Secession, Lakota Style
Tired of the bull (no pun intended), not seeing the money, and the disregard for treaties made 150 years ago by the US, the Lakota have officially declared their independence as a separate nation. Sitting Bull would be proud.Ouch. How does that do for our international reputation?"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. This is according to the laws of the United States, specifically article six of the constitution. It is also within the laws on treaties passed at the Vienna Convention and put into effect by the US and the rest of the international community in 1980. We are legally within our rights to be free and independent.
[The treaties with the U.S.] are worthless words on worthless paper [and have been] repeatedly violated in order to steal our culture, our land and our ability to maintain our way of life," said activists for the Lakota Nation."
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Cool...I say the United States strip them of all rights they have as United States citizens. If they want to go to college anywhere in the USA...international students. All the tax deferred treatments...gone. If anybody transfers money from the United States to their territory, taxed at international standards. In fact, I'd even have booths at the entrance to all of their streets charging a very high fee to anybody entering their tribal community, after all, why should our roads subsidize their community?
In other words, the USA should give them exactly what they are asking for.
I gotta ask, why single them out like that? We don't do that to other tribes.
The US has done them wrong for over 150 years, what else are they supposed to do? Maybe now they will get respect like other native nations.
They are asking for the special treatment...all I am saying is that we give them what they are asking for.
The US has been doing them wrong for 150 years? They live in the most prosperous nation the world has ever seen...what more should the USA do? Most people in the world would give a lot to be given the same opportunity. If they don't want that...then we should let them feel how it is.
Besides, the USA did nothing to the Indians that Indians were not already doing to themselves. To look back on history with todays moral standards and make judgments would condemn everybody - Indians and Americans alike.
Define special treatment please, all they are waiting for is money due to them...the US courts have found the US in contempt, yet the Lakota still have not been paid...where's the special treatment?
They have been jerked out of money that the US government has stolen from them, and has been found guilty of by our very own justice system. I don't know how it can be any clearer.
HP, your second paragraph is nothing but rhetoric.
And your third paragraph is an attempt towards justification. Besides, those issues of "who-done-who-wrong" is not even on the plate.
Peace.
I have not been following this issue closely...so I don't know the specifics of what is owed and what court ruled what. My only point here is with the overall point. I am, as a general rule, unsympathetic to any group of people who feel they are morally obliged to more than any other group in the United States. This 'separate but equal' mentally is backwards and destructive.
So I say if they want to be seen as a separate nation...the USA treat them as one - in every way possible.
My last paragraph is a factual statement.
I agree with Hispanic Pundit. They want to be treated like an independent country, then they should lose ALL the benefits. They are definitely not being singled out, they are simply the only tribe who has chose this course of action.
We are now in the realm of global relations. The frustration lies within the Lakota nation b/c the US has not made good on many deals made in past decades.
I don't think they ever complained about being singled out or want to be treated 'specially.' The US has special rules and relations on how to treat independent native tribes - like the Mashantucket Pequot, and Mohegan tribe...now we'll add the Lakota.
It's just a darn shame and hopefully does not cast a shadow on US international policies and relations.
The Lakota are actually the 8th federal recognized sovereign tribe. Looks like the US does not know how to keep the natives happy. :)
Here is one last year in Mass., who did the same:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/02/16/mashpee_tribe_wins_federal_recognition/
I think those who don't understand this, just don't respect the people who were here before the pilgrims and don't understand the laws and treaties signed between the US and natives.