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WHITES STILL DON'T GET THE MASCOT ISSUE August 12, 2005 Susan Bates

Since the NCAA issued it's ruling barring Offensive Native American Mascots during postseason play, I have heard some very discouraging and sickening comments from newscasters that I previously had a smidgen of respect for. Apparently, Lou Dobbs and Wolf Blitzer have no comprehension that there are any "real" Native Americans still living nor that we are the only group that it is still "politically correct" to poke fun at. I've heard both men make snide remarks about the "politically correctness" of the mascot issue, yet neither of them seem to grasp the fact that we are here and we do deserve some respect. After all, everything these men have and every success they now enjoy is built on the blood and bones of our People. Alas, they are not alone in their ignorance. The good folks of Albuquerque, NM and El Paso, Tx are raising tax dollars to erect monuments to honor Juan de Onate, a Spanish conquistador and war criminal who is reasonable for the slaughter of two thirds of the People who lived in the Southwest at the time of his arrival. According to an article written by Brenda Norrell which appeared in Indian Country Today, "In January 1599, Onate sent a large force to Acoma and a battle lasted three days. Over 800 men, women, and children were butchered. Men over the age of 25 were sentenced to have one foot cut and 25 years of slavery. Males and females between the ages of 12 and 25 were also given 25 years of slavery. Sixty young girls were sent to priests in Mexico, never to return to Acoma." Even the Spanish Crown was aghast at Onate's cruelty and he was banished from New Mexico forever. At least until some idiot decided he would be a good hero and role model. The Pueblo Indians and other people who aren't totally brain dead are vigorously protesting this action. Speaking at the recent ''Huaba Hanu (Our voices will be heard) Listening Conference'' in Albuquerque, C. Maurus Chino of Acoma Pueblo said, ''Even the Jewish Holocaust pales in comparison. In the Americas, hundreds of millions of indigenous people perished from violence and diseases brought by the Spanish. And what was the motivation for this madness? It was greed; greed for wealth, greed for land, greed for the very souls of the people.'' Nope, they just don't get it, do they? But they will.....one day they most certainly will. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Stolen Land - A Song by Bruce Cockburn From Tierra del Fuego to Ungava Bay The history of betrayal continues to today The spirit of Almighty Voice, the ghost of Anna Mae Call like thunder from the mountains -- you can hear them say It's a stolen land Apartheid in Arizona, slaughter in Brazil If bullets don't get good PR there's other ways to kill Kidnap all the children, put 'em in a foreign system Bring them up in no-man's land where no one really wants them It's a stolen land Stolen land -- but it's all we've got Stolen land -- and there's no going back Stolen land -- and we'll never forget Stolen land -- and we're not through yet In my mind I catch a picture -- big black raven in the sky Looking at the ocean -- sail reflected in black eye -- Sail as white as heroin, white like weathered bones -- Rum and guns and smallpox gonna change the face of home In this stolen land... If you're like me you'd like to think we've learned from our mistakes Enough to know we can't play god with others' lives at stake So now we've all discovered the world wasn't only made for whites What step are you gonna take to try and set things right In this stolen land Stolen land -- but it's all we've got Stolen land -- and there's no going back Stolen land -- and we'll never forget Stolen land -- and we're not through yet <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

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