Tribe impeaches leader, is snarled in abortion battle

[NVMojo]

KYLE, S.D. - Cecelia Fire Thunder likes to recount the legend of the White Buffalo Calf Woman, who delivered the sacred pipe and its teachings to the Lakota nation.

Long ago, the legend goes, two men encountered a holy woman who first appeared to them as a white buffalo calf. One man, awe-struck, prayed. The other had lustful thoughts and tried to grab the woman. He was turned into a pile of bones.

"The first teaching of the pipe is sexual respect for women," said Fire Thunder, the first female president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Fire Thunder told the story recently to the tribal council, which had convened to impeach her over her support for an abortion clinic on the reservation. It did no good: The formidable, outspoken president was found guilty of overstepping her authority and ousted less than five months before the end of her two-year term.

Fire Thunder is challenging her removal on procedural grounds.

more...

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/nation/15188160.htm

[Erika]

1. So males rule

Kind of like in our government. They can't reproduce but they have no problems in dictating reproduction mandates on women. How Taliban of them.

[NVMojo]

2. I couldn't have said it better. When I read this whole article, it made

my blood boil.

[Erika]

3. Agreed

Women's rights are under attack. You notice how men are never expected to keep their flies zipped up or use birth control?

[NVMojo]

4. yep, exactly ....

:mad:

snip...

Rape and incest are common in Indian country, often linked to the high rates of alcoholism and drug abuse. According to U.S. Justice Department statistics, Indian women are sexually assaulted at a rate more than three times higher than white women. The alcoholism rate on the reservation is at least double the national average.

"Who gave those men in Pierre (S.D.) the right to decide about a pregnancy caused by an act of violence?" Fire Thunder, 59, asked in a recent interview.

snip...

[Erika]

5. Fire Thunder has my total respect

and wishes for good luck.

[Cerridwen]

6. The article title and the article are (purposely?) misleading

Reading through the article shows that her impeachment is not due solely to the "abortion issue". It is due to the fact that "Opponents say that she is arrogant and spends too much time traveling the country." In other words, she's an "uppity" woman that won't shut up and stay home. Hmm, where have I heard that before?

It's also interesting to note "Will Peters, the councilman who brought the impeachment charge and plans to run against Fire Thunder for president in November" (emphasis mine). Hmm, swiftboating before the fact?

But not to worry, because Mr. Peters goes on to say "....In the Lakota culture, it's not a man's business to tell a woman what she can and cannot do." Except for this instance I guess since "...the Oglala tribal council has passed an ordinance outlawing abortion on the reservation - just in case."

So, we don't have the right to do this but we will because..........we can? I'd like to see the votes of the 14 men and 4 women on that council. Just curious.

Just some things about this that make me go "hmmmmmmmmm".