By ROBERT JUMPER
Tutiyi (Snowbird) and Clyde, N.C.
It is amazing how quickly and easily we (yes, I am lumping humanity together; my apologies if you are offended) move to a mentality of suppressing free speech when we fear the message/messenger or disagree with it or them. I am not talking about vulgar or hateful speech; just an opposing viewpoint.
The One Feather does dozens of survey questions each year, along with an open forum for the community to exercise their free-speech privilege, as given in tribal law, to voice their opinions about issues that affect the tribal community. We also, as much as possible, open social media posts for the community and readership to comment on their opinions, well, on whatever the One Feather posts. Those opportunities are there to provide a level platform for those wishing to share their thoughts on any subject of their day and to provide a take on issues that impact all our days.
Over the years, I have learned to take feedback from commenters with a grain of salt. And I know many of you have done so as well. It is one thing to intelligently, politely, and respectfully disagree with someone’s opinion. But for some, that is just not good enough. Some readers resort to name-calling, berating, insulting, degrading, threatening, and racism.
The One Feather is a tribal media outlet. It is specifically the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ media outlet. Our duty is first to the tribal community, on and off the Qualla Boundary, the members of our tribe. We do encourage those who are not members of our tribe to contribute their thoughts and content to the One Feather. While the past has taught us that we have reason to be wary of those outside the tribal family, we also have gained great benefit from the many people not of our tribe who have dedicated time, intellectual and material resources, and their love to the tribe. Some have given so much of themselves to our community that they’ve been bestowed the title of honorary member by our tribal government. There are some folks not of our blood who give mind, body, and soul to the betterment of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Whether we agree with opinions or not, or with the person sharing those opinions, all may contain something that we may use to better our day-to-day lives. Just like human blood, human brains and hearts all look and pretty much function the same, even though each may be fed by facts and come up with differing conclusions.
Many media outlets have become gossip mills with agendas set by owners and editors. To be fair, it is not altogether their fault. It is ours to a large extent. We have become so used to feeling like we must be entertained in everything we consume that we coax media outlets into “sprucing up” the news, sometimes to the extreme of embellishment. We, as a readership, are so conditioned to be focused on sensationalism that our buying habits lean toward publications with flashy content and conspiracy theories. Like birds, we gravitate to shiny things.
Because of this mentality, the good, happy, but mundane stories get little play and the big, ugly, tragic stories make front-page, headline news. It is much more difficult for a reporter or editor to sell their product with a children’s pool party than with a huge political scandal. Not only is this sad commentary on the state of journalism, but on society itself.
It has long been my practice to gather as many different media outlet resources as possible. Particularly in the age of social media, I feel I must test every piece of information that comes my way, or at least those I have an interest in. I know from experience that my Facebook friend and his favorite source for information are likely just as biased as some of the mainstream media has become, or more so. So, in the absence of first-hand knowledge, we must do our own research.
When governments and entities withhold information “for your own good”, it is my opinion that we, individually, should press for answers. Not because we think someone is doing bad things, but because we can’t know if someone is doing bad things if we aren’t allowed to see. Outside the Qualla Boundary, governments have “sunshine laws”. Without those, it sets the environment for public and media conjecture. And conjecture, as a community, we will.
One of the side effects of having free speech is that some of that speech is true, some of it is partially true, and some of it is fabrication. And in a world where we want information in seconds that used to take days to retrieve and organize into an understandable and accurate article, we tend to believe Uncle Joe’s Traveling News Media Dog and Pony Show rather than tried-and-true, authentic reporting, based on whether the information fits our particular narrative, we as consumers of information must be more diligent than ever before as we seek what to believe.
Here is a fundamental difference between a right and a privilege. A privilege is something that someone else allows you to do or have. A right is something that you do or have that no one can take away. You own it. Such is opinion. It is not something the government, the media, or your best bud can take from you. They can get mad. They can threaten. They might even incarcerate you or use violence. And while they might succeed in making you suppress your opinion, you will still have it.
We do polls or surveys at the One Feather. At one time, that ability was not available. Nor was there much sharing of community opinions in a tribal-wide or worldwide forum. Maybe a few letters to the editor made it in print, but even internet access was restricted to the paper. Many times, those polls reveal an important societal challenge we all face together, which is the fear of being ostracized or retaliated against for having an opinion that is contrary to an individual or group dominating an online conversation. We do our best to make our online environment open and safe for everyone to share their thoughts on a topic, but we are not always able to catch or address those who would rather stifle opposing opinions instead of understanding them.
This is even more reason for us to step up and speak our minds on issues. While being silent may be the way of least resistance, silence gives the false impression of acceptance of a particular viewpoint. People at the One Feather and in tribal government have fought to open this forum, given to you as a privilege in Chapter 75 of the Cherokee Code. We shouldn’t take it for granted, and we should speak up at every opportunity. The One Feather is a conduit to and from the community and to the world outside the Qualla Boundary. Community members and readers are welcome and encouraged to speak to each other, and the One Feather is a resource- your resource to exercise your free speech.
