Gawfer

"We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God." James Madison

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Tribe bans church protest at soldier's funeral

CNN
POSTED: 9:46 a.m. EST, December 2, 2006

BISMARCK, North Dakota (AP) -- A church group that protests at military funerals around the country will be barred from services for an American Indian soldier on a reservation, tribal officials say.

Cpl. Nathan Goodiron, 25, of Mandaree, known on the reservation as Young Eagle, was killed Thanksgiving Day in Afghanistan when a grenade struck his vehicle while he was on patrol. He was a member of the 1st Battalion of the North Dakota National Guard's 188th Air Defense Artillery.
Tribal officials said he was the first member of the Three Affiliated Tribes to be killed in the war on terror.

Tribal leaders passed a resolution Friday that prohibits the group from protesting on the reservation, said Marcus Wells Jr., chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes.

"We will not tolerate any harassment that is intended to provoke ill feelings and violence," he said.

"We recognize and respect the right to free speech and the public's right to assemble, but we want everyone to know that the Three Affiliated Tribes, as a sovereign tribal government, has the right to regulate any person or persons who harass and show disrespectful conduct towards our members, within our boundaries," Wells said in a statement.

First of all, let me say I am sorry for the loss of a fine young American, but am so thankful that he chose to stand between my family and an enemy that would kill without remorse.

Second of all, I applaud the tribal counsel for recognizing the desire to provoke ill feelings and violence (as demonstrated in the recent video I posted).

Part of my heritage is from the Osage Indian tribe, and though I am not full blood American Indian, I still hold pride in my heart, and fully respect the sovereignty of the Nations.

The independence these people have provides them with an opportunity to show the rest of us how to behave honorably and without the incessant threat of the ACLU pounding down doors with the threats of costly law suits, and forcing people to think a certain way.

H/T STOPTHEACLU