Red Lake Tragedy: Bush Isn't a Racist, is He?

[Maeve_Mari]

"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."

In Red Lake, Minnesota in the community that had that awful school shooting this week, the residents, mostly Native Americans, are angry and hurt that President Bush has offered no comment, no condolences, no saddness for the ten citizens who were murdered, yet is seen doing everything in his power to help a persistently vegetative woman who has more lawyers and right-to-life money and support than she will ever even realize or need.

The community there thinks they are being snubbed because they are not white! As the President of the United States, I think being perceived as a racist is a pretty tough label to have to disprove!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7292684/

[esskreemr]

He broke off his vacation to sign whatever legislation reached him on the Schiavo case.

Probably had to interrupt his golf game, or maybe nap.

[Moses]

It's probably more an issue of political priority than anything else. Bush has irked some of the religious community by not making good on his federal aid to religious charities promise, and, like the rest of the Republican tide, he's wooing the Evangelicals by involving himself in the Shiavo case. Conservative religious votes represent more, politically, to Bush than Native Americans.

Yes, the fact that the shootings occured on an Indian reservation might have something to do with the fact Bush has not commented, but I and most of the American public don't believe he's a racist. Many of his consitutuents and political partners may be (are), but not the President himself.

I'm a bit sad about throwing out the "racist" tag so soon. Racism is a vile disease in this country, and indiscriminate use of the word "racist" de-sensitizes the public to its impact. Just because Bush is a self-interested politician doesn't mean he's a racist.

-Da Mose

[Larrison]

Is Bush a racist? I don't know.. but you know, there were 14 people killed in Texas in a recent refinery accident. Texas!! You know that's where he lives..

How come he hasn't flown immediately from Washington DC back to Texas to comfort the families of the killed workers and comfort the injured. Where is he?

Is he racist because he's ignoring the Texans? Is it because he doesn't like their accents or the nasty Chili they eat? I bet it's because he's still mad they were on the losing side of the Civil war back in 1865! He's a racist because of that isn't he? !!!!

/satrical mode off...

I think it's a bit presumptious that just because someone important doesn't show up for a local tragedy, to call them racist...

[Maeve_Mari]

BTW - before it gets too heated - the question of whether Bush is a racists was posed by the Native Americans in Red Lake... Not my assumption or accusation.

[Inquartata]

Well, from the story I get numerous complaints from politically-active persons like AIM guys and congressmen, but only one from a common person...

[jeff]

FWIW, I don't think it's racism. The Schiavo case touches social conservatives' hot buttons related to right to die, abortion, etc - the "culture of life" stuff - which doesn't really intersect with the "dangerous loony gets ahold of a gun and kills people" type of story.

Interesting on NPR today: they interviewed several religious types, one Catholic, the other evangelical. The former was consistent about being anti "killing people in any form": euthanasia, abortion, capital punishment. The evangelical gave the last part a pass, with the explanation that (I paraphrase as closely to original wording as I can) "we as individuals have a responsibility to protect life, while government has the right and responsibility to punish and show anger to maintain order". Huh? Who makes up the government? Martians? Sounds like a contradiction to encourage the government to do for us collectively what we're forbidden to do individually.

[Schiavona]

Originally Posted by jeff

Interesting on NPR today: they interviewed several religious types, one Catholic, the other evangelical. The former was consistent about being anti "killing people in any form": euthanasia, abortion, capital punishment. The evangelical gave the last part a pass, with the explanation that (I paraphrase as closely to original wording as I can) "we as individuals have a responsibility to protect life, while government has the right and responsibility to punish and show anger to maintain order". Huh? Who makes up the government? Martians? Sounds like a contradiction to encourage the government to do for us collectively what we're forbidden to do individually.

Sorry to threadjack, but I wanted to comment about the above. The Catholic Church's absolute stance that killing people in any form is wrong is the only reason I can stomach the anti-abortion material I constantly recieve from them (myself being Catholic).

[jeff]

I don't mind the threadjack, and i hope our dear MM doesn't either - I think it's all related stuff. Even though I strongly disagree with the Catholic church on abortion and "end of life issues" (not to mention birth control) I have to respect logical consistency, which I think an indication of integrity.

[Maeve_Mari]

Nope, Threadjack is my middle name! Digress away.

On the Catholic Church comments: I've been reading from interviews with priests that say the evangelican right is distorting the Catholic belief for the purposes of attaching it to the Schiavo case. Doctrine states that while life is in fact precious, it is not intended to include the use of "extrodinary means' for the preservation of life.

Here's two Catholic opinions on the matter:

''For Christians, it is a blasphemy to keep people alive as if you were doing them a favor, to keep people alive in that condition as if it benefits them. I know it is wrapped up in the pro-life, antiabortion activity, and while I am antiabortion, I also know there is eternal life and that we should not confuse or equate the antiabortion effort with the notion of withdrawing life support from dying people. Life is terminal. Life by definition is going to have an end." - Fr. Kevin O'Rourke (Loyola University)

and this one,

"So you’re saying providing Schiavo with food and water is not morally obligatory?
For 400 years the Roman Catholic moral tradition has said that one is not obliged to use disproportionately burdensome measures to sustain life.

And in this case, you view this as disproportionately burdensome?
Fifteen years of maintaining a woman [on a feeding tube] I’d say is disproportionately burdensome, yes." - Rev. John J. Paris, a bioethics professor (Boston College)

[PeterGustafsson]

Hi!

Originally Posted by Moses

I'm a bit sad about throwing out the "racist" tag so soon. Racism is a vile disease in this country, and indiscriminate use of the word "racist" de-sensitizes the public to its impact. Just because Bush is a self-interested politician doesn't mean he's a racist.

-Da Mose

I agree - nasty tags get thrown about far too often, and soon.

That said, I (who rooted for Kerry) would like to point of that Bush appointed Powell, and then C. Rice. I think that the burden of proof is on those who claim him to be racist, rather than the other way around.


Peter Gustafsson

[Svidrigailov]

Maybe bush's silence on this topic has more to do with his reluctance to stir the anti gun lobby that usually has a few things to say after a shooting like this...

[great bowyer]

i feel that the u.s. goverment is racist as a whole, especially towards the native americans.

[Red #40]

Originally Posted by Svidrigailov

Maybe bush's silence on this topic has more to do with his reluctance to stir the anti gun lobby that usually has a few things to say after a shooting like this...

I think thats pretty close to the truth, more likely it has to do with not offending the Pro-gun lobby. He has already seen a drop in his aproval rating over the Terri Schiavo stunt, He and the republicans probably can't afford to tick off the NRA too.

[Moonitic]

Some people would do anything to discredit Bush. "He prefers mustard over ketchup? Hang him!" Get a life, people. Come on! You don't like him. Fine. He screws up. Fine. No one's perfect, not even the president. No matter who the president is, we are all responsible for our own lives, our own fortunes. It's about time we stopped looking for scapegoats. Harping about someone all the time is NOT HEALTHY. Go out & fence out those rotten feelings, or take up knitting.

And yes, the "racist card" is thrown around far too quickly & far too easily. It's a shame, though, because those who are truly being discriminated against will be ignored if this keeps up.

Mob mentalities are never good.

[Svidrigailov]

Maybe I'll have whole scarf by next winter.

I guess there are people who would do anything to discredit bush, but I highly doubt they are better at it than bush himself. Perhaps he is no more of a hypocrite than his predecessors (although the buildup to the iraqui war was as cynical as anything I have seen in US Politcs since reagan) but he is crassly open about his deceptions in ways that I feel perturb the more urbane among us.

[Moonitic]

Originally Posted by Svidrigailov

Maybe I'll have whole scarf by next winter.

I guess there are people who would do anything to discredit bush, but I highly doubt they are better at it than bush himself. Perhaps he is no more of a hypocrite than his predecessors (although the buildup to the iraqui war was as cynical as anything I have seen in US Politcs since reagan) but he is crassly open about his deceptions in ways that I feel perturb the more urbane among us.

People tick me off every day. The government in & of itself ticks me off. But guess what? I still have a life that I must lead, idiots among us or not. At some point you just have to step away.

[howtobrew]

My question is:
"Why should Red Lake EXPECT the President to call with condolences??"

Tragedy happens everyday. There are grievous shootings nearly every day (though certainly not of this magnitude). Does the President of the US make a point of calling everyone else, and slighted Red Lake? I doubt it....

I am not questioning the tragedy, only why the Tribal Leaders expected a call from the President... As much as I dislike Bush as President, I don't see any obligation for him to get involved.

[Red #40]

Originally Posted by howtobrew

My question is:
"Why should Red Lake EXPECT the President to call with condolences??"

Tragedy happens everyday. There are grievous shootings nearly every day (though certainly not of this magnitude). Does the President of the US make a point of calling everyone else, and slighted Red Lake? I doubt it....

I am not questioning the tragedy, only why the Tribal Leaders expected a call from the President... As much as I dislike Bush as President, I don't see any obligation for him to get involved.

Well considering that Clinton called the people of columbine, and Bush is making such a big deal over the Terri Schiavo thing, even interrupted his vacation, I don't think their expectation is unwarrented. Its not uncommon for U.S. presidents to make public statements when there is a signifigant loss of life. It should be noted that the president took several days to respond to the Tsunami tragedy because he was on vacation.

[paperclip]

The indian thing has gotten me pretty upset. I grew up in a neighborhood where we all knew someone of native american blood. I also remember, vaguely, a small uprising that we had in the early 1970's which everyone supported, but never got off the ground, it was horrible. We don't want to see native american indian people living on 'reservations' it's horrible. We do have some people somewhere in my family of native american heritage; and I spoke recently with a native american lady who' husband was very waspy, what did she think of the idea of native soil/transitioning back and so forth; and she felt that with all the intermarriages by now she didn't really think it was important. But, I feel there are certain places in America that are clearly Native American and should go back to those people. I also noticed that someone was killing American Bald Eagles; which is sacred to the Native American people; so, I wish they'd stop.