it all runs downhill.

That’s downhill-not uphill where wealth and influence can serve as an insulator-and should be a motivator for all people to be aware of what occurs, strive to have some voice that will be heard.

The reality is that a significant amount of the direction our lives will take, what will impact and influence the course is beyond our control-decisions made behind the closed doors of government and corporations or unforeseeable events dictating them.

I’m not talking about and end of the world or the Russians or Chinese are coming scenario, FEMA “death camps”, or other such laughable internet “theories”, only suggesting we all become aware of the global world we live it, the reality of the fragile nature of our circumstances,  and do what is required to become as self sufficient as we are able.

A side benefit would be the pride of self reliance and strong viable communities…..that alone is worth consideration.

BENEATH THE GROUND

Recognition of the following sites who have posted this:
 http://nativeamericannewstome.tumblr.com/

Leonard Peltier Still Guilty 

And attribution to the  site of origin and author:
http://www.noparolepeltier.com

All sites that warrant a visit.

Those who read the article who may be on the fence about Peltier or even an  advocate may find it difficult to explain or mount a defense -if so they should re examine their position.

A lot of things live beneath the ground-worms and grubs are two that come to mind.

Dear Supporters:
“I’m a warrior that’s why I believe I should go out, & keep under-ground.”
Peltier’s first escape plan came to the attention of  Canadian authorities with little pressure on the “mentally disturbed” (according to Peltier), courier. The note, duly transcribed and reported caused the prison authorities to double-up their watchfulness of the American Indian accused of killing two federal agents. They didn’t want or need the embarrassment of losing such a valuable commodity that the U.S. Government and the FBI wanted desperately back in the lower forty-eight to stand trial for his alleged (at the time), crimes.
The extradition to the U.S., fought hard by Peltier and his court appointed and volunteer attorneys, was moving along, so formal charges of an escape plan were not filed, but duly noted.
Peltier was extradited and much has been said about the process, but the final word rests not with the occasional liberal politicians, Peltierites, the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee (which wasn’t formally created until his trial in March 1977), or Peltier himself, but with the ultimate Canadian law enforcement authority:
A four-page letter dated October 12, 1999 from A. Anne McLellan, Canadian Minister of Justice, to U.S. Attorney General, Janet Reno, reviewed the entire Peltier extradition matter and concluded, unambiguously:
“As I indicated above, I have concluded that Mr. Peltier was lawfully extradited to the United States.”
“The record demonstrates that the case was fully considered by the courts and by the then Minister of Justice. There is no evidence that has come to light since then that would justify a conclusion that the decisions of the Canadian courts and Minister of Justice should be interfered with.” http://www.noparolepeltier.com/canadaletter.html
So then, why is this first Escape Plan even relevant?
Because Peltier, perhaps for the very first time, unknown that other eyes would see it, admitted why an escape was necessary; his note contained an element of truth and undermined his later claims for his armed escape from Lompoc in July 1979. Lompoc was a totally fabricated lie of an assassination plot. This also provides the basis for negating all of Peltier’s claims of innocence and the polluted river of folklore that followed.
“I’m a warrior that’s why I believe I should go out, & keep under-ground.”
The alleged “assassination plot” was among the first of a long string of lies, disinformation and diversionary tactics unsupported by any reality or facts:
-He was in tent city when the shooting started.
-He didn’t shoot at the agents initially, but later admitted in a public interview that he did.
-He shot in self-defense, yet knowing that white guys in civilian clothes driving late model vehicles with antennas, were the Feds…no mystery there. Added to the fact that Norman Charles and Wish Draper told Peltier that they were interviewed by the same two agents just the day before, and they were looking, not for him, but Jimmy Eagle.
-“Self defense” translates, in the misshapen LPDOC world, to blasting away two wounded agents with point-blank shots to the face. Peltier’s actions was a hugely consequential act, so lets call it by its real name, murder.
-“This story is true” Peltier claimed in Incident at Oglala about the infamous red pickup truck and the phantom Mr. X. which was proven to be an outright lie by one of his own co-conspirators, Dino Butler, let alone recently from his own attorney, Michael Kuzma.
-He claims he was not provided a fair parole hearing in 2009 but steadfastly and predictably refuses to release the transcript from Lewisburg. (Or the transcript of Agents Williams’ radio transmissions.  Both of which have been repeatedly requested.)
-Another co-conspirator, Bob Robideau (1946-2009) who was there during those fatal moments with Peltier said the agents “died like worms.” It’s difficult for Peltierites to spin that in any other direction. But they try, by ignoring it and hoping it will be forgotten. Not likely.
http://www.noparolepeltier.com/debate.html#self
-He claimed that Jumping Bull was a set up, a pre-planned government assault on AIM, yet the infamous “Sanctioned Memo” he relies on proves just the opposite and demonstrates yet another disinformation tactic.  http://www.noparolepeltier.com/debate.html#critic
-During the escape from Pine Ridge Peltier admitted exactly what happened—to the dire detriment of one listener—Anna Mae Aquash, stating of the wounded agent, (Ron Williams), “the m….. f….. begged for his life but I shot him anyway.”
-How does Peltier’s disinformation tactics get beyond quoted statements like this (thanks to the reporting of Peter Matthiessen p.552); “I seen Joe when he pulled it out of the trunk and I looked at him when he put it on, and he gave me a smile.” (This seamlessly supports to the oft-made NPPA assertion that Peltier wasn’t in Seattle that day.)
Peltier was no AIM leader, just a thug and bodyguard, a tough guy, especially with women, but low enough to attack with others, and then when two mortally wounded agents couldn’t fight back, cowardly enough to shoot them in the face. No disinformation there, just the facts. Yes, we know no one admitted pulling the trigger, Robideau in his hallucinatory state of mind tried to take the blame and credit, Dino Butler, standing there when it happened, has remained mute, and that leaves only the would-be warrior, the incarcerated coward he’s always been.
-The critical witness, even with their faults, provided the jury with what they needed to understand the elements of Peltier’s guilt. http://www.noparolepeltier.com/debate.html#critical
Peltier’s lies and disinformation appeals to the lowest common denominator: Don’t be confused by the facts, but accept Jumping Bull at face value. Believe his lies, don’t ask for proof or push the hard questions…and just send more money.
He begs for mercy now, (unlike the mercy he showed Agents’ Coler and Williams), from the President and asks for a commutation of his sentence. But the President doesn’t have to be reminded that repentance, acceptance of responsibility, is a critical factor in the consideration of clemency
The President will not be dissuaded by these tactics but has been reminded of the most damming statement Peltier has made in nearly four decades after his cowardly act ; “And really, if necessary, I’d do it all over again because it was the right thing to do.”
The failed Oakalla first escape plan destroyed yet another element of the myth and folklore of Leonard Peltier. In other words, the alleged assassination attempt at Lompoc was just another fabrication, another deception in a series of frauds to garner sympathy that in some perverse way he has become a fictitious leader of his people while being at once a victim as well. He cannot have it both ways, because to even attempt to do so, the folklore fails on both counts.
“I’m a warrior that’s why I believe I should go out, & keep under-ground.”
A “warrior,” hardly, and only in his own mind, but he is at least keeping, if not under-ground, then permanently under wraps.

“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”
Ed Woods

P.S.
1) Peltier makes prime time:
The popular CBS crime show, “Criminal Minds,” gave Peltier an unwanted plug during their May 1, 2013 episode that related to crimes on a Reservation. One of the actors commented, “Peltier did kill two FBI agents looking for a robbery suspect. Hard to forget.” There it is, without the Peltier fable, spin and folklore, just the cold hard basic fact for millions of viewers to hear and understand; Peltier is a murderer and is where he belongs and will remain. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CM3OLXA/?tag=tvguideonli02-20
2) Topic of upcoming NPPA Blogs:
On December 19, 2012, Peltier engaged in a telephone interview from prison with National Public Radio’s, Amy Goodman. Peltier made a number of implausible statements about his own case that were either patently ignorant (that he actually may believe them) or blatantly deceiving (to continue to ferment the mold that grows on the Peltier folklore). In either case we’ll explore and explain some of them in upcoming No Parole Peltier Association Blogs.

ANCESTRAL TREE

Fawn is quite a woman, wise, and a bundle of energy-reached an age she says with a smile when like an old house things begin to droop, sag, and the paint to peel a little and leave wrinkles- but she likens the process to an old blanket  that is comfortable and familiar and says she is happy.

I’ve known her as long as I can remember-she was my mother’s best friend and a faithful companion to her.

My first memory of Fawn is riding up with friends, dismounting, lifting me up to eye level and saying it was time to meet an old friend of the nations-the horse-mounting up holding me in front of her and off we went.

In later years when talking about it my mother said I wasn’t more than a year and half old-yet the impression made that day imprinted itself and I can see it even now as though it were only yesterday.

She has been an auntie, a friend, a surrogate mother,and a grandmother  to me.

She helped nurse the black eyes and busted lips, sew the torn shirts, revelled in my victories and commiserated in my defeats regardless of their nature, and always reminded me it was better to stand again.

In having done so my life has been enriched and I am a better man than I might otherwise have been.

Her life hasn’t always been an easy one, but inspite of that she has not only prevailed but conquered so many of the vicissitudes of life, and always sought to give more than she would receive.

Old school, and finds much of the current values to be questionable and lacking meaning.

Mildly amused by some of it might be one way to put it, but if asked  won’t hesitate to voice her opinion and offer no apologies when doing  so.

A shared lesson she taught me along with my mother is that a person, man or woman, is no better than their word-that knowing and speaking the truth whether it hurts or brings joy is a responsibility.

That the common responsibility of all is to the family and the nations,  that it is a great wrong to shirk this responsibility or take advantage  of another-to live in a responsible way is to live as a human being.

When I look at Fawn I see  the ancestral tree of the nations stretching back through time, an immutable strength, something of a throw back to another era…and a loving grandmother.

THEN AND NOW

Recruitment of Indian scouts was first authorized on 28 July 1866 by an act of Congress.

“The President is authorized to enlist and employ in the Territories and Indian country a force of Indians not to exceed one thousand to act as scouts, who shall receive the pay and allowances of cavalry soldiers, and be discharged whenever the necessity for further employment is abated, at the discretion of the department commander.”

Of course the history of indigenous scouts and alliances formed with the military goes back much further, at least to the “Pequot War” of 1634 to 1638, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and even the Civil War.

Indigenous scouts were officially deactivated in 1947 following the retirement of the last serving scout in 1947.

I sometimes wonder what the motivation was excluding an event like WW2 that had it of been lost would have impacted the nations as much if not more than other demographics.

Undeniable that at times the motivation was seeking to settle a score against traditional adversaries-other times it might have been if you can’t beat them join them, or maybe just an attempt to put food on the table.

Undeniable too that at times we have aligned ourselves with colonial powers seeking to expand or secure their empires, and in doing so often promised what was never delivered.

This history of scouts has been in a sense a microcosm of civil war in it’s own right, brother against brother, and nation against nation.

But ultimately whatever the motivation was it accomplished little if anything in altering the course the United States would take in dealing with what they perceived to be the Indian problem.

The rewards of which have been the reservation system, boarding schools, abject poverty, land and resource grabs, and now brother against brother again in the commercialization of ceremonies as promoted and provided by the latest generation of “scouts”.

Difference being between now and then is the pay scale and the accompanying perks for this branch of scouts.

The global reality is far different now then it was  centuries or even a few short decades ago, and the nations whether they like it or not are as much tethered to the consequences of decisions made by the leaders of this country and others make.

Neither terrorism or war differentiate between members of a population-military service among the nations is now seen as as just that, a service to one’s people, a way to put food on the table, an education, medical care, and gain a career based skill that will help in some way to level the economic playing field following enlistment.

For some it is an easy thing while drawing subsistence checks and commodities or spending what there is on drugs or alcohol to lay around talking about the warrior they are, what they would or wouldn’t do, but that kind of talk is cheap, always has been. And while I may have once went on about those of ours in various branches of the military I no longer do, and instead look to their  motivation.

I merely wish there were more alternatives for those who want something better, those who want to stand on their own feet, those who want an education and to provide for their families.

And I understand and appreciate the sacrifices that will be made by our own if push comes to shove and there is yet another war that threatens our people, our land.

I have little doubt that if the Axis powers had prevailed during WW2 that the  nations would have found themselves in camps like Triblinka, Auschwitz, facing the same treatment and the same ovens.

I have little doubt if this country at some point were to lose a war to a global superpower the outcome would be any different.