Russell Means and the Lakota Freedm Delegation
Alex welcomes Russell Means of the Lakota Freedom Delegation and monthly guest Mike Rivero, GCN radio host and publisher of the WhatReallyHappened.com website.
The L.A. Times has described him as the most famous American Indian since Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. Russell Means is a natural leader. His fearless dedication and indestructible sense of pride are qualities admired by nations worldwide. His vision is for indigenous people to be free... Free to be human, free to travel, free to stop, free to trade where they choose, free to choose their own teachers ~ free to follow the religion of their fathers, free to talk, think and act for themselves and then they will obey every law or submit to the penalty. The most difficult lesson of all is to respect your relatives' visions.
Mitaku Oyasin...
(We are all related)
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To Whom It May Concern:
On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, I sat transfixed before the television watching the horror of the world trade center with many emotions running through my heart. On that day I said many prayers for the victims, families and the rescuers.
Since that painful day, I have read countless articles and editorials depicting the terror in newspapers from New York City, Los Angeles, Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM. I have a feeling of sadness at the war mongering that has become the norm for patriarchal societies throughout history, up to and including today.
The remainder of that intolerable week, I tried to get through to New York City and the immediate area to find out how my friends and relatives were. Finally, on Friday and Saturday, I began getting messages through to my friends. On Sunday, September 16, my friend Rainer Greeven, Esq. called to assure me that he, his family and immediate friends were safe. However, within his own circle of friends and business associates he had been deeply affected. In fact, he told me he didn't know anyone in NYC that wasn¹t affected by tragedy. During the course of our conversation, he asked me what I thought our response, as a nation should be. I shared with him the following: "George W. Bush has the opportunity to become the greatest President this country has ever produced and to change the course of history. All he has to do is turn the other cheek and reach out to every country and to all peoples in the world." Mr. Greeven was taken aback and his response was, "We have to go after the terro
rists wherever they are." I then responded Yes, go after the perpetrators of this holocaust and do what justice demands. Then, Mr. Bush could restart the Peace Corps or any other type of corps he would like to designate. They would go to countries around the world and monitor and assure our foreign aid not only goes to governments but deserving communities and organizations. This would reverse the U.S. policies of granting foreign aide to prop up dictatorships who agree to be our ally. Thus, within four to five years there would not be a country in the world that would allow anti-U.S. terrorists to find haven in their countries.
Unfortunately, Bush has chosen the typical male response of revenge and vengeance, so now we are on the same course as the Israelis, where state violence engenders individual violence and vice versa. While Mr. Bush has told the Palestinians and the Israelis to end their cycle of violence, he and all the "bipartisan" leaders of this country are now in danger of enlarging the very same cycle of violence.
The military-industrial complex and their dupes in Washington D.C. have now found the perfect never ending war, a war against the unknown. This will be worse than the drug war. In order for this war against the unknown to continue forever, sporadic terrorist acts of violence will have to take place within America. The landscape of America will become littered with armed forces guarding every airport, TV station, bank, refinery, utility company, communication company, water plant, etc. etc. etc. This is not a doomsday scenario; this is logic based upon the growth and power of the federal government. It is historical fact.
Soon Americans will not be able to travel anywhere in the world without great fear for themselves and for their families.
The first duty of a true patriot is to question authority; the first responsibility of a patriot is to be a good neighbor. I have heard the refrain "this is a wake up call for America" from many Americans from all over this country, so I ask those good Americans, who is responsible for putting us in harm's way? It is the policies of our past and present leadership of the United States of America.
We can no longer be a country in denial and continue to live in the fantasyland of America, right or wrong. We must accept the fact our military continues to kill men, women and children and are now planning to do it again.
Americans,what are you going to do?
Russell Means
September 30, 2001
Russell Means is an actor, author, artist and activist, former leader of the American Indian Movement, which engaged in armed struggle against the US government and the communists of Nicaragua
From: "Jim Jones" <>
Lakota Freedom Delegation
Russell Means web site: www.russellmeans.com
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Lakota Freedom Delegation