LETTERS TO THE EDITOR/TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
To the editor:
I was inspired to write this
references to some people being in
a “Hate Dee Party,” I am pretty sure
letter by items in the last newsletter.
I agree with Mr. Siniscal’s letter that
the joke was just an attempt to
reminded us, “If we are to be self-
governing, we as tribal members
the embarrassing way they have
been acting.
have the responsibility to take an
Can anyone honestly look at
active part in our government.” I
the last U.S. election and advocate
can’t say it any better!
a two-party system? It stifles debate
On a less positive note, I was
distressed by Clifford Case’s letter,
and restricts participation -
which said, “Politically, our whole
country is based on a two-party
system. And so is our tribe. Now,
that’s not a bad thing ...” That
statement (reiterated in Mr. Case’s
candidate's statement) is just
wrong, in important ways. Neither
the United States nor the tribe is
“based on” a two-party system.
Both are based on their respective
constitutions. Read them! Neither
one makes any mention of a two-
party system. The Republicans and
Democrats didn’t even exist
when
the
United
States
Constitution was written.
There’s no two-party system
in this tribe. Did you vote in a tribal
shame “party members” out of
remember, at the first debate, they
wouldn’t even let Ralph Nader sit
in the audience. I think it’s a lot
better the way we do it. If you feel
like you should run, you run.
Bev Youngman (second from left, back row) with the PSU group and
young women at the home for indigenous young women, who are from
rural areas and live at the home in Oaxaca while attending school.
Everyone gets to put their statement
in the newspaper and pamphlet,
everyone gets to participate in the
Candidates Fair.
Youngman Makes Educational
Visit to Mexico
Make sure you know the
candidate’s positions - and how
they voted on those issues in the
past! These aren’t rich folks or
bigwigs who don’t have time for the
likes of you - they are your relatives
and friends. Talk to people you
admire, see who they support.
Think long and hard about each
candidate and decide who has the
primary? Did you meet with others
to nominate your candidates and
hammer out “planks” in a
“platform” that the candidates must
uphold? I know I didn’t. While it is
true that there have been joking
brains and the heart to do the best
job. Then vote your conscience, not
some “party line.” We have a chance
to do things better than the United
States does. I sure am glad to be a
Siletz Tribal member!
Cathem E. Tufts
Wanda, con’t from page 4
Speaking of lawyers, how much
Beverly Youngman, tribal programs manager and graduate student
at Portland State University’s Mark O. Hatfield School of Government,
spent two and one-half weeks in Oaxaca, Mexico, in December with a
group of other graduate students, two professors, and a coordinator.
As experiential education, the students conducted field research and
study of non-profit organizations, completed an intensive Spanish-language
course, and lived with local families.
The organizations included CORAL for hearing-impaired children,
a home for the aged, Frente AIDS outreach and education, a school for
indigenous girls, two human rights organizations, a food bank, and Oaxaca
Street Children. Youngman said the home for the aged and the food bank
were most heart wrenching.
“The popular belief that people cared for their elderly is no longer
true,” she stated, “But the home did the best they could with a small
budget and donations.”
was spent by the Council that was
over the Internet, etc., that the
recalled? Have never heard a figure
on that.
Council was taking money illegally
I hope we can all come
before bringing it up through the
together for the betterment of the
proper channels and are still
tribe. For those who think another
pointing fingers even though Dee
tribe is better and you can get more,
has written several articles about
then maybe that is where you would
be more satisfied.
this. If they sue Chinook Winds,
they will have to every other casino.
Wanda Melton
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