No one has ever heard me disagree with the decision or logic of a federal judge before. This time is the exception. I have not read the decision, but if I had, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg’s legal conclusions would not be in question. It is the factual basis upon which the conclusions are based that I take issue.
A certain red-haired radio talk show host on KFGO, first name Joel, reported the judge was angered at the fact that the Native Americans did not attend published meetings held off-reservation and on state lands.
My main concern all along has been that the Indian nations have not been treated with respect.
I think it is absolute nonsense that none of the hearings relating to Native lands was held on reservation land. That would, of course, have required that the Public Service Commission and its representatives get out of their office and address these people as equals – as they truly are.
I listen to all of the harping and Native bashing saying that the tribes should have gone to the Public Service Commission meetings over the past couple years. That sounds so nice to the white complainers, bashers and the racists among them. But talk about a simple solution to a complex issue: Would the current problems exist if the PSC and any other governmental agency had simply held one or more hearings on the reservations?
Is that too much to ask of them? Would it have been so difficult for our governor or his representatives to meet with their Native American equals on Native lands?
Thank God, the president of the United States, Barack Obama, honored his pledge that he would work to resolve issues involving the tribes.
No sooner had the judge’s adverse ruling on the tribe’s request for a temporary halt to construction come down than the POTUS (that’s President of the United States) sprang into action. In spontaneous unity, the Justice Department, the Department of the Army and the Department of the Interior put the brakes on the steamroller that was Big Oil and North Dakota government.
The position of the federal government was as complex as it was simple. The tribes have raised concerns – as they always have — about preserving their water, their way of life, their gravesites. They’ve expressed their positions in a way that many non-natives don’t understand. But that’s the non-natives’ problem … and they’ve tried to make it a Native problem.
Though no one can predict the ultimate outcome after more study and review, this seems to be one of the few victories of the tribes. To them, in this day and age, if it holds … it is gigantic.
Of course, the state of North Dakota just can’t keep from taking actions that have seemed comical in the national news. Their actions have made it look like Donald Duck was running the state.
The Public Service Commission whines, “Well, why didn’t the tribes come to ‘our’ meetings?” Then, to throw more gas on the fire, the Morton County Sheriff files criminal complaints against a presidential candidate and her running mate, Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka — then go a step further and does likewise with reporter Amy Goodwin of the well-known TV, radio and website
Democracy Now!”
Miss Goodwin was documenting what was taking place at Standing Rock during the bulldozing of land containing sacred sites directly north of the reservation border. Apparently someone forgot to tell the Morton County prosecutors about Freedom of the Press. My God, this was the dumbest move I could imagine! But you can be assured that, if a way can be found to bring her back from New York to face charges, the best defense bar in the country, which happens to be here in North Dakota, will potty-train someone on this unwise move.
Then let’s consider Jill Stein and her vice-presidential partner. The fact is, if they defaced property, they should be charged. The truth is, however, that they left the state, and they won’t be back. To charge them under these circumstances is, in my book, just grandstanding. It makes for a nice story, but has no substance at all. The state can’t bring them back.
Does anyone wonder why the Dakota Access Pipeline security folks that set loose the dogs on Saturday, Sept. 3, weren’t charged with assault with a deadly weapon? Oh, that’s right: They were hired by those building the pipeline … and we’re talking about Native victims here.
You can talk about “trespass” until you damned head falls off, but no one will ever convince me that those dog handlers shouldn’t be charged … along with as the company that hired them.
Trespass is not a charge that warrants excessive use of force unless one is defending their home. Was that what big oil was doing? Defending its “home,” which just happens to be on sacred soil to the tribes?
Remember, those cowards saw the filing by the tribes of detailed information on their sacred sites on Friday, Sept. 2. The very next day, they sent equipment that had been many miles away to desecrate it – early in the morning on a holiday weekend. Now, I challenge anyone with the brains God gave a goat to say the Natives had no right to move in when they saw their sacred sites being desecrated.
Assume, if you will, a scenario where a band of Native Americans drove construction equipment through your local cemetery! I’d like to visit with one single non-native who would not have been incensed … and moved immediately to stop the damage.
Is there a double standard here? You bet there is! But that was leveled when POTUS and Company arrived with their announcement shortly after the judge had destroyed the tribal petitioners’ hopes.
No one knows how this will end. Personally I think it will end well for the Natives because one of the most intelligent men to ever hold office occupies the presidency. The situation will be studied, and the concerns of the Native Americans will finally be heard. …
Equal to equal. Tribe to state … as it should be.
Don’t forget, the original Americans in this story are the Native Americans. Those who attack them are all immigrants. Turn that around, and consider how you’d like the government to proceed if it applies to you.
I hope everyone concerned with the plight of the Native Americans will faithfully switch to MSNBC. Lawrence O’Donnell, the host of “The Last Word,” went to Standing Rock himself. He saw the injustice firsthand, and he talked about it. He was later joined on the air by Rachel Maddow. Together, they finally brought the nation’s attention to this story. They did what local media have not been doing … until the lack of coverage was finally noted and, to some extent, they began to pick up the ball.
Anyone who’s been watching what has developed and doesn’t understand that, overall, the demonstrations have been peaceful — unlike what local coverage suggests — would probably be interested in purchasing some of that big supply of air in my backyard.
May North Dakota government pull its head out of the sand and give study to serious Native American concerns. Amen.
