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Archiver > Melungeon > 2001-02 > 0981425897


From: "Elizabeth G. Brett" <>
Subject: RE: [Melungeon] European views on Indians
Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 21:18:17 -0500


Lindsey,

Oh my..Watch it? I live the news every day in the big city. :) I spent
over 40 years living in and a few less working as an investigative
journalist in The Big Cancer...The Murder Capitol of the US...whatever you
want to call it.

Gangs, Crack, and gun running stretch to every corner of America. But
"Back 40s" of reservations are no more racist or crime-ridden than anywhere
else. Even small towns have choir boys shooting up the elementary schools
lately...or have you missed all that? You could even fall into a Viet-cong
style man trap in some of our National Parks...if you stumble upon
someone's marijuana field. Heard the N* word more at Reagan-era Black-tie
PAC parties than any other time in my entire life. Okay..Rap would be a
close second.

I have spent enough time in New York and Washington and outside the States
in the absolute worst sections of town to be fully familiar with crime.
Even lived in a crack neighborhood for a while. Streets get rocking on the
weekends with cars parked three deep blasting "music" and barking pit bulls
while the cops hang in a doughnut shop miles away. Yup...the Krips and
Bloods colors are showing up on even remote reservations...but they are
also showing up in towns in Kentucky and Tennessee too. Black Panthers and
Hell's Angels ...they are just about history book material ...on to the
street the "climate" has changed a bit. The Angels are way old hat, and the
NEW Black Panthers are not at all like the old ones. Lots of Asian Tongs
and Jamaican gangs out there though...along with gangs from every cultural
heritage.

<< Violence is among all people everywhere>>> That is the point...:)

The old story that "them Injuns is gonna chase all the white people off the
Rez" at gunpoint is absolutely ludicrous and very untrue. You run just as
much chance of getting shot sitting in your Lazy Boy. Statistics make
clear that, as a woman, you are most likely to be killed by a man who is
related to you. (NOT referring to your husband personally!)

Hate to tell you...but there are Indigenous people living on reservations
who do not own guns (not that there is anything wrong with owning one), do
not act violently and are happy, well-balanced and very gracious, loving
and warm people. We have had complete strangers feed us and house us for
long periods of time.

The key to making friends anywhere on this Earth is to be respectful,
helpful and friendly. One can find common ground and friendship anywhere
with anyone ...even without a shared language or culture.

Elizabeth


-----Original Message-----
From:Mike & Lindsey Matherne [SMTP:]
Sent:Monday, February 05, 2001 8:34 PM
To:Elizabeth G. Brett
Cc:
Subject:Re: [Melungeon] European views on Indians

Elizabeth,

Sorry. I'm not perpetuating anything. This is history. Modern history.
It goes with the Indian law enforcement officers who brutalized and shot
their own people, Black on Black crime, White on White crime, White on
Black and any other color they can find ....... Don't you watch the
news? While most Blacks and Indians as well feel that the peaceful way
is the way to make things right, there are always some who feel that
until the problem is solved, they will not have gone far enough, no
matter what it takes. A lot of the Elders distanced themselves, and
thereby got younger people to distance themselves from AIM because it
was too militant for them. The Black Panthers were a bit militant, too.
And let's not forget the Hell's Angels. Come on, enter the real world.
Violence is among all people everywhere.

And Two Waters, my friends were on VACATION. Taking a road trip to visit
relatives who had moved away when they were kids and THEY GOT LOST.
Very simple. Happens to me a lot. My own ancestors lived in the Neutral
Strip between Nocogdoches and Natchitoches. If you went in and got
caught after dark, you didn't come out. I don't make excuses for them.
It was a hard place in a hard time. They either survived or the didn't.
At least they were tough. Even when the White men ran down ggUncle Beni
with dogs and crippled him, he was still considered the best horseman in
North Louisiana.

Lindsey

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