from Senator Bernie Sanders (Ind. VT):

As you know, enormously crucial decisions are being made in Washington now which will impact the future of our country for decades. Please join me for an interactive discussion on issues ranging from how we protect Social Security for our kids and grandchildren, to how we create the millions of new jobs we desperately need to how we address the deficit crisis in a fair and progressive way.

Sign up to join me for DFA Live on Tuesday, December 7th, at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.

In terms of Social Security, let's be very clear. Social Security has not added one dime to either the federal deficit or the national debt. In fact, Social Security is running a $2.6 trillion surplus that is projected to grow to over $4 trillion by the year 2023. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that even if no changes are made, Social Security will be able to pay full benefits to every eligible American until the year 2039. In other words, Social Security is not in crisis.

Meanwhile, the Republicans in Congress, who claim to be so concerned about our large deficit want to extend Bush's massive tax breaks to the wealthiest 2% of Americans -- which will add, over a ten year period, $700 billion to our national debt. Given the fact that we already have the most unequal distribution of income of any major country, this is a totally absurd and irresponsible proposal.

That's why I organized a working group in Congress to provide a real, progressive alternative to the Deficit Commission's recommendations. We can move this country forward in reducing our national debt, but we don't have to do it on the backs of the already suffering middle class and working families of this country.

All and all, there's a lot to talk about and I look forward to a lively discussion with my friends at Democracy for America. Thank you very much for your grassroots activism. Together, we will move this country forward.

Please join me and my friends at Democracy for America next Tuesday, December 7th at 8:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time) for DFA Live -- a conversation on some of the important issues facing our country including Social Security, reducing the deficit in a fair and progressive way and job creation.

Thank you,

-Bernie

P.S. Follow me on Facebook or Twitter to stay up to date on the work I'm doing on Social Security, the deficit, job creation and more.

Friday December 10: Lyrical Democracies - Poetry with Alexis De Veaux and Kathy Engel

Suggested Donation $10.
151 Mitchell Lane, Bridgehampton, Info at 537-7068 ext 113


Hayground School and Hayground Forum will present a special poetry reading titled Lyrical Democracies featuring Kathy Engel and Alexis De Veaux on Friday, December 10th at 7 p.m. Lyrical Democracies is the brainchild of two poets who want to inspire opportunities for the advancement of creative solutions to the wellbeing, peace, and wholeness of individuals and communities throughout the country. As poets, professors, organizers, and producers for more than 30 years, they recognize that the light that leads us and the glue that holds us are the power of our stories – all of our stories. They believe that telling stories to each other has the power to heal the divisions that separate us from each others’ humanities. They believe that meaningful change occurs through the fusion of the imaginative and the pragmatic, and that without community there is no change. Without recognition and exploration of the full stories within any community space, there is no community.


 

A Conversation With Elizabeth Haile, Rev. Holly Haile Davis and Rev. Alison Cornish



From the Sag Harbor Express


by Emily J Weitz


A Conversation with the Rev. Holly Haile Davis and her mother, Elizabeth Haile, two prominent members of the Shinnecock Nation who recently took part in “The Accidental and Intentional Neighborness of our Communities” a discussion with Rev. Alison Cornish held at the meetinghouse of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork.
You led this discussion at the UU Meeting House last week. How did it go?
Holly: I’d like to define discussion. Alison and I decided to begin a conversation last year at this time. It took the form of a dialogue sermon at the meeting house. A conversation between us in a public arena. It was very tentative, opening a door that in my mind has never been opened. What I mean by that is outsiders wanting to have more than a one-way conversation with the Shinnecock. It’s been very one-sided for 370 years. To have a conversation where more than one side’s will was being considered was represented in our dialogue sermon last November. And so this was then part two of that continuing conversation. .  ..... more 
_________________
note: Rebecca (Becky) referred to in this article is Rebecca Genia, Rev. Holly Hails Davis' cousin and a member of the Inter-Tribal Historic Preservation Task Force devoted to preservation of ancient native burial sites.

EAST END FOOD PANTRIES NEED OUR HELP:


As always our local food pantries need help with the ever increasing demand from those who just can't afford to feed their families. For example from January 2009 to January 2010 the number of families seeking aid tripled in East Hampton.  The demand is year round but increases at this time of year as one would expect with the seasonal employment situation. Here is a list of local food panties:

Montauk:

Montauk Food Pantry at St Therese of Lisieux, 55 South Etna Avenue

East Hampton / Amagansett: 

East Hampton Food Pantry www.easthamptonfoodpantry.org

631-324-7195 

219-50 Accabonac Road

East Hampton Food Pantry hours: Tuesdays 2:00 – 6:00 pm 

Amagansett Satellite hours: Tuesdays 4:00 – 6:00 pm 


Sag Harbor: 


Sag Harbor Food Pantry: Old Whalers (First Presby.) Church - 44 Union St.   631-725-0437 provides basic provisions 10:30am-1pm Tuesdays - Donations accepted at the Church.


Bridgehampton


Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center -

551 Sag Harbor Turnpike 631 - 537 -0616 


Southampton:

Human Resources at Sacred Heart Church, 168 Hill St. 631-283-6415 


Island Wide: 

Island Harvest with HQ in Nassau County is looking for East End Volunteers. They supply local food pantries. 

see www.islandharvest.volunteerhub.com to register and help with local food collection/distribution. 

also:
Long Island Cares/ The Harry Chapin Food Bank: http://www.licares.org/

Week of November 18

Following the news


Between The Lines: 


Recommendations of Presidential Commission on Deficit Reduction include cuts in Medicare and Military but are not likely to get out of the Congressional Commitee reviewing it 


Democracy for America: petition re Attack on Social Security 


Election Coverage: 


Votes may be re-counted pending Court decision - 10,100 absentee ballots not counted so far. Elections Board says they made mistake Bishop now trails by 383 votes. Sample machine votes are being checked. 


Committee for Peace in Israel / Palestine (COPIP) ... 


The COPIP blog has been updated.  It is also linked from the blog list on this web site. 


______________________ 


 FOOD PANTRIES NEED OUR HELP:


As always our local food pantries need help with the ever increasing demand from those who just can't afford to feed their families. The demand is year round but increases at this time of year as one would expect with the seasonal employment situation. Here is a list of local food panties:


Montauk: 


Montauk Food Pantry at St Therese of Lisieux, 55 South Etna Avenue, Montauk 


East Hampton / Amagansett: 


East Hampton Food Pantry www.easthamptonfoodpantry.org 


631-324-7195 


219-50 Accabonac Road 


East Hampton Food Pantry hours: Tuesdays 2:00 – 6:00 pm 


Amagansett Satellite hours: Tuesdays 4:00 – 6:00 pm 


Sag Harbor: 


Sag Harbor Food Pantry: Old Whalers (First Presby.) Church - 44 Union St. Sag Harbor 631-725-0437 provides basic provisions 10:30am-1pm Tuesdays - Donations accepted at the Church We are hoping to give each of our food pantry clients a turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner. If you can donate a turkey, please call 725-0437 or send us an email with your name, address and telephone number. If you can’t deliver the turkey to the pantry on a Tuesday, we will pick it up. Thank you so much for your generosity! 


Bridgehampton


Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center - 


551 Sag Harbor Turnpike 631 - 537 -0616 


Southampton: 


Human Resources at Sacred Heart Church, 168 Hill St. 631-283-6415 


Island Wide: 


Island Harvest with HQ in Nassau County is looking for East End Volunteers. They supply local food pantries. 


see www.islandharvest.volunteerhub.com to register and help with local food collection/distribution. 


also:
Long Island Cares/ The Harry Chapin Food Bank: http://www.licares.org/


 ____________________________________________________


 Cities of Peace:


Guild Hall , Main Street in East Hampton is presenting .“Cities of Peace,” by East Hampton artist Ellen Frank through January 16. The exhibition features nine 6- by 8-foot gold-illuminated works on linen that are a visual tribute to people and locations around the world. “Cities of Peace” includes Baghdad, Beijing, Hiroshima, Jerusalem, Kabul, Lhasa, Monrovia, New York and Sarajevo. 



Gallery Talk Nov 27 3pm - Perspectives on Cities of Peace: 


A Conversation Donny George Youkhanna Now Visiting Professor (Mesopotamian Civilization); Department of Asian and Asian American Studies, SUNY, Stony Brook University Peter Trippi Editor, FineArtConnoisseur: The Premier Magazine for Informed Collectors, on the art historical context for the Cities of Peace paintings Ellen Frank Ph.D., Artistic Director, Ellen Frank Illuminations Arts Foundation, Inc., on “Honoring World Cities Traumatized by War, transforming anguish to beauty” 


Free with $7 Suggested Museum Admission ____________________________________________________________ 


Alternative radio - media for a democracy: 


WPKN Community Listener Supported Radio at 89.5 FM and streaming at wpkn.org has programming produced by east enders and still needs our support.


_____________________


email subscribers may un-subscribe by replying with "Don't Send" in the subject line 

Week of November 11 - Veterans Day

VETERANS DAY: NOVEMBER 11, 2010 


from the East Hampton Star: 
 Sag Harbor   October 28, 2010
To the Editor,
    We are a warrior nation with an obscene military budget. In times of deep recession and millions in economic depression, 59 percent of our taxes relate to war.
    The powers that be in Washington often speak of perpetual war as if it was our destiny. A curse upon our children and grandchildren — we have already used their credit cards to sustain our wars.
    Has reverence for life been compromised by the gods of war, whether they be oil, money, or to change the hearts and minds of people we don’t even know? Yes, there are lives in the balance.
    For a moment, let us reflect on the lives of our young men and women who fight our wars in our name. To do so they had to give up their freedom and have no voice but to follow orders. Little did they anticipate being held hostage in endless wars. Then tours of duty were extended and they returned to combat as many as five times with pockets full of mind-altering drugs to withstand a living hell. Eventually they become victims of post-traumatic stress disorder, a burden they carry the rest of their lives, families included. These are crimes against humanity and no one is held responsible. There are lives in the balance.

In peace,    
LARRY DARCEY
 ________________________________________



__________________________________________
Election Coverage: Votes may be re-counted by hand after Elections Board says they made mistake and Bishop now trails by 383 votes.... 
______________________________
Latino Film Festival 
Friday Nov 12 






 5pm-8pm








Saturday Nov 13  6pm-8pm








Parrish Art Museum, Jobs Lane Southampton





_______________________________________________
Cities of Peace



Guild Hall , Main Street in East Hampton is presenting .“Cities of Peace,” by East Hampton artist Ellen Frank through January 16.  
Gallery Talk Nov 27 3pm


The exhibition features nine 6- by 8-foot gold-illuminated works on linen that are a visual tribute to people and locations around the world.  
“Cities of Peace” includes Baghdad, Beijing, Hiroshima, Jerusalem, Kabul, Lhasa, Monrovia, New York and Sarajevo.

___________________________


Alternative radio - media for a democracy: 

WPKN 'The Real Alternative" needs our support. Totally listener supported station with locally produced music and public affairs programs still needs our support  - donate on line 



WPKN Radio News: Suffolk County & NY State Election Results

Updated 10:00 am Nov. 18

see report on Voting Problems in Brooklyn and Southampton following this summary

Here are some election results from Long Island and New York State prepared by WPKN's East End News Team:

About 40% of eligible voters went to the polls yesterday according to the Suffolk County Board of Elections.

Republicans targeted Democrat Tim Bishop, the 4 term 1st Congressional District Representative in their campaign to take over the House. Republican businessman Randy Altschuler  led  Mr. Bishop  by 383  votes with all election districts reporting after the Board of Elections revised their count following election day.   A total recount has been requested by the Bishop Campaign - to be settled in court.  

Absentee ballots were not counted as of Nov. 18.  Mr. Bishop has not claimed victory and Mr. Altschuler has not conceded as of 9am on Wednesday Nov. 3.

Employment  was  an issue in the campaign with the Republican claiming he had created many jobs for Long Islanders while Democrat Bishop said Altschuler had outsourced jobs to India and elsewhere. Altschuler criticized Bishop for supporting Obama's health care reform and stimulus packages.

Voters in the 2nd C.D. gave long time Representative  Steve Israel,
a Democrat, a 55% to 43% lead over Republican John Gomez.

Conservative Republican 3rd C.D. candidate Peter King, a multi term Congressman was re-elected by a wide margin.

In the governor's race, Andrew Cuomo easily beat Carl Palladino
with Democrat Cuomo receiving 57%  of the vote to Republican Paladino's 38% with almost all votes counted. 

Green Party Howie Hawkins received less than 1% of the vote trailing Jimmy McMillan of the "Rent is 2 Damn High party" with 1.25%. However the Greens received enough votes to maintain their position on future ballots.  

Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer and  Kirsten Gillibrand
were returned to the Senate.  Ms. Gillibrand was elected to fill
the un-expired term vacated by now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

In the state assembly on long island voters returned long time
1st District State Sen. Ken Lavalle, a Republican
to Albany defeating Democrat challenger Jennifer Maertz.

In the 3rd District Republican Lee Zeldin defeated Democrat Brian Foley.
58% to 42% with 97% of votes counted.

Long time State Assemblyman Fred Thiele running on the Democrat, Working Families and Independence lines defeated Republican Richard Blumenthal by a wide margin to represent the 2nd Assembly district.

Democrat Marc Alessi and Republican Daniel Losquadro were in a tight race to represent the 1st Assembly district.

This summary of the vote on eastern Long Island was from Unofficial results provided by the Suffolk County Board of Elections.

Here are some election results from Long Island and New York State:
About 40% of eligible voters went to the polls yesterday according to the Suffolk County Board of Elections.

Republicans targeted Democrat Tim Bishop, the 4 term 1st Congressional District Representative in their campaign to take over the House. But Republican businessman Randy Altschuler
 trailed  Mr. Bishop  by about 49% to Mr. Bishop's 51% of the votes with all
election districts reporting.  Absentee ballots were not included in the unofficial results.

Employment  was  an issue in the campaign with the Republican claiming he had created many jobs for Long Islanders while Democrat Bishop said Altschuler had outsourced jobs to India and elsewhere. Altschuler criticized Bishop for supporting Obama's health care reform and stimulus packages.


Voters in the 2nd C.D. gave long time Representative  Steve Israel,
a Democrat, a 55% to 43% lead over Republican John Gomez.

Conservative Republican 3rd C.D. candidate Peter King, a multi term Congressman was re-elected by a wide margin.

In the governor's race, Andrew Cuomo easily beat Carl Palladino
with Democrat Cuomo receiving 57%  of the vote to Republican Paladino's 38% with almost all votes counted. 

Green Party Howie Hawkins received less than 1% of the vote trailing Jimmy McMillan of the "Rent is 2 Damn High party" with 1.25%.

Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer and  Kirsten Gillibrand
were returned to the Senate.  Ms. Gillibrand was elected to fill
the un-expired term vacated by now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

In the state assembly on long island voters returned long time
1st District State Sen. Ken Lavalle, a Republican
to Albany defeating Democrat challenger Jennifer Maertz.

In the 3rd District Republican Lee Zeldin defeated Democrat Brian Foley.
58% to 42% with 97% of votes counted.

Long time State Assemblyman Fred Thiele running on the Democrat, Working Families and Independence lines defeated Republican Richard Blumenthal by a wide margin to represent the 2nd Assembly district.

Democrat Marc Alessi and Republican Daniel Losquadro were in a tight race to represent the 1st Assembly district.

This summary of the vote on eastern Long Island was from Unofficial results provided by the Suffolk County Board of Elections.
_______________________________________________________

Voting Problems in Park Slope were reported in the NY Daily News and the same problem - machines not working were observed here in Southampton.

from NY Daily News

* "Just voted (by emergency ballot) at PS282 in Park Slope. Scanning machines are not working and they have no ETA when they will. There is technician working on the machine but in the meantime everyone is voting by emergency ballot. According to the poll workers, an "initial report" was not run on the machines, and that is the hold up.... but I observed the technician dealing with several (what I assume were test) ballots that were getting jammed in the machine and heard him make the comment to a poll worker "I don't know what to do."
___________________________________________________________

October 30, at 7 PM, Dr. Danielle Ofri will talk about "Medicine in Translation: Journeys with My Patients:



On October 30, at 7 PM, Dr. Danielle Ofri will talk about her most recent book, Medicine in Translation: Journeys with My Patients(Beacon Press, 2011) at the Unitarian Universalist meetinghouse at 977 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike (junction of Scuttle Hole Road).  Her book, which has garnered wide critical praise for its candor and compassion, offers compelling and sometimes humorous stories of how she and her patients struggle with their medical problems and the difficulty both have in coming to terms with the cultural and language differences of a largely immigrant, poor, population, many of whom have braved language barriers, religious and racial divides and the emotional difficulties of exile. Without judgment or condescension, Dr. Ofri’s book sheds light on how one doctor comes to terms with her own emotions in treating a complex patient population and puts a human face on the challenges facing immigrants and their caregivers navigating the U.S. healthcare system.

Dr. Ofri has been an attending physician at Bellevue Hospital , the oldest public hospital in the nation, for two decades. She is also Associate Professor of Medicine at New York University School of Medicine and editor-in-chief of the Bellevue Literary Review. Her writings have appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, the New England Journal of Medicine, the Lancet, and on CNN.com and National Public Radio. An earlier book Incidental Findings:Lessons from My Patients in the Art of Medicineoffers stories from the life of a newly minted doctor as she faces some of the hard questions and realities in applying the Hippocratic oath.

This event is co-sponsored by Neighbors in Support of Immigrants and the Social Justice Committee of the UUCSF. There is no charge for the program. Apple cider and donuts for a contribution, with all proceeds for providing meals for day laborers at North Sea Rd and CR 39 and in East Hampton.

October 23: The CAPOTE Black & White HIKE



Canio's Cultural Cafe & FRIENDS of the LONG POND GREENBELT
                                        present
       The CAPOTE Black & White HIKE
Please be our guest for a fun celebration of Truman Capote's birthday and the natural environment where his memorial stone rests in the Long Pond Greenbelt.
 
Truman Capote at B&W Ball

  DATE:
 October 23rd
  TIME: 10 a.m.HIKE
  LOCATION:    
   Long Pond Greenbelt 
   Nature Center for the hike
  (1061 Bridgehampton-Sag 
   Harbor Turnpike).

  RECEPTION:  11 a.m. 
  at the Nature Center.

   Truman Capote's Black & White Ball in 1966 is widely recognized as the literary event of the century.  Celebrate Capote's birthday & legacy with a hike to his memorial stone.Black & White dress is encouraged!  A reception follows at the Long Pond Greenbelt Nature Center. Hear a recording of Capote reading, view special Capote memorabilia from friends, and enjoy Cousin Sook's fruitcake, plus other refreshments.

  If you can not hike to the stone, but would like to be there, transportation from the Nature Center will be available.
  
   Capote's cherry-red mustang will be on display, courtesy of his good friends Myron Clement and Joe Petrocik.  And a signed, limited edition photograph of Capote by LIFE photographer Jerry Cooke will be for sale.  The beautiful black & white photograph was made in 1947.  A portion of the photo sale proceeds goes to the Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt and Canio's Cultural Cafe.

  $10 suggested donation.

  It's going to be a BALL!  Hope to see you on the 23rd.

October 9: Caroline Doctorow & Mick Hargreaves in Concert for WPKN

WPKN presents Caroline Doctorow and the Steamrollers 

with a solo appearance by Mick Hargreaves 

Saturday, October 9 at 8pm 

Jeff’s Kitchen at the Hayground School

151 Mitchell Lane, Bridgehampton.  

A benefit for listener-supported WPKN Radio

Tickets $25 at the door.

Reserve at rootsmusicfest@gmail.com

or call 631-259-2482

 

Caroline Doctorow:

With a soft and mesmerizing voice Caroline Doctorow (http://www.carolinedoctorow.com/) has established herself as a leading force on the folk music scene as she gains momentum with each new album she releases. Her voice has been called wondrous and velveteen. Her albums appear regularly on the top of the folk music radio airplay charts.  She regularly tours with her band "The Steamrollers" comprised of Gary Oleyar, Andrew Carillo and Mick Hargreaves.

 

 Mick Hargreaves:


Mick Hargreaves (www.mickhargreaves.com) is a busy singer-songwriter and in-demand session bassist whose 2009 single release is "Bridget" backed with "Can't Keep Track of You Blues" 








Caroline and Mick are heard every first Saturday of the month at 7pm on the Song Trails Radio Hour (http://thesongtrailsradiohour.blogspot.com) on WPKN Radio. They feature roots-based artists and highlight local Long Island musicians.   

 

Listener Supported WPKN at 89.5 FM


has been described as a station whose importance is out of proportion to its small signal in our area.  WPKN serves most of Suffolk County and streaming at www.wpkn.org,  the rest of the globe, with a diverse selection of musical genres (Jazz, Blues, Folk, Rock, Classics, Reggae and more) and public affairs programs (East End Ink, Tidings from Hazel Kahan, Between The Lines, Free Speech Radio News). The station is almost completely funded by listener contributions and takes no corporate advertising or underwriting. 

Letter to Southampton Press: Cigarette Tax Is Destructive and Will Not Work

September 18, 2010

Dear Editor:

At this writing the proposed New York state tax on cigarettes sold on Indian reservations to non-Indians is tied up in the courts.  What would happen if most of the population of Southampton should lose their jobs?  Would that warrant headlines and marching in the streets? This is the prospective faced by a large portion of the118 residents of the Shinnecock and Poospatuck reservations on Long Island.

NY State has a 9 billion deficit,  A re-instatement of the stock transfer tax - New York  State presently collects a very small tax on each stock transfer, but then rebates the tax, now in excess of $16 billion annually - or an increase in the tax on incomes of $250k or greater would bring in more that the $200 million that might be collected by taxing cigarettes sold on reservations. 

But whether any sales will be made on the reservations without the price advantage now
enjoyed by Native smoke shops is questionable.

The real reason for the legislation which has been proposed for years is to reward the convenience store supporters of the powers in Albany.   This can only bring more poverty and its resultant increase in drugs and crime  to our area.  

I looked for news about this impending disaster in the local media and found none. 

Two weeks ago New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a friend of a large player in upstate convenience stores, recalling the days when states paid for Indian scalps, told a radio host that he had advised the Governor to 

"get yourself a cowboy hat and a shotgun. If there’s ever a great video, it’s you standing in the middle of the New York State Thruway saying, you know, ‘Read my lips – the law of the land is this, and we’re going to enforce the law." 

Apparently racist speech directed at  our native neighbors is acceptable.  Not a word about this was in the downstate papers. Where is the outrage?

Anthony Ernst

Pat Young: Suffolk Congressional Race Has Anti-Immigrant Overtones




Chris Cox is running hard against Congressman Tim Bishop in one of the few swing Congressional seats in New York. The First CD in eastern Suffolk County has changed hands repeatedly over the last several decades.
The district has a strong tea party faction organized around Glenn Beck’s 9/12 group. The faction incorporates many activists from the area’s well developed anti-immigrant organizations. The district was the scene of multiple attacks on Latino immigrants in 2007 and 2008, culminating in the killing of Marcelo Lucero in 2008.
Cox has announced he will “stand with the tea party” on the immigration issue. He recently released a statement praising Arizona’s SB 1070 law which was recently enjoined by a Federal court. Cox said:
“I know how hard so many people have fought to become citizens of this country, and I know that we need to secure our borders. That’s the obligation of the federal government and the federal government has failed. God Bless Arizona for standing up and trying to protect its citizens!”
After the law was stayed in July because of its dubious constitutionality, Cox said:
“The Arizona legislature passed common-sense legislation to protect their citizens because the Federal government has completely failed to secure our borders.  Along with Governor Jan Brewer…, I am deeply disappointed that a Federal judge has blocked key provisions of Arizona’s law.  The citizens of Arizona have been subjected to criminal aliens, including violent drug gangs, because our borders are porous.  As a Member of Congress, I will support legislation to strengthen border security and enforce Federal immigration laws.  Unlike Tim Bishop who wants to reward illegal immigrants with citizenship under what he calls ‘Earned Legalization,’ I support the rule of law and I oppose amnesty.”
Cox is an odd source of such a hard line. He is the grandson of disgraced former President Richard Nixon who was saved from jail by a presidential pardon, a sort of one-man amnesty.
Cox’s father, Ed cox, is the head of the state Republican party. Ed Cox led the failed effort to convince Republicans to nominate virulently anti-immigrant Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy for governor.




Cowboys and Indians - Where is the Outrage?

On Monday, August 23 members of New York native nations (Unkechaug and Shinnecock included) protested on the steps of New York's City Hall in response to Mayor Michael Bloomberg's racist utterance.  "Bloomberg used imagery considered insensitive at best by tribal members when he suggested that Gov. David Paterson don a cowboy hat, grab a shotgun and stand in the Thruway to make sure tax law is implemented on Indian cigarette sales." according to the Albany Times-Union's James Odato.

Tiokasin Ghosthorse of First Voices Indigenous Radio included a report from Carole Woodward of Digital Radio Warrior Media from the rally including quotes from Chief Harry Wallace (Unkechaug) and Sr. Tribal Trustee Lance Gumbs (Shinnecock).  Also an interview with native blogger John Cain about native / NY State relations, cigarette tax questions and the Mayor's remarks.  These reports were carried on WPKN 89.5 Bridgeport on Thursday August 26.

From Indian Country Today: Where is America’s outrage?


“The use of force to subdue, dispossess, disempower and eradicate the Native American is a disgraceful part of American history and Mayor Bloomberg is encouraging its continuation.”

 Full article:

When New York Mayor Bloomberg asked Gov. Patterson to act like a cowboy to shut down the Seneca tobacco industry, little was heard from mainstream America to condemn such an outrageous statement.

The use of force to subdue, dispossess, disempower and eradicate the Native American is a disgraceful part of American history and Mayor Bloomberg is encouraging its continuation. The image of the cowboys shooting and killing Indians, defending settlers and moving them off their lands is the stuff of American legend. Indians were the villains of American expansionism and it created Manifest Destiny to justify their elimination.

America loves its cowboy image. Bloomberg wants to resurrect John Wayne as a solution to the “Indian problem.”

But if anyone in America should understand Native Americans, it should be Bloomberg. He is a part of an oppressed people: Persecuted, dispossessed and eradicated. Being Jewish, Bloomberg should feel the same way Native Americans do.

After all, to the Seneca and the Iroquois Confederacy or Haudenosaunee, northern New York state is our Israel. We are the freedom fighters and defenders of the land, not the cowboys. The cowboys are the invaders and looters.

We have lived in the area from time immemorial; we have a constitution predating European contact and a federation of nations that American founding fathers studied to replace a system based on a monarchy. We are an ancient people with our own language, customs, spirituality and government, living on our own homeland; our Israel.

Would Bloomberg accept Hamas enforcing tax collection in Israel? I don’t think so.

Yet that is the reality for Native Americans. America wanted our land and our natural resources, which made this the richest country in the world. Now America wants to continue the impoverishment of Native Americans by collecting its taxes by force.

Bloomberg’s blindness to our history must not be limited to only him. The rest of America seems not to care very much.

If the mayor had suggested that the Klu Klux Klan be sent in to collect taxes in Seneca territory, there would be outrage. His suggestion for the governor to act like a cowboy is comparable to sending in neo-Nazis to settle the “Jewish problem.”

Shocking as that may sound, this is the image from a Native American perspective.

Yet there is no outrage from mainstream America.

It is in the American culture to idolize the cowboy and villainize the Native American. Americans don’t see the comparison of Israel and the Jewish people to the reservations and territories of Native Americans. Or they refuse to see. It would be too painful or, more likely, too expensive. Or they do not want to offend the Jewish community?

It is okay to offend Native Americans. That is American culture.

When will America stand up for the rights and freedoms of Native Americans?

- Kenneth Deer
Kahnawake
© 1998 - 2010 Indian Country Today. All Rights Reserved
__________________________________________________________________________
From the article above:

“The use of force to subdue, dispossess, disempower and eradicate the Native American is a disgraceful part of American history and Mayor Bloomberg is encouraging its continuation.”

Article 4 and Article 7 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination deal with speech promoting or inciting racial discrimination.  The United States ratified the Convention in 1994, but took exception to the provisions in Articles 4 and 7 at the time, claiming the United States “does not accept any obligation under this Convention, in particular under Articles 4 and 7” and referred to the “extensive protections of individual freedom of speech” in the United States.  Free speech in the U.S.A. apparently includes hate speech or speech which incites racial discrimination.  In 2004, there was a ripple of protest, but no outrage when Governor Schwarzenegger claimed publicly, “The Indians are ripping us off.” And “they don’t pay their fair share.”  The situation in New York is similar.  The state wants to claim revenue that doesn’t belong to the state by undermining the source of income of
 Native peoples in the state.  In order to demonize Native people, hate speech seems to be considered fair game then and now.  Where is America’s outrage that public officials can use hate speech and that federal law outweighs international human rights law in allowing them to incite discrimination with impunity?

Artists United for Haiti


you are invited to
L’ESPOIR / HOPE
 East End Artists United for Haiti
to benefit
 ART INDIGÈNE Camp-Perrin, Les Cayes a year-long job training program in the arts for teens  
Saturday, August 28, 6 - 10 
BENEFIT PARTY & ART LIVE AUCTION  
Music * Food * Drink
$20 suggested contribution
Bidding begins at 7:15 PM
Friday, August 27, 5 - 8 
 ART PREVIEW
Bids will be accepted for the live auction
Ashawagh Hall, East Hampton, NY
Springs-Fireplace Road and Old Stone Highway
   Participating Artists:
   Shari Abramson, Tomas Bulher, Perry Burns, David Collins, Luigi Colarullo, Sally Egbert,
                 Ellen  Frank, Marc Antoine Gaston, Kimberly Goff, Jason Green, Whitney Hansen, Nicolette Jelen,               
   Nathan Slate Joseph, Teri Kennedy, Karin Mannix, Jane Martin, Barbara Maslen, Fulvio Massi,
   Paton Miller, Camille Perrottet, Maria Pessino, Vivian Polak, Gabi Raake, Christina Schlesinger,     
   Rosemarie Schiller, Rosario Varela, Todd C. Westphal