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^ The Carolina Indian Voice Editorial & Opinion Page Send letters to the editor to:. P.O. Box 1075, Pembroke. NC 28372 The editor reserves the right to edit libelous and/or lengthy letters yj I fl k im UM> Garry Lewis Barton Cleaning out their closets The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It has had 27 amendments, the first 10 called "The Bill of Rights." The first Bill of Right guarantees "freedom of speech." The Constitution also guarantees me life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But the exercising of some rap artists' First Amendment Right to free speech seems to trample my rights; I'm not happy being exposed to the mostly-violent, profane and vulgar lyrics they spout to a frantic beat? Yet, considering the violent subject matter, I guess I ought to be happy it's just my rights being trampled upon. A popular rap artist is a young white boy who calls himself Eminent. When he first began, according to his mother, he and his music were ignored. Then, he started writing songs about killing and raping his mother, and other violent outrages, and he became an overnight sensation. Isn't that a sad commentary on the sad state of our society in general? In fact, speaking of "overnight," an Eminem song I heard, which was accompanied by a video, is called "Tonight I'm Cleaning Out My Closet." The song is apparently about him killing his mother. And the video actually depicts him shoveling dirt into his mother's grave while singing the song in a drenching downpour in the middle of the night. The outrageous scene is stamped indelibly on my mind, so I can imagine the harmful impact it has had on the highly-susceptible minds of young listeners. I wish his mother had cleaned out his closet when he was younger instead. And threw away every CD or casset she found containing violently profane and vulgar lyrics. If she had, perhaps he wouldn't be rapping about killing her today. He ought to be ashamed, you might say. He probably is; all the way to the bank! Someone should clean out his mouth, too! With soap! And the mouths of all the other rap artists too, who sing ? oops, I mean talk -- about violently profane and outrageous acts. 1 don't believe the framers of the Constitution meant for the rights of these rappers to supercede my rights. Or yours! The safety of the masses should be more important than the rights of a handful, especially when the exercise of their rights puts the public at risk or in danger. The minds of young'uns are especially susceptible to folk like Eminem who bombard them with images and thoughts about violence, sex and filth. It's small wonder so many respond violently when provoked or agitated the least bit by figures in authority. Perhaps we need a 28th amendment that guarantees God-fearing, law-abiding folk like you and me "freedom from irresponsible folk screaming 'fire!' in a crowded room." And that's basically what's happening when we allow folk to make music which pollutes the minds of our young'uns by promoting and glamorizing violence. It's like lighting a fuse in the highly volatile and flammable minds of our young'uns. And we see it blowing up in our faces every day throughout the country by far too many acts of violence committed by young folk. Cases in point are the many students who have taken their guns to school and gone on killing sprees. Many times, the culprit admitted getting the idea from the lyrics of a song. Violence begets violence. No one can stop you from allowing your young'un to lock himself in his room and listen to songs about killing folk, or committing other outrageous acts of violence. But if you do, don't be surprised if one day you wake up looking down the barrel of his gun. Or don't wake up at all! Unfortunately, rap music is a billion-dollar business, partly because so many parents contribute to the delinquency of their own minors by buying it for them. Rappers talk. And money talks too. So, sadly, nothing will probably be done about the epidemic problem. Our rights apparently are not as important as their right to free speech. Or their right to make money, even if it's at the expense of warping the minds of our young'uns. It's tragically sad when a student can take a CD chockfull of vulgarity and profanity to many schools in his knapsack, but not a Bible! Something's wrong with that picture, folk. About as wrong as a young'un being allowed to watch another young'un burying his murdered mother on a video. The first picture's the cause, the second's the effect! Our only alternative is not buying the profane and vulgar music, and prohibiting our young'uns from buying it too. It saddens me to have to mention this, but if you do, you might want to hide the weapons in the house and lock your bedroom doors. You never know when they too might decide to clean out their closets. On second thought, don't y'all tell Eminem I said any of this. I don't want him making any videos about me! We'll talk again, folk. Carolina Indian Voice is Published every Thursday by First American Publications 207 Union Chapel Rd. Post Office Box 1075 Pembroke, North Carolina 28372 Phone (910) 521-2826 Fax (910)521-1975 Connce Braybov, F.ditor P.O. Box 1075 Pembroke, N.C. 28372 Bad, Bad Credit Record Credit Problems! Bad Credit! Slow Credit! We can help you correct Your credit problems Credit Correctors 1 -803-494-5424 1-888-477-8556 Cell 1-803-236-1856 Adventures of George Thunderfoot / ? by Screaming Eagle I runned inta' a fcllar last week said he aim heard nuthin' at alll from Ole Thunderfoot in quite a spell, and was ginning' la' wonder if theole fella' had hung up his "political moccasins" and might c\cn a'went soft on us Now if that don't beat all 1 e\er heard!11 wanted la tell that fella' ta' git from under inc and quit cutting a fool about ole George a goin soft Anyway. I just scent George and here w hat he had ta' say He wanted ta' tell us a dang funny thing happened to him a few moons ago Now he ain't wanting no'un' ta take this the wrong way so. just remember ole Thunderfoot like his cutting a fool besides, if ya' ain't likin' what he saying he says he never asked ya' any way! Anyway. he was at the stompgrounds and like ever' gn-together, he gits too there's some big. yellar haired. blue ey es waste hu askin' ole George what tribe he's front Now. usually Ole Thunderfoot just gibs cm a dirty look but this fcllar dun rousted ole George outta' a dang good snooze (He says he was at Hatchet Jack's splittin" wood and chasin' after youngunsJ.Wcll. anyway. Ole George says he looked ole yellar hair straight in the eyes and toll hiin his tribe was "nun-ya biz-nez wasi-ehu "Now.Olc Thunderfoot figured yellar haired be wantin' ta' knock him on the head, but surc'nit's gonna rain if ya' hang a snake in a tree. Yellar hair cracked the biggest grin ya' never did sec Just then, he looked at George and said "Oh yea, tyy^daddy was from that tribe'" George said he dun his dangest ta' keep from dying right on the spot! Yellar says.'Ycp. and Full-BIooded too!" Then he says ."most people wouldn't know it by lookin' at me." George says. "Boy. ya' sure said a mouf full, but maybe 1 kin hep' ya out some." Ole Yellars a lookin real surspicice' like arid vcntually give in and said "w hy sure, 1 mean if I ain't puttin' you to a mess a trouble " Ole George peeked a roun' nght quick ta' see no un was the wiser and tolt him ta' huny to the back of his stand You know the vendor shacks your seeing now at a lot of the git togcthcrs Well, he gits Yellar hair back there and Yellar says. "You a Medicine Man or something '" Course, George says "no, but Split Hawk Toe taught me plenty See this rabbit's foot Qn my key chain'' Well, ole Split gib it to me and it's got plenty Big Medicine Then George tolt him ta' shut lus eyes so he could say some words When lie shut his eyes. George rcchcd inta' his pocket an' stuck his thumb in the tar pitch he dun always kept in a snufT tin in his britches (In case your worry in' he kept it ta' help git the far goin' at the sweat lode ceremonies he gits to) Well sir. he laid his hand on Yellar s head and put lus thumb w id the tar on it tween his eyes and said some'quick mumbo-jumbo and run him out right quick savin' ta' have faith . it a' work Wadn't long, may be an hour, ycrc come ole Yellar back ta' George's . braggin' bout how c\er" one he scen t knowed he was indin' now yep. most ever' one that he runncd inta' said "Hey. yous one a' them Indians ami cha'." Well, now all you critics of Ole George now know he ain't a bad fella' after all besides Yclla was the one savin' hes indin' George wasjust hclpin' luin ta' git a little recognition Tuscarora Nation discusses Lumbee Act of 1956 and federal recognition Cwe'? Greetings As chief of the Skaru.rc Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina. I am writing regarding the Lumbcc Act of 1956 This Act affects all the Indian people residing in Robeson County and surrounding counties in North Carolina. My nation is Iroquois and not Lumbcc In the past \vc have been informed regarding federal recognition that if wc arc released from the Lumbee Act of 1956. my nation would be able to complete the process for federal recognition. Until that time, my nation is ineligible for federal recognition The United States federal government has informed us that wc need to be released from the Act by the state of North Carolina. The state of North Carolina informed us to be released wc need to have the United States federal government release us from the under the Lumbcc Act of 1956 So my nation is stuck between two separate governmental bureaucracies with neither taking the responsibility to release us from under the Lumbcc Act 1956 . Our understanding regarding the present situation of the Lumbcc seeking federal recognition is that following the Department of Interiors Bureau of Indian Affairs criteria for federal recognition, one must prove that there was an established nation or government prior to the arrival of Columbus in 1492 and to prove one s nation has a culture and history pre contact. Now the Lumbcc Act of 1956, and I may be incorrect regarding this point, was not enacted until 1956.464 years aflcr the arrival of Colum bus The Iroquois People of which the Tuscarora Nation belong, also known as the Sin Nations, had a government. history, language and culture prior to the arrival of Columbus We continue to maintain our government to government relationship with the United States government as sovereign nations United Stales hearings of the One Hundrcth Congress S. Con Res 76 Chaired by Honorable Daniel K Inouye. U.S. Senator from Hawaii December 2. 1987 confirmed this government to government relationship between our People. Being in Robeson County. North Carolina. My nation is placed under the Lumbcc Act of 1956 and we need to rectify this situation Now the Lumbcc arc fighting for federal recognition How will it ever be possible for the Lumbee to achieve federal recognition. if under the rules of the B.l.A. They never existed as a group until the Lumbcc Act was enacted in 1956. Following the criteria, they have no historical record as a nation or government, no language, no culture, no ceremonies unless taken from other nations prior to contact There had never been an Indian called Lumbcc until the 1956 Lumbcc Act The final point I wish to address is the Lumbee Act is only an act and not a law Have the United States congress ever ratified the Lumbee Act? Chief I. eon L ocklear Maston, NC New Technologies . Expanded Services Continued Commitment That's the Future of SRMC. We've grown from a community hospital in Kobeson Uounty into one of North Carolina's finest and largest healthcare providers. We've enlarged our emergency department into a state-of-the-art facility. Expanded Gibson Cancer Center to provide in-depth treatment right h^re at home. And are currently adding a six-story 136-room patient-centered bed tower, with private baths. At Southeastern Regional Medical Center, we are building for a better life, a better career, and a better community. We're not only ready for the future. We welcome it. 42&W SOUTHEASTERN j REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER Neighbors Caring for Neighbors Southeastern Regional Medical Center Lumberton 910-671-5000 www.srmc.org
The Carolina Indian Voice (Pembroke, N.C.)
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