Saturday, September 1, 2007

Equal Under the Law

"Equality under the law" has been on my mind since a couple Thursdays ago when I heard Governor and DNC Chairman Howard Dean give a brilliant keynote address to tribal leaders, tribal members and Campaign Camp attendees. His emphasis on that simple phrase has me thinking of the power and vision of the founders of this nation, the power and vision to invoke the law as the guarantor and protector of each individual's right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." That is a basic tenet of the Democratic Party - that every citizen of this country is equal under the law, a law that has evolved to include civil rights for African Americans, Native Americans and other ethnic minorities, voting rights for women, the right for couples of different races to marry, and slowly we will, as a society, come to accept that gay and lesbian citizens have the right to marry. This evolution of our system of laws serves as a testament to to the agility and adaptability of the foundation laid in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The tripartite system of government further ensures that the country will be able to grow and change to include a more complete and fuller union of all people who live in this land. The system of checks and balances that the founders set in motion operates to guarantee that our laws will be able to evolve to become more inclusive. That is so long as one branch of the government doesn't attempt to subvert the laws that in theory apply across the boards to all people. The fact that the current administration has usurped power and thumbed it's nose at the law doesn't diminish the value of the laws that have been thwarted. Rather it points up an important difference between the Republicans who have held the executive branch since it's dubious election "victory" back in 2000 and the Democratic Party whose record of upholding the rights of all Americans is far superior to the GOP. In short, the Democratic Party believes completely in "equality under the law," whereas the Republican Party believes that some citizens are more equal than others.

Numerous examples illustrate the significant differences between the Democratic Party and the GOP. For instance, the president's commutation of I "Scooter" Libby provides a blatant example of the current administration's belief that it and its members are above the law. This has been a hallmark of the current administration - from the vice president's confusing and highly suspect claim that he is neither fish nor fowl, that he answers to no subpoena, can claim executive privilege whenever it suits him, and again thumbs his nose at any suggestion that he be held accountable for any of his actions taken in our name, with our money, and on our behalf. There is also the obscenity that the poor of this country are bearing a disproportionally high burden in an illegal and immoral war in Iraq that is making Cheney and his cronies wealthier, while the Bush administration's policies add insult to injury by perpetuating the farce that has become the centerpiece of America's failed foreign policy/folly.

"Equal under the law" is not just a catch phrase, rather it is a fundamental precept of our country. The Bush administration has worked with much vigor to undermine this elemental principle in our nation. From firing Federal Attorneys who refused to prosecute dubious cases of "voter fraud" while turning a blind eye to true voter intimidation tactics that were undertaken to keep minority voters from voting or to make sure that even if they managed to vote that their votes would not be counted. The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice has languished over the last seven years while good career attorneys left the DoJ in droves, because of the politicization of the Department. See Bush Justice is a National Disgrace, by John S. Koppel, that appeared in the Denver Post on July 5, 2007.

These are reasons why I am a proud member of the Democratic Party. I am a true yellow-dog Democrat. I am ready and willing to support whoever earns the nomination from the Democratic Party in Denver next August. I will always work my tail off to fight for the rights of each and every human being on this planet to live in a society that is free and where justice ensures that a modicum of basic decency is afforded to every person, just because he/she is alive and therefore deserves respect as a fellow human being. Viva democracy. Long live the Democratic Party!

Here's an interesting essay on liberalism by Todd Gitlin that appeared in the Chronicle of Higher Education: The New Liberal Agenda

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Reflections on an Incredible Week

Laguna Drum Group with Gov. Dean and Morongo Chair Martin (background)

Last night my trip officially ended as I drove into the driveway at my house in Tulsa, OK. Today I am back at work and tonight is my late night on the reference desk. I had many road hours through which to reflect on the past week and there are definitely a few memories that will stick in my mind for many years to come. One memory that I will take with me is hearing the stump speech given by Diane Benson, a Tlingit/Haida woman from Alaska. I must admit I hadn't expected much from her, as she appeared to be a rather reserved, even shy woman, but was I wrong about her! She stood up and opened her speech by telling the story of a young man who was turned away from an emergency room because he didn't have health insurance and his thousand dollar wound became a hundred thousand dollar disability. She went on to talk about the many months she spent at Walter Reed Hospital helping her son convalesce from injuries he suffered in Iraq. She mentioned that she had driven a tractor-trailer truck along the Alaskan pipeline and had been a Teamster (Local 959), she also mentioned that she had financed her son's college education by driving a cement mixer. She ended her speech by revealing that her only son lost both of his legs in Iraq and that the time she spent with him while he began his recovery and the time she spent talking with other wounded veterans inspired her to run for Alaska's only Congressional seat and bring a voice for peace to the nation's capital. I am hoping that Diane Benson will become one of the first two Native women to serve in the U.S. Congress.


Shirley Rivas & Diane Benson


Robert Holden, Mary Kim Titla & Francis Harjo

The other woman for whom I am pulling is Mary Kim Titla (San Carlos Apache). I had a glowing preview of Mary Kim after hearing many positive things about her, as her campaign manager, Patsy Cohoe (San Carlos Apache), was my roommate at Campaign Camp and she sang Mary Kim's praises every night as we were drifting off to sleep. I met Mary Kim on Wednesday morning when I picked her up at Ontario airport (along with Scott Bighorse and Don Barlow). Because we'd both missed lunch we decided to eat together at the coffee shop at the casino, and I enjoyed the opportunity to get to know Mary Kim a little bit better. She is a very intelligent and attractive woman who has a real passion for helping youth and families. She has three sons and has mentored many Native youth. She founded Native Youth Magazine, an exclusively online magazine for Native young people. Mary Kim is running for the seat currently held by the recently indicted Arizona Congressman Rick Renzi, who has announced that he will not seek re-election.


Hone Harawira (Maori) Performs the "Haka"

Finally, a memory that will stay in my mind for years to come is from the final night of Campaign Camp, after all of the major American politicians had moved on to the next fundraiser, the keynote speaker was a campaign camp attendee, named Hone Harawira (Maori) Member, New Zealand Parliament. After his very interesting and entertaining talk he treated the audience to a "Haka." He stood up on the stage and called several men from the crowd to join him and instructed them on the stance that they should take, and then he lit into a fierce and initimiadating chant that involved some chest beating and rather loud vocalizing. An impressive sight it was and a fitting final evening in an amazing week.

Here are a few stories that ran during the week that focused on INDN's List and Prez on the Rez (thanks to Rebekah Baker, Associate Producer of the SMS, for sending these along):

USA Today, August 22, 2007

San Bernadino Sun, August 23, 2007

San Bernadino Sun, August 24, 2007

Native American Times, August 24, 2007

Sioux Fall Argus Leader, August 29, 2007