IT IS WHAT IT IS

You know, I have a real problem with non indigenous people who give themselves what they think are “Indian” names and then assume it is an entitlement to tell the rest of us what traditions and culture are about. I have a problem with all that crystal waving and the pay to sweat and dance crowd-with all their “spirit guides”, pipes that came from the Dollar Store passed on to them by some questionable “elder”, and that being  a lithe warrior or some buxom Indian babe in a past life.

I have a problem with one’s such as these attempting to tell us what to believe and what not to believe, that because the blood speaks louder to us than to them and we don’t jump on their cause celebre band wagon they take it as license to call us every invictive they can think of and make a career of grossly insulting women.

In doing so it demonstrates the complete lack of respect and understanding of the issues and the traditions and culture, of their meaning.

They attach themselves to the nations like Remoras, grow some hair, learn a little of the language and another “rainbow warrior” is born.

I haven’t a single thing against any non indigenous merely because they are not of the nations-and accept or don’t accept them on the value of their character and integrity. I don’t think I am better than them-in fact some I refer to some as brother or sister and enjoy their company as much as any other.

But the faux feathers, beads, and paint intended to be a mask are transparent, doesn’t cut it for me, much the same as the affectation of the words some attempt to speak and beguile us poor ignorant savages with doesn’t either.

We all know who I’m talking about, and if the shoe fits they need to put it on.

The bill of goods that if you’re a “real Indian” you naturally support AIM and Peltier is a long running sideshow- and complete BS. An act though that the wannabes hug to their chest in what they think will verify their good intentions-their solidarity -their “indianness” -if only the mirrors they look into actually reflected the truth back them, if only it could speak.

I can’t conceive of a person so loathing of their ethnicity, so insecure with it, that they would feel compelled to create such a facade-in the end whatever your race is that is what you are-kind of that wherever you go there you are thing-inescapable. And the intent should be to be the best you can best.

If someone has a problem with who they are they better deal with it, resolve it, or learn to live with it-not a lot of options.

I catch some heat because I don’t tow the AIM/Peltier line-in fact I just received a blog response calling me a pile of shit, from a woman no less, maybe a pie patroller  -but I’m fine with that because I not only know who I am but I also won’t be lead around by the nose.

Truth is I have no animosity for this woman, in fact I couldn’t help but laugh a little at the predictability when nothing reasonable can be offered.

I don’t need to give myself a name-I have one, and I don’t need to stick feathers in my hair to pass for anything. I don’t need to align myself with thugs and murderers to prove a single thing to anyone.

I don’t need to write songs to prove my loyalty or read homages to prove my blood quantum, go into trances, or build an “altar” in my home with feathers and little ceramic figures to impress my friends with, I understand that a piece of paper and a licensing fee doesn’t qualify me to conduct a Sundance -and I have no sufferance for those who do.

Nothing wrong with feathers, art, dream catchers, paintings, and rugs adorning one’s home-but lighting candles and kneeling before them while clutching a crystal to call upon spirits isn’t the way we go about it.

For those who feel they need to, then go for it-perhaps a little advice though-pull yourself together, the way you present yourself and the manner in which you say whatever it is you want to say isn’t accomplishing anything- no one thinks you’re a “warrior” because of that, in fact you’re making yourself look like a clown, or worse, and no one, NO ONE, is taking you seriously.

Maybe you should pause for a moment and consider it is your people that have created the environmental and economic mess this country and the world faces-that is they who champion globalism and the oppression of the individual -they authored Manifest Destiny and created the reservation system, think about addressing some of those issues before you presume to tell us a single thing about our lives-before you even attempt to denigrate a single one of us or question the value of the ’99 Oyate statement.

Doesn’t make you personally responsible anymore than it does any other person of Euro ancestry for what has transpired, just something to think about the next time you want to stick a feather or two in your hair or cross yourself and claim ancestry with Kateri Tekakwitha or drone on about poor Leonard.

Ask your boy Russell why he didn’t address the Leonard issue at the CWS conference-maybe you ought to think about that for a moment. Maybe you ought to think about why Peltier can’t keep his story straight.

Maybe while you talk about matriarchy and a woman’s rightful place you ask should yourself if Annie’s place was laying in an arroyo? Or if their rightful place is fodder for rapists and pedophiles? Maybe you should gain some familiarity with handguns and rifles so you could understand the role distance and accuracy play in their operation.

Maybe you should take remedial math so you could do the math and compare a total of five bullets fired from the handguns of Coler and Williams and over 125 into into their car alone, not counting all those in the ground.

Maybe you prefer some fool to tell you they shot each other and believe it rather than face your own gullibility?

NO ethnicity owns wisdom or ignorance, nor indifference, compassion, or understanding. Neither do they have a patent on right or wrong-these things transcend such considerations and people should be accepted or rejected on the basis of character.

What fascinates me is those who classify any site that doesn’t kiss Peltier or AIM’s ass as a hate page -I suppose that’s easier for the brain dead and hive members to say than to consider what is actually presented.

Hate Pages -maybe they haven’t looked at the Leonard and Graham sites lately-maybe they haven’t considered their own words. Maybe they refuse to contemplate the hate directed at Annie and Ray, at the villagers of WK during the “liberation”. Maybe they think murder, abuse, theft, destruction, and rape are acts of love. Maybe they think that’s what “real Indians” are about.

I have ZERO interest in promoting myself, I only want  to promote the truth, whether it upsets others or not. In doing so I won’t hesitate to say that for the nations being victims doesn’t cover every personal or communal shortcoming, every wrong-it doesn’t absolve addictions or the abuse of women and children, it doesn’t absolve rape, murder, and AIM, and it surely doesn’t absolve being accepting of such things -as long as that isn’t understood nothing much is going to change.

“Free to be responsible” remember? Child soldiers in Africa can’t exercise this free to be responsible-we aren’t conscripted children though and we surely can assume personal responsibility.

AIM has relied on a form conscription through intimidation, threats, murder, and the go to of “indianness” -others have apparently bought into all of it and in doing so surrendered their own free and well reasoned will.

It should be abundantly clear who I would offend with saying the above, just as it should those I have no desire to offend-for those who belong in the latter and misconstrue my intent understand it isn’t so.

And as I’ve stated before, I was once to my shame  a Peltier supporter, but I have overcome both and repose in the comfort of knowing that it is better to be called a pile of shit than to wallow in one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCLmT_M-qtk