I just watched the HBO docu-drama, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. It is impossible to not compare the story of the treatment of America's indigenous people, the behavior of the military and the leadership of the nation, with what we've been subjected to by the Bush administration and the Republican hawk leadership.
It is also a bit wierd that Fred Thompson, much touted soon to be GOP prez candidate was casted as the President of the United States in this movie-- as Ulysses S. Grant.
But let's stay with the comparison. We see, repeatedly, treaties that are broken, rules that are changed, the indigenous people provided with far less than they are supposed to get, far less than they are funded to receive. There are crooked businessmen, hateful soldiers, and to balance things out, members of the tribes who are stupid, dishonest and foolish.
It is a tragedy squared that we face today-- a tragedy on its face and a tragedy that we must repeat the stupidity of history-- again and again and again.
The people of the tribes who were abused so badly by the US government and its troops were stubborn and proud. Over and over again, the troops, the mercenaries, the contractors-- they abused, degraded, ashamed these noble people. And of course, we see the soldiers doing this repeatedly in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Yes, there are good people in the WOunded Knee story, and there are good people, somewhere, in Iraq. But the system doesn't support them, and often blocks them from doing the good they would like to do. Too often they end up feeling betrayed, or worse, that their efforts to work within the system is a betrayal of the people they want to help.
Then, in the docudrama, there's the forced adoption of the "white man's" culture-- taking Christian names, individual ownership of property. We know that the Neocon Iraqi experiment includes subjecting the Iraqi people and government to the extreme right wing theories they espouse.
We see, in Wounded Knee and in Iraq, horrendous, savage war crimes that ultimately, must be traced all the way up to the presidency-- Fred Thompson playing U.S. Grant, in this case. Smart move Fred.
We see a sad, repetitive cycle of cowardly, criminal government supported acts that goes back, in this case, over 130 years. This is not a new pattern that suddenly appeared with Bush.
Is there a difference today? Are there more people-- anti-war, equal-rights types-- now, than there were then? Are there more or less people who consider indigenous people-- Native Americans or Iraqis-- to be less than human, less equal than Americans? That's a tough one.
But we do have the net. We have a way for the truth to be accessed, for those who want to access it. There are still tens of millions, or more, in the US, who are not interested in accessing the truth. They watch Fox, read garbage daily papers and buy the propaganda that is put out between reports on Anna Nicole Smith, kidnapped kids and Michael Jackson.
We do have a way for those of us who do care, who do want to make a difference, to find each other on the net, to build digital communities.
When we consider Wounded Knee, we are confronted with a dauntingly long history of brutal abuses. It's clear that doing the "same-old" will not work.
While supporting the Democrats may be better than supporting Republicans, American democracy is not going to survive if it depends upon the two party system. We need really big picture thinking and long term visions. We need full adoption of instant run-off voting or some similar form of elections that allow third parties to run, yet require majority wins for elections. That's a bare foundation, along with, of course, clean, honest elections-- meaning the computers get thrown out altogether. And then, there is a huge, crying need for genuine progressive, well funded organizations that operate like those on the right, with ten figure annual budgets.
Currently, there are a handful of "progressive" thinktanks that are composed primarily of former Clinton Whitehouse staffers-- DLC right wing democrats, or, to be generous, moderates. The only way democracy has a future is if real progressives bond together and build organizations, like think tanks, which are also advocacy organizations, which, frankly, the big right wing think tanks really are. It takes a lot of money to make that happen.
The money's out there. If the 500,000 people or 100,000 people who go to a demonstration, would spend the $50 to $1000 they spend on the travel, food, hotel, etc., many millions could be raised. Of course, instead, the big groups of people send money to Moveon.org, or to Democratic candidates or the democratic party-- the DSCC, the DCCC or the DNC.
Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com and is a columnist with Northstarwriters.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump speeches and debates. He recently retired as organizer of several conferences, including StoryCon, the Summit Meeting on the Art, Science and Application of Story and The Winter Brain Meeting on neurofeedback, biofeedback, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology. See more of his articles here and, older ones, here.
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To Watch me on youtube, having a lively conversation with John Conyers, Chair of the House Judiciary committee, click here Now, wouldn't you like to see me on the political news shows, representing progressives. If so, tell your favorite shows to bring me on and refer them to this youtube video
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A few declarations.
-While I'm registered as a Democrat, I consider myself to be a dynamic critic of the Democratic party, just as, well, not quite as much, but almost as much as I am a critic of republicans.
-My articles express my personal opinion, not the opinion of this website.
translated fully into Ukrainian(!) was one of the first books on that period I read ( incidentally, together with Martian Chronicles also in Ukrainian). That is partially answering to another question: Why do they ( world) hate us so much.
by
Mark Sashine (53 articles, 19 quicklinks, 249 diaries, 3565 comments)
on Monday, May 28, 2007 at 4:21:50 AM
the reason they hate us-- because we intentionally go to them, destroy their culture, steal their resources, undermine their democracies, keep them in poverty, cheat them.... yes, that has been going on almost since the beginning of the USA's history.
It only takes a small percentage of evil people, if left unstopped, by the uncaring or uninterested, to do damage that causes a whole culture, a whole nation to be guilty of horrible crimes.
by
Rob Kall (857 articles, 3983 quicklinks, 343 diaries, 1819 comments)
on Monday, May 28, 2007 at 6:18:38 AM
"It only takes a small percentage of evil people, if left unstopped, by the uncaring or uninterested, to do damage that causes a whole culture, a whole nation to be guilty of horrible crimes."
The older I get, the more obvious this seems. In Salt Lake City and surrounding area, this phenomenon is particularly exaggerated. One or two percent of the population dominates the rest, through deceit, manipulation, and ruthless exploitation (e.g., they collect 10% of everyone else's income, which helps them grow richer and yet more powerful).
The flip side of this coin is that the vast majority of the population are wonderful, trusting, helpful, friendly, caring folks. As I think, are the overwhelming majority of homo sapiens.
And that is the problem: Most people are just TOO damn trusting, and don't realize that certain other humans are ever-ready to twist the knife in their back, by taking advantage of that trusting nature.
The roots of this matter, as near as I can tell, are deeply embedded in our evolutionary and social history: We are physically helpless from birth till around fifteen, and made mentally more so by culture, until (give or take a little) our early twenties.
What to do about it?
I'll be damned if I have all the answers, but "spreading truth," as for example this website does, seems a good place to start. Teaching critical thinking throughout the curriculum is another traction point (even though in general, public school does just the opposite); speaking out, even to neighbors and friends is another; and the principle that Thomas Edison taught us regarding the process of invention, I think, also applies here: "Try everything."
Get a book, get educated, get pissed; or something like that, said Emma Goldman.
That, for sure, is a key: Get educated. Greed, near as I can tell, is merely a form of ignorance and a symptom of lack of education. The whole world would be so much richer, and everyone so much better off, if we would but use our resources to give each other a helping hand, rather than figuring how to waste each other, or to "control" our brethren.
I can only imagine what our living conditions might be like today if we had spent the last 130 years helping one another grow, physically, mentally and spiritually, rather than engaging in such criminal acts as Rob mentions above.
A few years ago in my sixth grade class, we were reading an issue of Time for Kids, and there were two articles we compared: One was about two female scientists studying the south pole and learning all manner of things that ultimately added to the knowledge of the human race; the other was about a couple of soldiers waging war and bringing misery and havoc to others of our species. The question I posed to the class: Which would you rather do with your life?
Put in such a context, even (especially?) grade school children come up with a sensible answer. Why it is so difficult for us as a society to do the same continues to baffle me, given that the answer seems so clear, on this little spaceship we call Planet Earth.
by
Daniel Geery (26 articles, 72 quicklinks, 123 diaries, 737 comments)
on Monday, May 28, 2007 at 8:38:03 AM
What is it about peace that is so hard to achieve? Most people seek no more than to be able to live their lives in peace, free to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Why after generations after generations of learning and experience have we not dismantled our armies, learned to live with our differences and recognize the sameness in us all so we may live in peace? What century old grievances still need mending? Why does the distribution of wealth seem so foreign an idea even though it would mean the survival of our very species? Why is it that we seemed to have crawled no more than a few feet out of our caves and never let go of the club we carried to bludgeon our enemies to death with and now seem willing to happily bludgeon yourselves to death with? How is it that a species that can produce marvels that near match Natures at the same time do more to destroy Nature than preserve it?
Am I being melodramatic?
Hardly, Armageddon, the End Times and prophecies of all kinds, and every religion has its cycles with the ending of man’s rein on Earth.
It’s obvious that there are some very dark forces that through sheer force of persistence have reached a pinnacle at a precarious moment in history. It is unfortunate that in man’s quest to achieve quality he gets distracted and less vigilant. For those of demented minds never sleep, always deceive, and as such will gain the power over the many saner beings.
Is mankind’s reign on Earth up?
If I was a betting man, I’d say yes.
Of course if I’m right how would I collect?
I don’t feel sad for myself as much as for those that never will have that chance to experience life. The sadder question is, if indeed we drive off that cliff of extinction, what was it all for?
by
Mr M (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 15 diaries, 1674 comments)
on Monday, May 28, 2007 at 11:43:14 AM
"The future of democracy requires a consciousness change-- an awakening. We're working on it. We need to work more, smarter, more coordinated.... and we can do it."
Memorial Day - a time to remember all who died, killed other soldiers and civilians, survived with injuries - time to remember that millions have gone to war at the whim of a few old men. Now is the time for us all to wake up and just say "no". The few old men need to be exposed and excused from their wealth and power.
The question is, how do we wake everyone up? Most people I meet do not want to wake up. What we need is a famous spokesman to speak about the issues of today, such as Iraq of course and then about global climate change - what can we do to make a difference?
Keep on writing,
Peace,
Aimee L. Walker
DataOptions.com
by
Aimee (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 100 comments)
on Monday, May 28, 2007 at 1:58:41 PM
Yet when I throw in a few wild cards, naming names and pinpointing 3rd Ps....one single response is registered. If it's me, so be it, I'll resign. If it's the 3rd Ps which suck, tell me why. Tell me how, where and why.
German saying ; wer "A" sagt muß "B" sagen. Transli : open your mouth, speak in complete sentences.
Speak to me ! 3rd Ps, now !
by
Tony Forest (7 articles, 18 quicklinks, 166 diaries, 1429 comments)
on Monday, May 28, 2007 at 3:12:06 PM
Until the USA's laws are changed so third parties are treated equally, and instant run-off voting, or something like it is universally instituted, so people can vote for the party and candidate they want, without their vote being lost, third parties just don't work.
I am certain that MANY of the readers of OpEdNews would massively split their tickets if what I describe above were the current situation. But it's not. So they reject third parties, because they want their votes to influence the elections.
We should be demanding that every member of congress support legislation that requires instant run-off voting, for starters. But there's a snowball's chance in hell of that happening.
We should still be calling for it-- demanding it.
by
Rob Kall (857 articles, 3983 quicklinks, 343 diaries, 1819 comments)
on Monday, May 28, 2007 at 4:01:34 PM
Throughout history, it has always been the small group that has made the needed change. But, if a thing is right it will always overcome....no matter how small and lonely it may seem at the moment.
It is this certain knowledge that keeps us moving forward, despite all.
Charlie Jackson
by
charlie jackson (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 10 comments)
on Monday, May 28, 2007 at 10:57:09 PM
I'm afraid that your being taken in by a new idea. Instant run-off voting as it's being promulgated will not work. See my previous comments on the subject.
Also, I'm somewhat disappointed that after several articles on how we've teated American Indians [criminally, that is ] there have been only two comments posted, one on Assimilation, not Elimination the other on Homeland Security-Part 3or 4. What's my problem, have I been too academic or too obtuse or just plain too dull? What more could I or should I have done to show that beginning with Columbus. we europeans have treated American Indians with criminal intent and actions.
Rob, Wounded Knee was just one of the morre recent incidences in a long sttring of incidents that has lasted over 500 years, not 130 years. Maybe the enormity of it is too much for us "civilized" people to grasp and maybe we just don't want to be reminded that we have not changed much in 500 years. We were bad people 500 years ago and we're still bad people today even though we're relunctant to admit it. Just substitute the word "oil" for "gold" and the term "American dominance" for "English Empire" and what have you got. Of course, I may have it all wrong and we are a benevolent people who just want to bring "Democracy" to those who don't have it. -Kenneth Briggs-
by
Kenneth Briggs (131 articles, 88 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 112 comments)
on Monday, May 28, 2007 at 11:53:11 PM
I read the terrific articles by Mr. Briggs and the main reason I did not comment was that most of that I read before in the European sources. The US does not give people here access to the sources on their own history written by others. Whoever read, for instance the ; Little Foxes in the Vineyard' by Feichtwanger understands the American Revolution much better. Lots of info on the Indians and their fate was published in Russia, for instance. Those were both scientific and literary studies.
I loved the articles though. Maybe it is belated, but I wanted to say it here.
Thanks
by
Mark Sashine (53 articles, 19 quicklinks, 249 diaries, 3565 comments)
on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 10:04:02 AM
11 comments
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