Posted on 05/18/2004 8:44:29 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Washington has continued its blind policy of selling American Indian rights out to non-Indians during the 21st century. Most recently, the nation’s government has stepped on tribal rights to make room for the corrupt “Indian” casino business.
I said as much at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Wednesday, May 12, I was invited to speak to leaders of Citizens Equal Rights Alliance, United Property Owners, Upstate Citizens for Equality, and One Nation. These organizations represent over a quarter of a million Americans citizens who have personally lost money, property, business, and basic civil rights as the result of aggressions by the Indian casino industry. (Not to mention the income counties and states lose to tax-exempt “Indian” casino business.)
As an American Indian, a Comanche from Oklahoma, I care about the public image of the Indian. I value being Indian. Though my tribe isn’t guilty of encroachment on anyone’s rights, it is a vital concern to me that, nationally, the “Indian” casino industry is destroying the pride and meaning of being Indian.
I therefore have a stake in the cause of these American citizens’ organizations that met in Washington. I’ve called myself an American Indian patriot since I began writing as a FrontPageMagazine columnist, speaking for Young America’s Foundation, and managing my own website, BadEagle.com. Therefore these citizens’ organizations called me to Washington to talk with them, and to them. I wanted to know how they really feel, and what their real goals are.
Of course, most Indian leaders regard these organizations as the enemy, especially those Indian leaders involved in the casino industry. CERA is serious threat. “This group has a history of attacking tribes,” said David Simmons, Director of Policy and Research for the National Indian Child Welfare Association. In a typically anonymous and inflamatory editorial in Indian Country Today, all these groups are called “anti-Indian organizations,” and “hate groups,” “focused on destroying the bases of Indian sovereignty on the basis of United States law.”
But these groups are not anti-Indian. They are anti-casino.
They’re against the federal government forcibly setting up a casino in their face when they didn’t want it. They’re offended that the federal government shows preference to syndicated contractors and managers, morally crippled politicians, and a handful of criminally-minded tribal leaders – instead of honoring the rights of honest American people. They feel betrayed when federal government completely denies the very idea of equal protection under the law, and suspends the whole concept of private land ownership.
These citizens’ organizations are against the idea that through this syndicated, politically corrupt gambling industry, irresponsible Indian leaders suddenly acquire land and have power and jurisdiction over American citizens who have owned and developed that same land for generations, and have paid taxes on their lands, properties, and businesses for decades.
They are against the idea that their rights as American citizens should be taken from them, and that the federal government should declare them foreigners on what was their own land.
Indeed, they don’t want what happened to Indians to happen to them!
And why should they? It’s their people that created America, not Indians. Only a diabolically self-righteous liberal politician would take America out of the hands that created it, and give it to those who either lost it, or never had anything to do with it.
But this is what’s happening. It’s really an internal war, not between Indians and whites, but between whites and other whites. It is a desperate power struggle, and Indians are being used by liberals as the arrowhead to strike deep into the heart of American values.
Yet the white blood flowing is the purest I’ve ever seen. These citizens I met in Washington have no resentment towards Indians. There wasn’t the slightest trace of animosity, nor a hint of anger or racism toward Indians
I heard rather a noble cry for America, a heartfelt prayer for the country.
That set my heart aflame. I was proud of them. I was proud to be with them. In a way, I was proud that Indians are the catalyst of a fundamental American reformation.
Casinos are ruining Indian country and America. Casino politicians and businessmen are the ones who are anti-Indian and anti-American. Skip Hayward and his Mashantucket-Pequot Casino club for Negroes have done more damage to Indian Country than Christopher Columbus ever imagined. The “black Indians” have made the very claim to be Indian a joke. And their casino precedent has spawned more social disease in America than pox-infected blankets.
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Dr. David A. Yeagley is a published scholar, professionally recorded composer, and an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Liberal Studies. He's on the speakers list of Young America's Foundation. E-mail him at badeagle2000@yahoo.com. View his website at http://www.badeagle.com.
btttttttttt
They do not have to pay taxes.
Bulls**t.
There are certainly many taxes other businesses must pay which Indian businesses on "Tribal" lands DO NOT PAY.
I believe that property taxes to the respective city/county is just one item.
Payroll taxes must be adherred to IF the employee lives "OFF THE RESERVATION".
Income taxes to each state is a different issue. Each state is trying to set up their own deal.
Normal building permits, adherance to zoning, etc., falls by the wayside, as this land is now considered "Tribal lands", even if recently purchased for the sole purpose of building a casino.
Until you have had one of these monsters shoved down your throat, don't be so ignorant of the problems they drag along with the "new jobs".
Bottom line- If YOU want to build a casino, YOU WILL pay permits, go thru enviro inspections hoops, have to hire (sometimes) employees at a wage that matches local union rates, workmen's comp, insurance, and on and on and on. The regular business CANNOT compete with the "Indian" business on the same level playing field. The level playing field doesn't exist when "Indian" businesses are concerned.
Why can't I own a casino ?
There is actually a casino here is Calif that is owned by a "tribe" which consists of exactly ONE member. Not very close to the Webster's definition of a TRIBE which I grew up learning.
As soon as you can show me, constitutionally, where the states have ANY authority over tribal lands, businesses etc... then I'll agree with you.
Until then, suck it up and get over it.
I'd like to see documentation on that, because personally I think you are full of crap - any tribe that had one member would have long ago lost recognition and been considered an extinct tribe.
Now, post proof.
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