Outspoken chief rejects council call to resignA Manitoba First Nations chief whose controversial comments made national headlines is refusing to step down, even though a band watchdog group has voted to remove him and his councillors from office.
Speaking to news organizations last month, Chief Terry Nelson of the Roseau River First Nation said: "There's only one way to deal with a white man. You either pick up a gun or you stand between him and his money."Other Indians disagree:
Council member Felix Antoine, a former chief and a political rival of Nelson's, said the comments were the final straw for the group.
"He's humiliating us, embarrassing us. We don't want to be portrayed as terrorists. We have to put a stop to this," he said.Comment: Nelson offers two ways to deal with white men, not one. His statement is a grossly overblown and racist generalization, of course, even if it's based on a kernel of truth.
Writerfella here --
ReplyDeletewriterfella could swear he left a comment here -- memory may not serve well at this late time of night, but it more or less said that historical truths held to the light are made even more true by examination. It is the white man who brought guns to this continent and therefore regards them as a necessary part of his cultural heritage. Therefore, the actual racism lies in saying that statements such as Nelson's is overblown and generalized...
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
It's racist to say not all white men are bad? I guess you don't know the definition of "racist."
ReplyDeleteSo you don't think Nelson's statement is overblown and generalized? You think it's precise and accurate? You must be as racist as he is.
You're dealing with one white man--me--right now. Are you pointing a gun at me from Oklahoma? Do you think you're standing between me and some money? If you're not doing either of these things, then your reaction is as stupidly overblown as Nelson's was.
This must explain why you haven't had much success in Hollywood. Whenever you take a meeting with white men, you point a gun at them or stand between them and their money. If I were you, I'd do what 99% of the population does in that kind of situation. I'd negotiate with them calmly instead of confronting them angrily.
Is there anything else you want to assert about all white men? Tell us so we can see if you're as bad as Nelson. I.e., so we can see how racist you are.
Writerfella here --
ReplyDeleteOK, who said that all white men are bad? Find that in writerfella's posting, and writerfella will give you a truckload of cookies. And no one said that nelson's styatement is precise and accurate. What was said is that his statement was not wrong, if the parameters are true. And writerfella NEVER has owned a gun in his life. Sure, when he was in the USAF, he had a .45 automatic pistol issued to him, and he trained on the M-1 rifle in basic training, and he shot expert with the M-16 later in his service. BUT -- that did not carry over to his release from the USAF in 1968. Since such a time, no guns ever have entered his life or his house, The BatesMotel. And the first thing that racists say is, that those who accuse them of racism are -- RACISTS! Wrong on both counts, fortunately for writerfella. And unfortunately for you, Rob. Now we must ask, how many guns do you own?
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
No, the first thing a racist says is "every member of a certain race is [blank]." Which is what Nelson basically said and you basically agreed with.
ReplyDeleteTo be specific, you said or implied Nelson's statement wasn't a generalization. If it's not a generalization, then it must be a literal claim: "There's only one way to deal with a white man. You either pick up a gun or you stand between him and his money."
You do know what a generalization is, don't you? Let's try again: Do you believe Nelson's statement is literally true? Or is it only figuratively true--i.e., a generalization?
Again, anyone who thinks it's racist to deny a claim about all members of a race doesn't know the meaning of "racist." Feel free to let us know whether you're racist or merely ignorant.
P.S. I don't own any guns. Never have, never will.
ReplyDeleteWriterfella here --
ReplyDeleteExcellent!! Now, given the 'gated community' and sheltered area where you live, Rob, how much does that circumstance project into the future? Science fiction writers always ask that kind of question...
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
What "gated community"? What "sheltered area"? I don't recall telling you anything about my locale. You're fantasizing again and doing it rather badly.
ReplyDeleteFYI, I live in a typical condo building on a well-used thoroughfare across from a popular park. It's located in a mixed-race neighborhood on the south side of Culver City, not far from the predominantly black neighborhoods where the Rodney King riots occurred. It's one of the many diverse communities that make Los Angeles possibly the most multicultural city in the world.
I'll have to tell my girlfriend this when I visit her mostly Korean condo building in Koreatown. She's Irish, not Korean, and she teaches at a school that's mainly Latino, black, and Armenian. We'll probably chuckle at you over dinner at a Jewish, Ethiopian, or Mongolian restaurant--all of which we've been to before.
According to the demographics, you're living a more sheltered life than I am. You might want to leave your Indian enclave in the middle of the white Bible Belt and learn about the rest of America.
ReplyDeleteLos Angeles County, California:
http://www.lacounty.info/statistical_information.htm
Hispanic 44.6%
White 31.1%
Asian 12.3%
Black 9.7%
American Indian .5%
Pacific Islander .3%
Caddo County, Oklahoma:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caddo_County,_Oklahoma#Demographics
As of the census² of 2000 ... [t]he racial makeup of the county was 65.55% White, 2.92% Black or African American, 24.28% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.70% from other races, and 4.36% from two or more races. 6.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
I live in a typical condo in..... Probably the same difference, to be the devils advocate. Sorry. The fact that it is probably close to a black neighborhood or black ghetto may not say all that much given that a lot of communities with so-called mixed income abodes get gentrified and eventually turned into full-blown affluent communities.Or mixed neighborhood become homogenous when whites move to better pastures when they tire of the diversity or increasing ethnicity of the neighborhood.Sorry.Again.To be the devil's advocate again, nonviolence and always allowing white men to keep their stolen wealth without a fight may not have always helped Native Americans all that much-considering some of their current obstacles. Maybe his point could have been said more tactfully but maybe the white men that probably pissed this man/community off could have probably acted less offensively, thereby lending possible credence to the statement.Also, living in a mixed neighborhood, teaching in mixed schools, and eating in ethnic restaurants doth not always necessarily make an antiracist. Well meaning jestures ,but not solid assurance. Depending on who(what context) does it living in a mixed neighborhood near the hood or in it can be seen as slumming if not the arrival of gentrification, teaching in mixed schools like the "missionary come to save the natives/minorities/immigrants" and eating in ethnic restaurants patronizing in some instances. Anyway, many Bible Belt areas probably have ethnic restaurants since various ethnic groups are in even small town America-many there escaping big city life. So much for Bible Belt generalizations. Not all white people live in gated communities, to be sure, but in comparison to other groups, they lead the pack-truth be told.
ReplyDeleteHonestly,
ABW