Posted on 12/21/2007 12:57:04 PM PST by Pyro7480
Here is the kind of story that really proves how little the MSM bothers to research things, how they often simply print glorified press releases without doing any real "journalism," and how the defective end product gets picked up and regurgitated like it is suddenly a "fact." In this one we have the story of "the Lakota Sioux Indians" announcing that "they" have withdrawn from agreed upon treaties with the US government and that they are now a sovereign nation, no longer to be called citizens of the USA. Problem is "the Lakota Sioux Indians" that have made this announcement are just an unaffiliated group of Indian activists the leader of whom does not represent the official Lakota tribe leadership! Yet here is the news media reporting this story as if all "the Lakota Sioux Indians" have banded together and quit the union.
Take this report from USA Today: Lakota withdraw from treaties, declare independence from U.S
The Lakota Sioux Indians, whose ancestors include Sitting Bull, Red Cloud and Crazy Horse, have withdrawn from all treaties their forefathers signed with the U.S. government and have declared their independence. A delegation delivered the news to the State Department earlier this week.
Wow, it sounds momentous, alright. But, who says that "the Lakota Sioux Indians" have abandoned their treaties?
"We are no longer citizens of the United States of America and all those who live in the five-state area that encompasses our country are free to join us," said Russell Means, a longtime Indian rights activist. "This is according to the laws of the United States, specifically Article 6 of the Constitution," which states that treaties are the supreme law of the land.
And who is the Russell Means? He is a long time Indian activist who does not officially represent any tribe, that's who. It takes the local press to make this clear. The Rapid City Journal of Rapid City, South Dakota informs us that, "Means' group is based in Porcupine on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation," and that "it is not an agency or branch of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Means ran unsuccessfully for president of the tribe in 2006."
Yet in report after report, this Means character is presented as if he is "the Lakota Sioux" when, in truth, all he really is is A Lakota Sioux -- not a representative of all of them. He does not represent American Indians except as a tangential, activist. He has no authority to make this "declaration of Independence" for the Lakota or any other American Indian tribe.
It turns out that these reports are nearly all just a rehash of Russell Means’ press releases and not based on any real reporting at all.
And here is the worst part. The bulk of the news outlets that have picked up this story are foreign press agencies like the Agence Presse France, The Telegraph, and Radio Netherlands, all of whom presented this as if it was somehow legal and binding instead of an activist's scheming.
So, since this story wasn't reported correctly, foreigners are imagining that all American Indians are trying to leave the USA and become a new nation. The truth is less shocking, that Russell Means does not represent "the Lakota Sioux Indians" at all.
Russell Means is one strange dude.
So what else is new?
If you read the thread based on this bogus report you will find it also proves you can get some inane knee-jerk reactions from those willing to lap up the MSM’s BS.
“Meanwhile, the delegation has delivered copies of the letter to the embassies of Bolivia, Venezuela, Chile and South Africa. “We’re asking for recognition,” Means said, adding that Ireland and East Timor are “very interested” in the declaration.”
He ought to contact Cuba and N. Korea as well for recognition. Perhaps Hamas could send an official delegation and establish an embassy and spread the concept of Sharia Law among Mean’s Lakota followers.
I figured he died from an overdose of peyote long time ago.
This why Rush calls them the ‘drive-by media’. Perfect description.
FREE LEONARD PELTIER!
Yeah, I couldn’t believe how fast this story flew around. Anyone who’s heard of Russell Means knows that he’s just a grandstander with about as many supporters as he can fit in his van. Heck, if all he has is a bike that just might be enough.....
Surely, you jest. ;-)
Nope! he was framed.
PELT LEONARD FREEPER!!!
Care to expound?
Now it's correct.
Oops!
As I see it, Gov. interference in a semi-autonimous nation. Hires and provides weapons to the GOONs to mess with the tribe. It was said as many 300 died violent and unexplained death at Pine Ridge.A group of 17 people , 6 of who were men, went to a property where the resident were frighten of the GOONs. 2 FBI agents were killed and they needed a scapegoat.
Think Waco!
bump
Withdrawing from the US would be rather stupid as all the Lakota reservations are total welfare states that live quite literally off the US federal government. A cut off of government funds would seriously mean starvation and freezing to death for most of the residents of those reservations.
We might infer that
Jessie Jackson, Al Shapie and the rest of the poverty pimps do not represent “The American Black voter” at all.
You can then go on to expand this to “activists” in general vice the groups they claim to represent.
Cool
For the record, the AARP does not speak for all old folks — ....add your favorite group here....
He doesn't represent anybody but the lunatic fringe.
Him again! Must be getting ronery without more media attention.
At least his old bud Dennis Banks has a day job (limo service).
I haven't seen this 'news' anywhere but on FR, so I assumed it was bogus. Still, the leftmedia must have loved it at first glance. Anything that portrays America as something negative is music to their itching ears. Fortunately, the MSM is dying. Slowly, but inevitably. You can't be constantly partisan and slanted without the public eventually catching on and rejecting you as any kind of halfway objective source for 'news'.
I can't wait to see how the MSM handles their goof in just regurgitating Means' press releases and the embarrassing fact that he 'represents' practically no one. I suppose they'll treat Means like they treated Arafat. Pretending he's a leader and should be taken seriously. Few will. Means is just a bitter old agitator using Indian issues to cover his hatred for the United States, for whatever reason. He should be ignored. Most Americans don't know or care about Russell Means and his campaigns against America. This is exactly as it should be.
Lets see now...Indians trying to dodge Federal oppression secedes from USA =good;
Southern white males trying to dodge Federal oppression=bad
the MSM is so #$%ing transparent!!!
Apparently he’s a Libertarian, and ran against Ron Paul to be the nominee of the Libertarian Party for the presidency in 1988.
ping
Well, I don’t know about Means trying to get on the Libertarian ticket, but I do know he and Ron Paul would have very, very little in common politically.
Annie Mae Aquash could not be reached for comment...
Thank you for posting the truths about Means, he is part of the Ward Churchill gang, anti-war era and hates America:
http://www.aimovement.org/moipr/onrussellmeans.html
AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT GRAND GOVERNING COUNCIL
PRESS CONTACT: MINISTRY FOR INFORMATION
Oooh! Oooh! I’ve got it! Has he rounded up a bunch of guns and barricaded a compound somewhere on Pine Ridge to restage the seventies Wounded Knee standoff for fun and profit?
Call Jane Fonda!
No thanks, I already have one.
Thank you for the Ping Mate!!
Merry Christmas!
D
Not nice to desecrate the dead........like the FBI.
Being part Indian myself and knowing many in MN/WI, I’m somewhat dismayed with the insensitive comments some of my fellow FReepers are making.More so, they’re *trust* in a Fed Gov that deserves very little.
A WHOLE LOT. That, if nothing else, is a gift. The issues facing the Indian Nations are real ones, as are the issues facing this Nation in terms of how we deal with it. Certainly I was not aware until he got it out into the MSM!
It’s a wake up call, What if tomorrow the Official Tribal Leaders decide to do just what he got so much attention for.... yea... Its time to address it.
D
Far from free. Costs the taxpayers around $25-30,000/year.
According to the info I’ve found on the web, Ward Churchill gave his nomination speech.
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