As a Nation Mourns, Great White Father in Washington is Silent

[kerrygoddess]

From LUTD... news about the frustration of Native Americans that Bush has been silent over the Red Lake incident, poverty and youth statistics of Native Americans and their traditions and rituals dealing with grief.

-snip-
As a Nation Mourns, Great White Father in Washington is Silent
25 March 2005

It is not that I expected anything from George W. Bush, in regards to a statement about the Red Lake incident, however it was the right thing to do and once again, Bush did nothing. Yesterday, Ron posted the Ronald Brownstein piece in the L.A. Times about this subject. Today’s WP has a story on the reaction of Native Americans to the silence of the “Great White Father in Washington.”

"From all over the world we are getting letters of condolence, the Red Cross has come, but the so-called Great White Father in Washington hasn't said or done a thing," said Clyde Bellecourt, a Chippewa Indian who is the founder and national director of the American Indian Movement here. "When people's children are murdered and others are in the hospital hanging on to life, he should be the first one to offer his condolences. . . . If this was a white community, I don't think he'd have any problem doing that."

-snip-
There is something perversely troubling about this incident. A nation of proud people have been reduced to living in some of the worst conditions of poverty in our country. Native teens often face more struggles than their peers.

Statistics show that Native youth face the highest rates of school victimization and use alcohol, drugs and tobacco at higher rates than their counterparts. Native youth don't perform as well as their peers, drop out of school at higher rates than other students and often come from low-income families.

-snip-
For hundreds of years the Great White Father has oppressed these proud people and they struggle daily to maintain their culture and way of life. As the people of Red Lake grapple with their grief, some understanding of their rituals and traditions may help us to understand the culture and traditions they have fought to preserve.

MORE & LINKS - http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=621

[tubbacheez]

1. Interesting phrase "great white father".

The word "white" could be either a noun or an adjective.




Does it mean a "great father" who happens to be "white"?


Does it mean a "great white" who happens to be a "father"?


Or is it a great white shark who happens to be male and has offspring?

[elehhhhna]

4. More like the band that burnt down the bar and its patrons ...

while playing with fireworks. Weren't they called Great White?

[tubbacheez]

6. YES! That image fits the best, IMHO! Good one! n/t

[kerrygoddess]

8. You know

it's kind of cheezy to poke fun at Native American phrases under the circumstances.

[elehhhhna]

11. How?

sorry i could't resist.

[kerrygoddess]

7. This phrase...

has been used by Native Americans for a very long time to describe the president.

[Skidmore]

9. Ah, but it's use here conveys invokes the image of

* as the imperial spreader of democracy and other largesse to the great unwashed masses of other in the world. It is an entirely appropriate slap this clueless sap and the greedy elite who pull his strings.

[kerrygoddess]

10. none have good for the Native Americans

not one Great White Father in Washington has done anything to help these people!

[Skidmore]

13. So true.

[FreedomAngel82]

14. It makes sense

And I'd be pissed too. I think it's disgusting how he has not said ONE word about it! Ugh.

[tubbacheez]

16. Understood. And I see no insult when an alternative interpretation..

... accurately describes how the current President is totally undeserving of the original meaning.




Or are you saying that many today actually believe Shrub is "great" and a "father" to these people, and therefore the reinterpretation would be offensive?


Just wondering where you're going with this thought.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

2. So after RUSHING to sign the Terri Schaivo bill

he's back to his tsunami ways. Maybe since tribal sovereignty means they're sovereign, then he thinks they are another country and he doesn't have to worry about it. Them not being lily white doesn't help matters.

[cry baby]

3. Maybe no one has read him the newspaper lately...nt

[onenote]

5. Conservative thinking: the only good indian...

you know the rest....

onenote

[bigtree]

12. Bush's confederates Know full well the plights of the Indian nations

I will never shake my impression that they wish all of those who our nation robbed, displaced, and killed in our expansion would just hurry and die already. And I don't just limit my suspicions to the Bushies either . . .

[kerrygoddess]

15. Agreed. N/T

[flygal]

17. How many were killed at Columbine - wasn't it twelve?

too tired to google but WTF??? He hasn't even released a statement - what a dick!!

My hearts are with those poor people - they have a lot of grief to deal with and could use some help.

[kerrygoddess]

18. There's a link

In the post on http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=621">LUTD
about where people can send donations...
http://www.rlnn.com/ArtMar05/STribHowYouCanHelp.html