Fall is in the air. I can smell the crispness and sense the change in the wind. Fall is beautiful! I love the color; the change in the leaves as they fall off the trees is mesmerizing. I have fond childhood memories of raking leaves into piles and jumping into them. Reminders of riding bikes in the rain, cups of hot chocolate or cider and snuggling with Dad in front of the fire place. Fall is also the time for thanksgiving; the time to count our many blessings and to spend time with family or friends.
As, we are getting ready to eat turkey, watch football and give thanks, I am reminded of some of the social injustices that we have been faced with this year and the fights for equality that we continue to fight for. Today was the day that a Grand Jury was to decide to indict a cop who shot an unarmed 18 year old kid in St. Louis. This is an age old controversy. The Cop, Darren Wilson was white and the victim, Michael Brown was African American, and innocent. The only crime he committed was being at the wrong place at the wrong time and today no justice was given to his family. Today, his family and the world saw a white cop walk out of the courtroom without a slap on his wrist. He was able to walk out and continue his life but what would have happened if the tables were turned? What would that 60 panel jury have decided in that instance? My heart goes out to the family and friends of this young man. My family goes out to all of those that are suffering in the community and all over the United States for the reality of the injustice that is our legal system.
Speaking of the injustice of our legal system. There has been a fight for years over using Native Americans as mascots. Not only are schools using the integrity of native peoples for their amusement and entertainment but so are professional football, baseball and hockey teams. For centuries Native American customs, traditions, religion and ways of life have been a source of jest and ridicule within American society. This is what they do to our mascots. There is no honor or respect in the names and mannerisms that are used to represent our tribes. For example, the Florida State Seminoles has a mascot that runs out with a sacred headdress and gets the crowd to do a tomahawk chop. The football team in Washington uses a racial slur as their team name, the Washington Redskins. This year, Amanda Blackhorse, a Navajo woman, took on the Washington Redskins owner and their name. She sued their trademark on the name and the Trademark and Appeal board ruled that the team’s name cannot be protected because it disparages Native Americans and federal law bans the trade marking of offensive language. Instead of appealing this, the owner of the Redskins is suing those that sued them and this is going to be a full fledged trial.
These are just two cases of social injustice that are going on in our country today. Sometimes when you hear these things, you wonder if it is ever going to get better. Why are things like this still going on in 2014? Will we ever stop fighting? The only people that can make a change is us. Modern day warriors like Amanda Blackhorse, help renew our faith in our communities and our members to work together to make a change, no matter how long it takes. These are the values that we need to instill into our children. The values to stand up for ourselves in the face of oppression, injustice and bullying. It is important to take a stand when it comes to what we believe in and when we feel that something is not right.
So, this Thanksgiving, even though I am here thinking about all of the ways that we, as a country and a community, need to move forward, that there are a lot of things to be thankful for. I am thankful for those modern day warriors who continue to fight for the rights or their community and tribal members, who help fight for human rights; not just for citizens. I am thankful for my community and the rich heritage that they honored me with. I am thankful that I have a voice and the knowledge to help fight for what I believe, even in the face of adversity. Lastly, I am thankful for the compassion and caring of my family and friends. I am thankful that we are able to get together this holiday and celebrate the time that we have together.
As, we are getting ready to eat turkey, watch football and give thanks, I am reminded of some of the social injustices that we have been faced with this year and the fights for equality that we continue to fight for. Today was the day that a Grand Jury was to decide to indict a cop who shot an unarmed 18 year old kid in St. Louis. This is an age old controversy. The Cop, Darren Wilson was white and the victim, Michael Brown was African American, and innocent. The only crime he committed was being at the wrong place at the wrong time and today no justice was given to his family. Today, his family and the world saw a white cop walk out of the courtroom without a slap on his wrist. He was able to walk out and continue his life but what would have happened if the tables were turned? What would that 60 panel jury have decided in that instance? My heart goes out to the family and friends of this young man. My family goes out to all of those that are suffering in the community and all over the United States for the reality of the injustice that is our legal system.
Speaking of the injustice of our legal system. There has been a fight for years over using Native Americans as mascots. Not only are schools using the integrity of native peoples for their amusement and entertainment but so are professional football, baseball and hockey teams. For centuries Native American customs, traditions, religion and ways of life have been a source of jest and ridicule within American society. This is what they do to our mascots. There is no honor or respect in the names and mannerisms that are used to represent our tribes. For example, the Florida State Seminoles has a mascot that runs out with a sacred headdress and gets the crowd to do a tomahawk chop. The football team in Washington uses a racial slur as their team name, the Washington Redskins. This year, Amanda Blackhorse, a Navajo woman, took on the Washington Redskins owner and their name. She sued their trademark on the name and the Trademark and Appeal board ruled that the team’s name cannot be protected because it disparages Native Americans and federal law bans the trade marking of offensive language. Instead of appealing this, the owner of the Redskins is suing those that sued them and this is going to be a full fledged trial.
These are just two cases of social injustice that are going on in our country today. Sometimes when you hear these things, you wonder if it is ever going to get better. Why are things like this still going on in 2014? Will we ever stop fighting? The only people that can make a change is us. Modern day warriors like Amanda Blackhorse, help renew our faith in our communities and our members to work together to make a change, no matter how long it takes. These are the values that we need to instill into our children. The values to stand up for ourselves in the face of oppression, injustice and bullying. It is important to take a stand when it comes to what we believe in and when we feel that something is not right.
So, this Thanksgiving, even though I am here thinking about all of the ways that we, as a country and a community, need to move forward, that there are a lot of things to be thankful for. I am thankful for those modern day warriors who continue to fight for the rights or their community and tribal members, who help fight for human rights; not just for citizens. I am thankful for my community and the rich heritage that they honored me with. I am thankful that I have a voice and the knowledge to help fight for what I believe, even in the face of adversity. Lastly, I am thankful for the compassion and caring of my family and friends. I am thankful that we are able to get together this holiday and celebrate the time that we have together.