Don’t just sit there and grumble

This is a letter to the Tribal Members meeting in thedistricts to try to change what is going terribly wrong. You are to becongratulated!

The federal government decided in 1937 to change our form ofgovernment from chiefs to an elected government with a constitution. Eventhough we voted 70% against such a change, they made it happen. The federalgovernment knew that if they could keep us in chaos with two-year terms, wewould be easy to handle. They were right! We have been hating and killing eachother for a long time. Now we need to stop, to change and to make change.

The need for three- or four-year terms can change the entireaptitude and attitude of the Tribe. One of our past lawyers now working foranother Tribe was asked how it was going. He said there is no comparisonbetween their Tribe and ours. The reason: They moved to three-year terms andeverything changed. We can do that also. The legal eagles say we need aconstructional change to make longer terms of office. It is not required in theconstitution. We need only to do it, but the Tribal Council is afraid to make achange and lose their job. They are worried about their re-election. 

Then “you” make a change and make a difference. Keep tellingour leaders to “get up” or “get out.” Remember only you can make a differenceif you do something. You don’t count if you just sit there and grumble.

Arnie Marchand

Okanogan Indian

Memberof the Colville Tribes

Who will gain at our expense?

This letter is intended as food for thought for thoseconsidering support for the Coalition for Property Rights.

I grew up in what began as a small, quiet town in theMidwest where a young boy could safely ride his bicycle several miles into thecenter of town and home again. As the town expanded and the miles of rows ofclosely clustered houses and new shopping centers replaced the cornfields, thetraffic, noise and problems also grew. Soon came more crime, bigger, fasterroads, traffic lights, a new badly needed larger jail and rising taxes. Thesedays, that town isn’t quiet or peaceful anymore. It also, in my opinion, isn’ta pleasant or safe place to live or visit.

When you have that many people living in tightly packedconditions there are consequences. Aside from what I’ve mentioned is aninevitable loss of personal freedoms, including your right to do whatever youplease on and with your property. With congested conditions, more rules andregulations are a fact. Anyone who tells you differently either doesn’t knowwhat they are talking about or is trying to deceive you.

Whenever rich, powerful men begin flexing political and financialmuscle to implement dense rural development, you can rest assured they are notdoing so because they give a flip about your property rights. They are involvedbecause they stand to make untold millions of dollars over decades developingthese areas. And they will do it at the high cost of forever changing OkanoganCounty as was the once small town I saw stripped of its quiet, rural nature. Ibelieve some wealthier CPR supporters are making the effort of getting averagecitizens involved in pressuring county commissioners to approve ruralurban-type densities because they temporarily need their support to accomplishself-serving goals.

Please consider carefully whether you’ll truly achieve thefreedoms and results you presently hope to gain as a result of your support ofCPR – or, as experience tells me, get something very, very different: greatgain for the few at the expense of the many.

Sincerely,

Richard Tingelstad

Twisp

Confessions of a loud mouth fan

I write this today with a tiny cloud of guilt and remorseover my head. A cloud that I have become all to familiar with the day after abasketball game, especially one my daughter’s team participates in. Those whohave heard me at ball games might not believe this but I do respect theposition and authority of any sports official. Their job is difficult andusually thankless; they must make snap decisions and stick to them and maintaintheir composure when the entire home team cheering section is on their feetcursing them. They are human and prone to mistakes as we all are but too oftentheir mistakes make the highlight reel or become the “sole reason” in the mindof the fan for losing the big game. But still, remember Mr. Referee, at theprep level that’s not just our team out there it is often our kids or those wehave known for years and we get defensive and even angry when that whistledoesn’t blow as we think it ought, and that is all part of the game. 

What is wrong with officiating today is this growing trendby the officials to somehow act as an equalizing factor. When the rules of thegame are applied with a sliding scale depending on skill, size, ability and thescore they cease to be foundational to the game. When the application of therules depends on the importance of the game then the reason we gather in agymnasium and have game officials at all becomes moot. When the game officialsimplement a “Let-um-play” policy they are negating the reason for theirpresence on the court. And when their “Let-um-play” policy results in injury toa player they should be held accountable. The pace and flow of the game shouldbe decided by the players and coaches and not by the officials but control onthe court is the responsibility of the person with the whistle. From jumpball to final buzzer the officials’ duty is to hold all the players on thefloor to a set of rules and a standard of play; it is only this that makes thegame valuable for growth and is a true measure of skill and ability. It is hardenough for the fans to accept the inconsistency that goes along with the humanfactor. Everyone has a different view on aggression and “hustle” and what isacceptable contact in a contact sport. But are the rules really so vague thatthe fans should not expect to see some obvious parameters develop over a seasonand applied equally to all teams regardless of the score? If nothing else theplayers, coaches and fans have a right to expect some consistency. What is afoul in one game should be so in the next game; from pre-season to playoffs akid should know what they can do on the court, and what others can do to them;and the fans should be able to figure that out as well. A kid will never becomea better player and will take no life lessons from the game if the rules arenot applied equally at all times to all players. I used to blame players fortheir misconduct or poor sportsmanship, but at this level, they’re just doingwhat the officials let them do. They are just kids and in basketball as in lifeif they play without rules they learn disrespect and they never learn how thegame was meant to be played. The game has a built in system of rewards andpunishments. The
team and coaches and parents and fans, all are responsible formaking the play a worthwhile experience. The officials are responsible for thediscipline of the play and without the discipline the game falls apart, andthat in it’s self is a valuable life lesson.

Tim Lamb

Chelan

Pope urges repeal of Islamic blasphemy laws

Whether you are Catholic or not, we all need to pray for thePope who has the guts to defend Christian people against the continuedslaughter under the blasphemy law of Islam. The Islamic world is enraged havinginsulted Islam and God only knows what it means for him and Christians in Muslimlands.

Many of you may not even realize what the blasphemy law is,so please know that Islamic nations who strictly adhere to it freely commitmurder against anyone who says anything against Islam, Allah or the prophetMohammed. Anything even perceived as dishonoring their faith is calledblasphemy. Therefore, Christians are walking on eggshells in constant fear. Infact they have to pay Jizya tax for protection money for simply beingChristians in a Muslim country or can be legally killed, no questionsasked. 

Yet our liberal- tolerant – romantic – fanatics accuse us ofIslamophobia for speaking out against Islam which is guided by Sharia law,contains every minute detail about Islamic life, from personal conduct, familylife, legal issues, honor killings, war/Jihad against infidels, including theblasphemy law. It begins very slowly like a cancer, now adopted in familycourts in England, accomplished by constant pressure from Muslims who chargeanyone with racism for not complying with their demands, under the mask of merereligion, though Sharia law is one legal system. Sharia is slowly finding itsway into our country with groups such a CAIR demanding religious rights; yethighly political, a means to an end, to demand more and more. As the Islamicpopulation increases more boldness and outright aggression increases.

No part of Sharia law should be allowed as it is the IslamicConstitution, not merely religious conviction. Our freedom of religion is basedupon “peaceful” assembly, yet I dare you to examine reliable sources that canprove Islamic meetings in mosques and other facilities throughout our countrypreaching hatred against Jews and Christians even our own nation. Ourforefathers would shudder to think we are being deceived in the name of toleranceand freedom of religion. 

Renate Vinje

Leavenworth