re: #652 albusteve

I live with Native Americans…how much of your life did you live in poverty on govt handouts…do you know your native language?…do you practice ancient ritual to keep your spirit alive for the next generation?…I’m not impressed with your injun firewater bullshit

Actually, until I left and joined the military, yeah I lived in poverty. I hunted, fished, and grew food from the time I was able. Yeah, I know what it’s like to depend on the government for handouts, medical care, etc… And I fought my way out of it. I suppose I could have stayed where I was and just said “Fuck it” and kept drinking my way into a grave, having no sense of hope for a future, watching relatives die, go to prison, get killed by the Surrete, etc… I speak my language, I know the stories, I know the songs, I know the spiritual beliefs - I mean, it’s not pueblo, but I assure you it’s still quite real.

The pueblos, for all their troubles, were relatively lucky - for whatever problems they have and continue to have, they at least have managed to maintain some sense of normalcy in their every day life - it hasn’t changed much since contact. Now, you go to someplace like Ahkweshsne, well, it’s one fucked up place. Random shootings, factionalism, violence, drugs, smuggling, constant harrassment by the canadian AND american police… our homeland split between two countries etc…

I love the southwest. It’s really nice. It ain’t like where I’m from, or Pine Ridge, or any other rez…