THEY JUST MAKE THAT SHIT UP
“If you want to motivate people, you don’t rely on logic and reasoning. No, what
people need is a symbol. A slogan, a flag, the face of a hero to stick on a T-shirt.
So what do you do if the real world doesn’t provide you with something people can
rally around? You just make that shit up.”
The confusion seems to be who is worthy of being immortalized on a tee shirt? Whose life and leadership is symbolic enough to rally round? Black Kettle, Joseph, Crazy Horse, Manuelito,Quanah, Geronimo, Lozen, Annie Mae, and the countless others who are the real heroes, or the carefully crafted and packaged for public consumption peacocks that strut around today selling not only the culture and ceremonies, but the very people themselves?
Wannabe chiefs crisscrossing the country for the love of money and notoriety spewing their revisionist version and personal take on things as though they are representative-as though they are The One whose every word should be taken as inviolate. Some so flagrant as to imply that perhaps they channel a fallen hero, or worse, are the hero returned in some new age mystical incarnation.
Some so brazen as to say they know who took Annie Mae’s life but are obliged by their word not to reveal it. Their word? That along with the appropriate amount of money and a hefty gratuity might get you a cup of coffee at the local coffee shop. That is, might.
No such sense of duty or obligation seems to compel them to observe the very traditions of respect and honor that once precluded such a wanton display of greed, avarice, and cultural genocide that comprises their lives and the taking of Annie Mae’s, Ray Robinson’s, and who knows who else.
Laughable caricatures who call themselves medicine men and sell dvds of traditions and ceremonies on the web with the appropriate links to purchase and be the first on your block to know the ways.
They pander to an unknowing non indigenous audience who cannot seem to get enough and in their fascination with all things “Indian” develop a pseudo militancy characterized by cries of “free Leonard” and “free Graham” that are mistakenly thought to be evidence of solidarity and a compassionate spirit.
These are the personal money tree for the true apples and they flagrantly shake it for all to see and then laugh on the way to the bank while drooling their personal propaganda and producing yet another You Tube video.
I’ve even heard this justified once the money is in hand as “they owe us”-what is owed can not be paid-there is no monetary figure that can be affixed it to-payment requires complete sovereignty and much more than money, not personal aggrandizement. If this is not is the case then just select a card from this pack of jokers and make a pledge to tithe whatever amount deemed appropriate on a monthly basis.
Why not make it easier and just direct deposit so their hands will remain pristine and untainted by filthy lucre and they can devote even more time to that never ending
battle of fighting for truth and justice-not to mention that commercial aspect of the American Way they so love to engage in?
The reality is that the money spent on one of these farcical books or dvds that are so prevalent would in itself provide a warm jacket for a child, a blanket for an elder, even food-that is a thing to consider. These so called leaders and champions aren’t facing the same needs.
If all the money funneled into the undeserving free Leonard and free Graham movements had gone to address the real needs of indigenous people it could have made a difference in many lives. It is a good and honorable thing if a person sees a misery and would help, I would encourage any to do so, but I would also encourage them to know where there money goes. To dedicate it where the intent is best served, as it is not the familiar voices who have the need of it but those whose voices are never heard.
The innocent lambs Peltier and Graham……send more money, buy my book and the dvds, and whatever you do don’t forget the sacred feminine, Niburu, 2012, Aztec open heart surgery, or the absurd assertion that no evidence of pre Colombian warfare exists, and all the rest of that.
Neither forget to train young impressionable teenage girls you have impregnated in the art of weaponry to be the warrior you can never be and confront the man when he comes for you while you make good your escape-for some there has been a history of that.
Elk medicine? It has more the appearance and stench of that which covers the landscape that you step in while in the pasture.
Yeah, they just make that shit up.
Infighting, the question of Dine sovereignty, and the Lakota Oyate Statement.
The following links should illustrate some of the very real issues that abound and all
too often are ignored by authors and film makers.
The issue of sovereignty is a recognized rallying point but embracing the
extent and ramifications of it seems to be a matter lacking consistency.
AIM circa that era was nothing, more specifically the leadership who made it
that way and attempted to make it into a cancerous commercial venture as quoted from the Lakota Oyate statement and attributed to a Mic’maw elder.
“Wakan Inyan will forgive you, even if men do not. AIM is nothing. Truth is
everything. Hau.”
This commercialization and seeking of personal fame effectively eroded the traditional role of the elders and the results were and have been devastating. It wasn’t that long ago I read
a statement by an individual who portrayed himself as “hardcore Aim” in which he stated that during those days if the elders didn’t approve of something they were ignored/bypassed in preference to AIM’s agenda.
What a telling and remarkable statement, a window that circumvents all the
rhetoric and fairy tales about devotion to tradition and culture, about Sun Dances, spiritual leaders within the ranks, and visions.
http://www.aimovement.org/moipr/onrussellmeans.html
http://tlj.unm.edu/tribal-law-journal/articles/volume_1/spruhan/content.php
Hello Rezinate,
Admire your courage to speak fearless .
One of places which makes to look at AIM story completely different way – especially for foreigner
http://www.imdiversity.com/villages/native/news/dill_aquash_ostriches_AIM.asp
Looks like we all have “same stinkin’ problem”.
They made that shit up – everywhere.
Seems to be a global phenomena Stonefeather-thanks for the links
You make up more shit than what’s legal. Your put downs of The People is nothing less disgusting. Write about something you actually know…not about Nations you know absolutely nothing about. The more you write about “Indian Affairs” the more ridiculous you appear. Try some B>>>E>>>A>>>N>>>O!!!!!! and choose a new topic. Annie Mae was not murdered…so what do you say to that? hmm?? oh I am sorry?? Our people forgive you…(over and over and over and over again) What is your motivations?
For a Pole you are quite the expert on Indian Affairs……As a human being I must love you, I even admire your writing abilities but I would really love, if you would stfu…ty <3
Charmaine Steele:
Well I see that in failing to pollute Annie’s fb page you apparently think to come here
and vent your frustrations-I’m fine with that if it will assist in removing that wedgie
you seem to suffer.
One thing we should both strive to do is base our responses on known facts
rather than frenzied, misguided, opinions. Evidently you have either been living
in a cave these many years or have a comprehension issue as it is well established
Annie Mae was murdered.
Two, that’s two people, have been convicted, and Thelma Rios prior to her death
admitted her guilt-in view of that a statement such as your’s can only be referred
to as ridiculous and disgusting -the words you chose. Not even AIM denies the fact that she was.
I suspect it is a comprehension issue though as had you of read and understood anything
during your weaving in and out of Annie’s page you would have realized I am not Polish-one
of the people who has been linking my blog is.
Neither is Denise or Arvis, who have also linked them-on the basis of that alone you have
inadverdantly placed yourself at a disadvantage-being that if you haven’t been able to read
well enough to understand that what credibility should be given to your interpretation or
denial of facts here or elsewhere?
I think in being indigenous myself and having lived the life I am at least as qualified
as you present yourself to address any related issues-the difference is I actually expect
people to embrace individual accountability rather than victimization as a catchall excuse-if
you or any other have a problem with that then it is yours and theirs.
It’s past time to be men and women reflective of the history and the culture rather than
bemoaning our collective circumstance and doing little if nothing personally about it.
If you care to discuss this and present a reasoned argument you’re more than welcome to-if
this is the best you have though you really shouldn’t waste either of our time. As to your
“forgiveness or “love” ” keep them-I have no need or desire for either.
Now, you’ve taken a swing at me and I’ve reciprocated-would you care to continue in an
intelligent manner or merely ramble on adhering to claims of being a human being in the cultural
context?
Thank you, Rezinate, for addressing the latest response from Charmaine. Well stated, and to the point.
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Anakis-I regret the necessity, but not the opportunity.
Interesting posts!
thank you skycity1-feel free to voice an opinion