Letters To The Editor

Sun., July 9, 2000

OVER THE LINE

`Narrow-minded view’ a throwback

“We do not recognize them as sovereign nations, as governments.” It is truly amazing to see that John Fleming has such a narrow-minded view in this day and age. After all, isn’t this the same mindset that was used to take away the native nation that existed here long before any Republican Party existed here?

I haven’t lived in the Northwest very long but I have seen the results of destroying a native population - namely, in my prior home, Hawaii. Does Fleming forget that the Indian nations were the rightful occupants of the lands we now claim as our own?

Does Fleming truly believe that as the Republican Party ages, it grows more powerful and that the rights of the more-senior Indian nations should grow weaker?

I praise Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Chairman Ron Allen for a composed and intelligently worded response to the obviously inciteful and militant comments of Fleming. If Fleming objects to the laws within the Swinomish Reservation, maybe it is time for him to move somewhere that tolerates his racist rhetoric.

Sovereignty is a right the Indian nations had long before the Republican Party showed up and granted it to them. Let’s all learn from history and not make the same mistakes twice. Vincent D. Rice Coeur d’Alene

Proposal not so bad but timing was

While many Americans might feel sympathy with John Fleming’s resolution against tribal sovereignty, his timing is terrible. With the Republican party already portrayed as made up of hateful, uncaring monsters who wish to starve children and take away old people’s medicine, while denying women the right to kill their unborn babies, our name already is as black as possible. Perhaps he feels one more atrocity is no problem.

I find myself getting very angry with the sovereignty issue. The tribes are given the right to take unlimited salmon, sell illegal fireworks and, in general, thumb their noses at the U.S. government. They claim the fishing rights as their livelihood but they have a much more lucrative means of support in their casinos, where they clean out thousands of suckers every day.

Back to Fleming’s issue. He is pretty controversial, when he suggests that the Army, Air Force, Marines and National Guard be the means of enforcing his resolution. That might have been the way they did things in the 1800s, but I doubt if the feds would call out the cavalry in the year 2000.

At least it gives the Democrats something else to raise the Republicans’ blood pressure. They must be having apoplexy in certain circles. Shirley Hethorn Oldtown, Idaho

GOP can do better than this

Good Republicans should be embarrassed and disgusted with recent shenanigans oozing out of the Washington state Republican Party. I refer to the resolution passed by that group of frightened souls to abolish Native American tribal governments.

This absurd position was front-page news in the July 3 Spokesman-Review, saying that if the tribes were to fight back, then the military is going to have to battle back. What an asinine position.

I agree with the complaint of non-Indian residents on some reservations not being able to vote on certain reservation matters. However, for the state party to condemn Native Americans’ basic right to sovereignty flies in the face of fairness. Our immigrant ancestors left European oppression and came to this country to gain freedom and equality but then literally stole the land the original inhabitants had settled for thousands of years before. To now demand that these native survivors be denied their right to self-government is a hypocritical slap in the face of free people.

Surely, the Republican Party can do better than this display of a pitiful double standard. If we have problems with some conflicts between non-tribal laws and tribal laws, let’s work these situations out but let’s not revert to the sad mentality of forcing our laws right down the throats of the original inhabitants.

We will watch our federal legislative representatives to see which ones have the honesty and courage to stand for what is right and fair. John E. Bentley Post Falls

WASHINGTON STATE

Republicans opt for fascism

Your page 1 coverage addressing the Washington state Republican Party resolution to end tribal sovereignty is to be complimented. The public is well served by knowledge that the political party takes a position, through spokesman John Fleming, that if tribes are to fight the effort, the U.S. Army, Air Force, Marines and National Guard are going to have to battle back.

Although Fleming’s style of articulation suggests provincial racism arising from limited experience in the large scope of public affairs, his comments are to be taken seriously. I’m a conservative, but if it does come to violence, count me in as the first Caucasian on the side of the American Indians. Let’s not forget the true meaning of Independence Day in the face of fascism masquerading under the banner of a once proud party! William T. Tann Spokane

Your government set this up

I would like to point out to the GOP that most non-tribal residents on reservations obtained their land by taking advantage of government policies aimed at the termination of reservations and Indian culture, if not the actual Indian people. It was the federal government that opened Indian land to non-Indian homesteaders.

American Indians were denied participation. It was the federal government that leased, and continues to lease, tribal land to non-Indian ranchers at ridiculously low prices, in some cases as low as $1 a year per acre.

Until the Curtis Act of June 2, 1924, American Indians were denied the right to vote or hold public office by the U.S. republican form of government the GOP is so staunchly defending.

Even after that, the republican form of government enjoyed by states often continued to deny these rights to American Indians. American Indians were not granted religious freedom by the U.S. republican form of government until 1938, and again, state governments often continued to deny religious freedom to American Indians.

As for sending in the troops, that has been the white man’s answer to the Indian problem (defined as anything that prevents the white man from taking anything he wants from the Indian) for the last 400 years.

Anyone who thinks the GOP resolution is not racist is kidding themselves. Valiera J. Smittle Spokane

Those treaties are legal, binding

Responding to your article on the GOP’s resolution to end tribal sovereignty, the GOP seems to be conveniently forgetting that our Constitution guarantees that we honor all treaties, both foreign and domestic. I find it ironic that, once again, the Grand Old Party is attacking the Constitution in the name of that very Constitution.

In fact, tribe members have dual citizenship, as guaranteed by Congress after World War I to honor their bravery and support during the war. Congress made it clear that it would not jeopardize their sovereignty as a nation.

I don’t believe the GOP would have voted this way had the members known the issue. But we live in a society where white privilege is so blatant that we often lie to ourselves under the mask of colorblindness. Daniel “Ben” Heizer San Poil Human Rights League, Republic, Wash.

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

Standards in place but not enforced

Re: Andy James’ thoughtful Street level column on home schooling, June 25.

James suggests minimum standards and requirements should be implemented for home-schooled children. These are already legally mandated. Parents who home school in Washington must meet minimum educational requirements or be supervised by a certified teacher, must register their children with the superintendent of schools and must have an approved standardized achievement test performed annually and make a good-faith effort to correct any deficiencies.

Admittedly, not everyone follows all the rules and the law is not enforced. No agency tracks the educational progress of home-schooled children.

Many of us choose home schooling because of perceived or actual deficiencies in the public school system. Although we have excellent public education in the Spokane area, compulsory public education in some parts of the country is appalling. Some of us choose to home school because we have experienced religious discrimination in the public school system. We object to educational tracking of our children not to avoid accountability but because we lack trust in a system that has failed us.

I agree with James that it is our responsibility as a society to educate all of our children. There are no perfect options for providing that education.

Perhaps The Spokesman-Review could facilitate this conversation by exploring various options available. A story highlighting the award-winning public school systems in the area, looking at some of the excellent secular and religious private schools, and featuring several home schooling families would be interesting. Penny Watkins Spokane

Yes, let’s learn our history

Regarding the poor performance of college students on the 34-question high school history test, I’m not surprised. After recent letters to the editor, it’s refreshing to read some credible historical references given by Laurel Durkee and Bonnie Shannon.

I’m pleased Sen. Slade Gorton is among those introducing a resolution advocating the study of American history in elementary schools. What a novel idea.

Wendy Harris wrote an award-winning feature on The Oaks, a private school in Spokane whose teachers educate “by the book.” Students in the first grade are introduced to Spokane and Washington state history. They learn about Spokane Garry, the 800 Indian horses that were slaughtered, Sacajawea and her son, Pomp, which means “first born” - all recent Spokesman-Review articles.

Other historical notes: Spokane means “children of the sun,” and “Washington, My Home” is the state song. Walla Walla means “many waters” and missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and Elkanah and Mary Walker were courageous contributors to Washington state.

The class memorizes in song Isaiah 33:22, a favorite verse of George Washington and other founding fathers. It reads, “The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king, he will save us.” I believe this verse is the basis of the three branches of government - the judiciary, legislative and executive.

For an exciting history lesson, get Rabbi Daniel Lapin’s tape series, “America’s Biblical Blueprint” and read his book, “America’s Real War.” Donna Kuhn Spokane

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