First Post (of the new year), First Nations....

Lexx had the following comment to the story of Lakota Secession:

Morgaine,

I would have suppported the Lakota withdrawl unilaterally had they went to the other Native American Nations and consulted them in effort to build a unified Indian Nation.
The article did not mention any such attempt, but rather the Lakota delivered the message to the US, then sought out Bolivia, Venzuela and other National governments to build support of this move.
The they embolden themselves by offering a Tax free residency in thier lands(extended to everyone). That in of itself negates the Idea of Lakota Lands independent of US Jurisdiction- in essence Mr. Means, and by extension the Lakota are trying to replicate a revamped version of the United States. If So, why secede then?
Im sure the honorable intention is there but it is ill concieved. With out the backing of the other Nations, and by this I mean Native American Nations, the measure will fall flat on its face. The US government will have to do absolutely nothing to make it go away. The Lakota have done it already.

I'm bumping it up because there's a point I don't want y'all to miss. There is no united "Indian Nation" and it wouldn't be something most Native peoples would want. Each Indian Nation sees themselves as an independent people - except for the Iroquois Confederacy and some similar arrangements, the tribes function autonomously.

The idea that they are making a "revamped United States" is backward. The United States is a revamped Iroquois Confederation. Most Native tribes were matrifocal democracies. Some of the democracies that functioned before the arrival of Europeans are still in place. The idea that that the USA is the first democratic country, or that our democracy is based on ancient Greek philosophy, is untrue. The Founders of the United States were largely influenced by their interactions with the First Nations, even as they were committing genocide against them. The only influence Europeans had on Indian government was the introduction of patriarchy, which was a giant step backward, and the sooner today's tribal governments realize that and get back to the old ways, the better. Patriarchy ruins everything it touches.

People have mixed opinions of Russell Means. Some people think he's a publicity hound, others think he's a freedom fighter. I think he's waging a political battle with the tools available to him. Whether he succeeds or not, I think he's doing the right thing. It's a step in the right direction, even if it takes several tries to make a go of it.

Impeach07 Campaign Launched

via David Swanson.
(Goddess bless him, he has been a tireless warrior in the fight against this criminal administration.)

The impeachment movement is uniting and expanding. We're joining with many other organizations to launch Impeach07, a coordinated series of actions aimed at impeaching Bush and Cheney through widespread public protest, creative dissent, media activism, education, and lobbying:
http://www.impeach07.org

Bush and Cheney have misled this nation into an aggressive war, spied in open violation of the law, and sanctioned the use of torture -- among numerous other offenses. Newsweek reported in October that a majority of Americans favor impeachment, and in January that 58% said they wished the Bush administration were over. "Only a great popular upheaval," Howard Zinn said recently, "can push both Republicans and Democrats into compliance with the national will."

We need to end one war and prevent another, and impeachment is the way we will do it.

On March 17, the anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, Impeach07 will mobilize for a
March on the Pentagon to demand peace and impeachment. Go here to get involved:
http://www.marchonpentagon.org

On March 18-20, Impeach07 will organize local events for peace and impeachment around the country:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/event

Impeach07 is also planning:

A "Make Hip Hop, Not War" bus tour promoting peace and impeachment on March 19 - April 21:
http://www.hiphopcaucus.org

A boycott of major corporations that are profiting from the Bush administration's policies, making a killing off of killing, on April 15- 22:
http://www.wearenotbuyingit.org

And a nationwide day of protest:
Impeachment Day, April 28, 2007:http://www.a28.org

Initial participating organizations represent hundreds of thousands of antiwar, military family, peace, youth and women activists and lawyers. They include: After Downing Street, Backbone Campaign, Center for Constitutional Rights, Citizens Impeachment Commission, CODE PINK Women for Peace, Constitution Summer, Consumers for Peace, Democrats.com, Democracy Rising, Gold Star Families for Peace, Green Party of the United States, Hip Hop Caucus, Impeach the President, ImpeachBush.org, Military Free Zone, National Lawyers Guild, Patriotic Response to Renegade Government, Progressive Democrats of America, Independent Progressive Politics Network, Velvet Revolution, and World Can't Wait: Drive Out the Bush Regime.

Organizations that want to join should write to jacob@a28.org