Another school shooting: Native Americans Criticize Bush's Silence

[Horse with no Name]

Spread the word far and wide about the idiot-boy and his "Healer in Chief" powers. I think we should call him the "healer in chief to all crimes against WHITE Americans" :mad:


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64317-2005Mar24.html
>>>snip
MINNEAPOLIS, March 24 -- Native Americans across the country -- including tribal leaders, academics and rank-and-file tribe members -- voiced anger and frustration Thursday that President Bush has responded to the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history with silence.

Three days after 16-year-old Jeff Weise killed nine members of his Red Lake tribe before taking his own life, grief-stricken American Indians complained that the White House has offered little in the way of sympathy for the tribe situated in the uppermost region of Minnesota.

>>>snip
"From all over the world we are getting letters of condolence, the Red Cross has come, but the so-called Great White Father in Washington hasn't said or done a thing," said Clyde Bellecourt, a Chippewa Indian who is the founder and national director of the American Indian Movement here. "When people's children are murdered and others are in the hospital hanging on to life, he should be the first one to offer his condolences. . . . If this was a white community, I don't think he'd have any problem doing that."

Weise's victims included his grandfather and five teenagers; seven other students were wounded, and two of them remain in serious condition in a hospital in Fargo, N.D.

[Blue_Tires]

1. good point....i had completely forgotten about that

[berni_mccoy]

2. Bush was also silent on Katrina until he was forced out of silence...

Unfortunately, nobody forced him out of silence for the Red Lake tribe.

[Javaman]

4. I could say something about morons* obvious racism, but I think we

are well aware of it by now.

[Javaman]

5. I could say something about morons* obvious racism, but I think we

are well aware of it by now.

[central scrutinizer]

55. It all depends on the polling numbers

Bushco was riding pretty high in 2005, so he didn't have to pretend to care.

[Monkeyman]

3. K&R

[wicket]

45. And another

:kick:

[formercia]

6. What makes me sad

is that I didn't hear about it until now. Shame on the media.

[Horse with no Name]

7. It certainly wasn't wall to wall coverage like this is

But what the hell? They were only brown kids--they didn't buy anything from their goddamned sponsors anyway.:sarcasm:

[sandnsea]

32. There's no racism in America

Just stop saying that. :spank:

[underseasurveyor]

10. This received quite a bit of local coverage.

But certainly nothing close to the national coverage Virginia Tech is receiving.
Yes, SHAME on the media and preznit pukeface.

[myrna minx]

8. This shooting incident was nearly completely snubbed by the national press.

It was covered locally, but barely a peep out the the major news outlets. :-( This incident was horrible.

[frogcycle]

22. this is appalling! I don't recall ever hearing about it!

I find it very hard to believe I'd have ignored it if it made the news...

[myrna minx]

27. I'm positive that you didn't hear about it at all.

:-( It was extremely devastating for the community. Here is a series about the massacre as well as the Red Lake Community trying to make sense of it all and trying to heal. My heart still aches. :-(

http://www.startribune.com/redlake

[Wednesdays]

28. I never heard a word about this either

:shrug:

[myrna minx]

31. Here's a little background.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Lake_High_School_massacre

Here is an in depth look into the aftermath and how a community is trying to heal.
http://www.startribune.com/redlake


There were heroic people who gave their lives to save others that day. :cry:

[City Lights]

30. I never heard about this either.

x(

[Fierce]

29. Part of the reason is because

Red Lake is very, very remote. Another reason is that the reservation made a firm request for the media to back the fuck off. While I think racism certainly dictates some of the lack of national response, I also think that well-meaning or even slightly misplaced belated cultural respect by the press had much to do with it, too.

[Horse with no Name]

33. Ummm did you read the article? Or are you just concerned?

THE TRIBE criticized Bush for not responding.
So tell me again that the reservation asked them to back off?:off:

[Fierce]

35. They told the media to back off.

Bush isn't the media. Yet.

[frogcycle]

52. well, there's where they made their mistake

we all know he'd ONLY bother if the media were already all over it; if his lackeys had "run the numbers" and decided it would be good for the image

they just don't understand that the shrub cares not for any of us - brown, black, yellow, red, green, or blue.


I am terribly sorry if the members of the community feel slighted. I respect their privacy and dignity in dealing with the tragedy in their own way, and wish the fratboy had had the decency to have shown up incognito, pay his respects and leave, with no coverage.

[blondeatlast]

66. I'd be willing to debate that in another thread. nt

[myrna minx]

36. I understand that the good people of Red Lake didn't want a

media spectacle, but this was so devastating. The media can inform the public without turning into a disturbing ghoulish spectacle. My point is that nationally,so many people had no idea that this nightmare happened.

[Fierce]

37. Ah! But there's the problem.

If being respectful meant no ghoulish spectacle, the national TV wasn't going to touch it.

[myrna minx]

38. Touche.

:hi:

[Fierce]

39. *bows*

:)

[jwirr]

69. I also think that might be part of the reason BUT that did not mean

*ss, who is pretending to be the pResident of the whole country, could not have acknowledged the deaths and the heroes.

[Fierce]

76. You're right.

I was just addressing the media complaints.

[BlooInBloo]

9. Yaaah - like white folks care about Native Americans... Don't hold your breath on THAT.

[WiseButAngrySara]

11. Just business as usual and S.O.P. What do you expect from

hypocrites?

[progressoid]

12. lets see...

9 Poor Indians in North Dakota vs. 32 middle class white kids in Virginia.

What a fucked up world.

[geardaddy]

40. It's MN, not ND. n/t

[noiretextatique]

53. not all the victims were white

among the murdered students:
Ryan Clark,an african-american man
Henry Lee, an asian man
Reema Samaha, a lebanese woman
VT seems to be very diverese.

[INDIA]

54. You're 100% wrong. Thanks for spreading BS though.

It lends credibility toward information found on DU.

[Ignacio Upton]

61. Um, not all the VT victims were white

The dorm RA who was killed was black and a honors student who was double-majoring, and another student who was killed was an exchange student from Peru.

[ThomCat]

13. Anyone who says that racism is only

a few bad apples should read that Racism is not just a few bad apples. It's our entire culture, our corporate cultures, our media, and our major institutions.

Racism is why the media would cover school shootings differently. It's not just one or two people making that decision. It's editors, news directors, columnists, and politicians at all levels. It's also the general population.

Racism is why Bush is ignoring one school shooting but jumps to speak about the other. And it's why he can get away with it.

Racism is pervasive, and it's the thousands of small things that add up. :(

[ananda]

15. Racism

I agree. Racism is the very ugly elephant in the room of the entire USA
that everyone tries to mitigate or ignore.

[Horse with no Name]

20. That is exactly it in a nutshell.

The devil is always in the details and the little things mean the most.

[Beausoir]

14. This happened just up the road from me. A terrible horrific tragedy.

Obviously, Bush is a racist bastard.

[Horse with no Name]

16. kicking for the hypocrisy exposure. n/t

[intheflow]

17. THANK YOU!

K&R

[Supersedeas]

18. I believe the Media has forgotten the Amish school shooting as well--Bush NOW is a Healer in Chief

[Horse with no Name]

19. The entire thing is just sad.

:(

[Selatius]

21. In America, there seems to be a bias towards light-skinned people on this issue

In poor, urban, minority school districts, school shootings happen all too often, yet narry a word is devoted to the school yards turned battlefields in these depressed areas. Yes, even Native Americans find themselves among the ignored.

[TahitiNut]

23. An Early Form Of Gun Control: "Don't Sell Guns To The Indians"

Ironic. Hunters don't ever seem to want the targets to be armed.

[frogcycle]

24. "as she collected donations of gas cards and money to enable fellow Red Lake members to ..."

...make the 260 mile trip"

I sure would have liked to have been able to make a contribution. It says the Red Cross was there, but I don't recall a solicitation from Red Cross, to which I contribute after many events, nor anything in the news. Maybe I was absent that day?

the "lesson" from the i-mess thing is supposed to be a wake-up call that we are too casual about racism that is all around us. This should be an equivalent wake-up call.

[malaise]

25. Great reminder

Virginia is NRA country. Bush must support his donors.

[Cha]

26. rove just sent bush and sourpuss down

to Virginia today because his numbers are in the abyss and they're desperate to try anything. They know they have the whoremedia's help in trying to pump up his numbers from life support but it ain't gonna happen so the mediawhores can just all take a deep breath and give their collective lips a breather from the bushitass.

bushit and his selective mourning..what a waste of matter.

[AspenRose]

34. Kick

:mad: :kick:

[geardaddy]

41. Kicked and Rec'd

:kick:

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Horse with no Name]

43. Someone was. He is dead.

:shrug:

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Horse with no Name]

49. I have to wonder if you judge that by the color of his skin

or something else.
The kid was mentally disturbed. He was able to access a gun and he killed people.
I don't think it is time to nuke South Korea yet.

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[blondeatlast]

67. South Korea is rather politically stable, actually. nt

[Catherine Vincent]

44. "Bush doesn't care about Native Americans!"

n/t

[Supersedeas]

46. Someone needs to ask Mutt Lauer whether he was healer in chef then too?

[Breeze54]

48. I remember this....

The President's Radio Address

March 26th, 2005

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=58764

snip-->

This week we have seen tragedy at home. Families in Minnesota are mourning the loss of their
loved ones after the terrible shootings at Red Lake High School. Hours after the shooting,
communities and churches across the nation offered prayers for the victims and their families.
The Red Lake Nation reports receiving thousands of calls from people all over the world offering
their sympathy and support. Laura and I are praying for the families of the victims, as are
millions of Americans.

This week I spoke with Red Lake Tribal Chairman Floyd Jourdain to express the condolences
of the American people and to pledge the continued help of the federal government. We are
doing everything we can to meet the needs of the community at this tragic time. The FBI and
the Department of Justice are working to coordinate relief through the Federal Crime Victim
Assistance Fund. We're working closely with state, local and tribal authorities to provide
counseling, help with funeral arrangements and other assistance.

The tragedy at Red Lake was accompanied by acts of heroism and selflessness. A security guard
named Derrick Brun saved the lives of countless students when he rose from his desk to confront
the young gunman. Although he was unarmed, Derrick ignored the pleas of a colleague to run for
his life. By engaging the assailant, he bought vital time for a fellow security guard to rush
a group of students to safety. Derrick's bravery cost him his life, and all Americans honor him.

As we help the families in this community, we must do everything in our power to prevent tragedies
like this from happening. Children benefit from a sense of community, and the support and
involvement of caring adults. To keep our children safe and protected, we must continue to foster
a culture that affirms life and provides love, and helps our young people build character.

more...blah, blah, blah....

Then * turned around and CUT $108 million from the Bureau of Indian Affairs
and $107 million from Indian housing. THREE DAYS LATER!!!!!!!!!!!

============================================================

Budget blueprints leave Bush's Indian cuts intact

http://www.indianz.com/News/2005/007264.asp

Monday, March 28, 2005

The budget resolutions passed by the House and Senate this month
leave President Bush's cuts to Indian programs intact.

Among other proposals, Bush is cutting $108 million from the Bureau
of Indian Affairs and $107 million from Indian housing. Construction
of new schools and health facilities are among the programs taking a
major hit.

Sen. Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) said there's still a chance to restore
some of the cuts. He said he would use his seat on the Senate Appropriations
Committee to seek more funds for Indian programs.

Get the Story:

BIA gets $108M cut in Bush budget Budget (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 3/28)
http://www.indianz.com/my.asp?url=http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050328/NEWS/503280306/1001

====================================

House panel acts to restore Bush budget cuts

http://www.indianz.com/News/2005/008000.asp

Thursday, May 5, 2005

A House subcommittee restored some of President Bush's budget cuts
to Indian programs on Wednesday with the approval of the Interior
Department's fiscal year 2006 budget bill.

Although detailed figures are not available, the initial numbers from
the House Interior Appropriations subcommittee were encouraging. The
panel boosted the Bureau of Indian Affairs budget to a total of $2.0
billion, or $67 million over current levels, whereas the Bush
administration sought an overall cut of nearly $110 million.

more.....

* is a complete F**king asshole!!!!

[rasputin1952]

50. What a piece of crap...

Cutting funding to keep the war going no doubt. Let the poor become poorer...after all, it is "their fault" they were born AmerIndians...:(

God I despise this POS

[Marnieworld]

73. 3 Days later?

I actually threw up in my mouth a bit after reading that.

It is disgusting how the Neo-Cons treat Native Americans. Between this and the Jack Abramoff scandal it really doesn't seem like much progress has been made.

Despictable creatures the neo-cons are. I wish for a Hell for them. I really do.:grr:

[The Count]

56. "I believe that people who are of another color than us...can self govern"

"It doesn't mean I give a crap about then, but they can self govern, That's how f*ing enlightened I am" (GWB's words and thoughts)

[Maraya1969]

57. I just saw how they are going to re-run tapes from Columbine. I feel real sick.

I am so sorry.

[Maraya1969]

58. This is going to a long email list. I hope I am not alone.

[riverwalker]

59. the Red Lake community is still suffering

http://www.rlnn.com/

Maybe it's just me, but I wince everytime CNN calls the VT killings "the deadliest massacre in US history ever". I have to remember Wounded Knee and Sand Creek, they don't seem to count.

[catchnrelease]

60. Thank you!

On the way home from work today, the news people keep repeating the comment about the deadliest massacre, etc. I kept thinking, yes, it's horrific. But what about Wounded Knee? Over three hundred women, children and old men gunned down, their bodies left to freeze in the snow. And Black Kettle's people as well.......... I'm glad I'm not the only one that had this come to mind.

[txwhitedove]

62. I too have thought of Wounded Knee all day. Thank you.

[puebloknot]

63. K&R Thank you for this reminder! nt

[Matsubara]

64. Bush Silence - Bad, but predictable, after all these kids were not white...

But what is our "news" media's excuse? They are pimping the crap out of VTECH but Indian kids barely rate a byline.

:wtf:

[randr]

65. Thanks for reminding us all

[nam78_two]

68. K&R.nt

[peacetalksforall]

70. I refused to watch his speech live and taped because of Katrina.

I will now add Katrina and Red Lake.

We should not be in a position to remind people that minorities were ignored. We have a selective President and administration. Six years have shown us plenty.

But, some of the people affected support the President so I'm not going to go on a rant against President Preferential.

[paparush]

71. This did not make the list of Tragedies published in today, 2-18-2007, USA Today.

[AuntPatsy]

72. It is just not him, our society seems to allow it..

[ChairmanAgnostic]

74. "injuns? we still got injuns?"

"Say, Dick, since when did we have injuns? What say we draft those trouble makers and ship 'em to IraqNam?"
"What do you mean there's no draft?"


NoLa was a tragedy ignored by this White House. VaTech was not.
Poor tribesmen died in Minnesota. 220 Iraqis died today because of our occupation.

yet, the only timely photo op was in Virginia.
that says a lot about this administration. If you are poor, not christian, not lily white, or not hetero, screw you.

[greyghost]

75. Exactly...

If you aren't in his base you don't have to worry about him showing up on your door step.

What a useless piece of shit he is.:nuke: