Cherokees Vote to Display Ten Commandments

WND ^ | 09/25/2005 | Adam Graham

[Keyes2000mt]

If you are nostalgic for the days when the Ten Commandments were posted in public buildings, you might want to consider visiting the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians.

The tribal council is making plans to mount a copy of the Ten Commandments in the council house where government meetings are held, and possibly display them throughout other public buildings in the Cherokee Nation of western North Carolina.

The idea was introduced by Councilwoman Angela Kephart last month. She said the tribe should display the Ten Commandments out of respect and devotion to God. The motion passed unanimously.

"We aren't saying you have to abide by the Ten Commandments," Kephart said, according to the Smoky Mountain News. "We are simply displaying God's Ten Commandments. That's what He expects from each and every individual. If you break that, it is between you and God. It is not between you and the tribal council; it is between you and God."

There is no First Amendment issue involved, and even if the American Civil Liberties Union wanted to make one, it can't. The U.S. Constitution does not apply to Cherokee, nor to any other Native American tribe for that matter, according to Cherokee's Attorney General David Nash.

"We are a sovereign nation and we can pretty much post anything we want in our council chambers," said Kephart. "For once the federal government is not going to tell us what to do. We can feel good about it because we are standing up for God. The more it becomes controversial, the more we need to stand firm."

Kephart was clear about her desire to promote Christianity.

"God has blessed our tribe," she said. "We have a very rich tribe, per se. We are operating on over a $200 million budget thanks to our gaming enterprise."

Posting the Ten Commandments doesn't prevent others from practicing their religion, explained Nash.

"Anybody can practice any religion they want to practice," Nash said.

[A. Pole]

The tribal council is making plans to mount a copy of the Ten Commandments in the council house where government meetings are held, and possibly display them throughout other public buildings in the Cherokee Nation of western North Carolina.

Bump

[coconutt2000]

Dude... far out.... ;-)

Not bad.

[kellynla]

God bless 'em!

[cripplecreek]

Well good for them. I suspect they have plenty of their traditional religious symbols around with no conflict as well.

[TonyRo76]

I love it!!!

Let's just see those über-diverse-and-tolerant ACLU b@st@rds go after a group of Cherokees.

[kellynla]

I was hopin' they wouldn't make me take "Cherokee" off my Jeep! LOL

[A. Pole]

"We can feel good about it because we are standing up for God. The more it becomes controversial, the more we need to stand firm."

Bump again.

[fat city]

"We are a sovereign nation and we can pretty much post anything we want in our council chambers,"

WTF??

[kstewskis]

"God has blessed our tribe,"

And may He continue to bless the Cherokee!

[PetroniusMaximus]

*** "God has blessed our tribe," she said. "We have a very rich tribe, per se. We are operating on over a $200 million budget thanks to our gaming enterprise."***

I'm thinking she doesn't see the incongruity in this.

[Fawnn]

Makes me proud that I'm 1/16th Cherokee! (Also makes me wish I was a part of a $200 million tribe.)

[clee1]

The Cherokee Nation, like any other recognised tribe, has soverign powers in their territory.

Treaties govern the Federal (and State) government' interaction with them; NOT the US Constitution.

[jocon307]

"The more it becomes controversial, the more we need to stand firm."

Bravo!

[Chena]

God bless them! bump!

[BikerTrash]

Any way I could live there? I promise not to even try to change a thing, like what happened to my country.

[kenth]

Having been subjected to the stereotyping from Hollywood and the left, I imagine it would surprise many to know how conservative and Christian a lot of tribes are. Traditional symbols of heritage abound, but for most, Jesus is our lord and savior, not some leftist amalgam of earthly worship.

Good to see them do this.

[fat city]

Wow. This adds a whole new level to my ignorance.

[apackof2]

go after a group of Cherokees

Won't happen, that's why this so great!

[apackof2]

Yes, its true and wrong
Indians have a nation within a nation

[satchmodog9]

Ain't freedom great.

[TonyRo76]

» that's why this so great!

Exactly. Maybe I was a little too subtle, but we're on the same page here.

There's not a darn thing any leftist anti-God whackos can do about this.

HUZZAH!!!

[eleni121]

Beautiful!

I get choked up as well when I go to pow wows in which the Seneca Nation Vets march proudly with the US flag.

[KAUAIBOUND]

And that is precisely why the Akaka Bill giving Hawaiians some measure of sovreignity should never be passed by the U.S. Congress.

[calrighty]

: )

[Join Or Die]

Way for them to say 'screw you' to all the non-christian cherokees.

[calrighty]

I'm 1/64th.......out of the money.......: )

[Fawnn]

Evidently 1/16th is too, because I haven't seen any of it. ;)

[clee1]

Exactly.

[calrighty]

I guess we are stuck with reverting back to earning our OWN living.....................aw shucks : )

[Fawnn]

Guess nobody ever said life would be fair. ;)

[Blzbba]

Luckily for them, "Thou Shalt Not Gamble" was on the 3rd tablet that broke.

[Blzbba]

"God has blessed our tribe," she said. "We have a very rich tribe, per se. We are operating on over a $200 million budget thanks to our gaming enterprise."



Thank God for gambling and the Trail of Tears!

[bboop]

See, they wouldn't go after the Cherokees anyway, because they have been oppressed by the white man and ... um, for some reason they will be alingned with the ACLU in their minds. (I cann't quite 'reason' in the ACLU way, but I can see it coming).

[calrighty]

NOPE

[bboop]

Yes, I am quite surprised to hear this from the Cherokees. Becz of Hollywood stereotypes, most likely. Good for them.

[ArmyTeach]

Sing, Walela! If you've never heard the lyrical harmonies and evocative rythms of these stunning ladies, check them out on Amazon. I see that they have a third CD out.

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

Bump.

[paudio]

God has blessed our tribe," she said. "We have a very rich tribe, per se. We are operating on over a $200 million budget thanks to our gaming enterprise."

Does she refer to the gambling enterprise? If yes, what an ironical statement...

[Cobra64]

Any way I could live there? I promise not to even try to change a thing, like what happened to my country.

My wife and I moved to Western NC a few years ago from rural NY. We like it here living on Lake James, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns. We still have four seasons and it's easy to get a CCW permit. Asheville is a (secret) gem of a city, and close to the Smokey Mtns. where the Cherokees live.

We spent 20+ YEARS researching where we wanted to retire. We "landed" on Lake James about 6 years ago when we bought 2 acres of raw lake 400' front on the Lake. Built a 3,200 sq ft house three years ago, and love it here. If anyone wants more info, send me a FReepmail

http://www.dukepower.com/community/lakes/lakelevels/

[M. Espinola]

Well, well done!

The ACLU must be going insane - good!

[Americanwolf]

This is excellent to hear...as soon as the ACLU or another radical group steps onto the reservation to sue them to remove it, I am sure that the Cherokees will politely show them the door, advising them that the Reservations are sovereign nations where the ACLU and their Ilk have no ability to act or bring a case against them. (Talk about your true Americans.)

[Americanwolf]

Ummm... Indian reservations by treaty are sovereign nations the only people they answer to is the federal government... and at that the fed are limited in what they can act upon on a reservation.

[Americanwolf]

If you ever have a chance, if you haven't already, come out to Arizona to see some of the Navajo and Hopi Reservations and Public Pow Wows... the are stunning!

[Sparticus]

*** "God has blessed our tribe," she said. "We have a very rich tribe, per se. We are operating on over a $200 million budget thanks to our gaming enterprise."*** I'm thinking she doesn't see the incongruity in this.

Something about "Thou shalt not steal" would seem to apply to those $200 million.

[Prodigal Son]

Yes, its true and wrong

Why is it wrong? Those treaties have been around since before you were born. Those are agreements the US Government signed up to and they are considered to have the same relevence as Laws passed by Congress and the Constitution.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articlevi.html

From Article Six:

This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

This goes all the way back to the Founding Fathers. Nothing wrong here.

[thulldud]

Q: What do you have when you put 16 Cherokees in a room?

A: One full-blood!

[apackof2]

No you misunderstood, I don't believe the agreements were right
The governmental policy was wrong. The Indians should have been assimulated into the general population of the United States as citizens instead of being isolated on to reservations, basically a huge welfare state where alcoholism and poverty is the norm

[eleni121]

If you ever have a chance, if you haven't already, come out to Arizona to see some of the Navajo and Hopi Reservations and Public Pow Wows...
______________________________________________________

I'd love to! It's on my list of places to visit. When do they usually take place?