Observations and random thoughts. Volume ElevenPointTwo.
By WILLIAM LEDFORD
Sometimes these days, with the swirl, and crime, of the Olympics, the running joke that is called NFL Pre-season, exorbitant contracts for professional athletes, white collar crime on the Rez and the mud, knife, gun fighting that is American politics, an old saying comes to mind. Here I sit broken hearted, tried to…oops, no, that’s the right saying but wrong outlet. Read on…
It seems that we, the EBCI, are now once again, officially known as…the EBCI. Those of you out there that looked at the word “Indian” as tired and obsolete are also officially wrong because the powers that be said so. We are Indians. Oh don’t worry, you can still refer to yourselves as “Native” which we are, “indigenous” which we are, or “skin”, also which we are. Some of you who are fans of the Washington NFL franchise can call yourself anything you want including the slur that the team goes by. I also have a few choice things I refer to you as…most are unprintable. So, put that in your “peace pipe” and smoke it.
In the news at home. The Eastern Band is/was at odds with the BIA (Boss Indians Around) again. This time with BIA vs EBCI Realty. The staff of Tribal Realty apparently were in peril of legal prosecution if they continued with land transfers, etc. The potential charges stemmed from uncertified individuals handling sensitive documents. The BIA apparently gave Realty two years to learn how to do the job correctly the Fed way. And with our land being federal trust land, forget the possessory holdings argument it is federal trust land, they only needed to learn to how to correctly administer sensitive documentation and above all, not spread gossip regarding land options, my opinion. People can do their own research, insider trading is not allowed. It was nice of the Principal Chief to get the backs of the Realty staff but seriously, it shouldn’t have taken this long for them to either learn the requirements of the whole job, possessory holdings, leases, outer boundary sections, etc, or go to the house and let someone else take Realty into the 21st century. And…they’re back!
Politics and a dose of reality. Trump had his chance, on an international stage, to convey his message forcefully and choked. He was in Mexico at the invite of Mexican President, El Presidente, to discuss his immigration position pertaining to illegal Mexican aliens. While on stage the invited media asked the important question about the Wall, who’s gonna pay for it. Trump stumbled and stammered and bailed. The pressure was too much, he couldn’t perform. But later, in front of a bright white audience in Arizona, he was the same old tough talking BS artist. Who is the real Donald Trump? Me, I believe we saw him onstage in Mexico.
Political options. Gary Johnson, former Governor of New Mexico is the Libertarian candidate for POTUS. He supports lowered taxes, lower spending, a smaller military, smaller federal government and legalized marijuana among other sensible positions. He’ll not win because apparently, despite the bluster and BS, people will vote for Trump or Clinton. I say VOTE LIBERTARIAN! FEEL THE JOHNSON! Kinda lifted that slogan from Bernie, he don’t need a slogan no more. Except maybe “LEAVE ME ALONE, I’M OLD, TIRED and CRANKY. I know how he feels.
Black Olives Matter. An Italian restaurant here in Albuquerque, Paisanos, is promoting their online sauces with a slogan that reads Black Olives Matter. It’s a twist on the Black Lives Matter movement all over the news anymore. I love it. I’m going to buy a couple of those before the restaurant gets forced to stop selling the shirts. I’ve learned one thing in life, the more people complain about things, the more people like me go buy shirts. Gold baby…gold!
I’m closing with a few great Presidential one-liners. And don’t worry my self-appointed conscience and keeper of the family morals, I’ll give credit where due this time. My friends, ponder these remarks until we meet again.
“Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.” — Ronald Reagan.
“If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?” and “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” –Abraham Lincoln
“Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.” — John Kennedy
“Now, I know that he’s taken some flak lately but no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The Donald. And that’s because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter, like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?” — Barack Obama
– Ledford is an EBCI tribal member living in Albuquerque, NM.
