[statecom] Re: Re: FW: native rights & casinos in M

Fri Nov 2 12:44:28 EST 2007

Hi Everyone,

I have been concerned with the casino issue and was hoping that the 
party would take a stand against this. I must admit that my opposition 
did not take into consideration all of the ramifications of this issue. 
I applaud Eli's efforts to take the initiative and thank him for being 
sensitive to the racial complexities of this issue.

While supporting those who are raising concerns, I do object to behavior 
which I want to describe as bullying.

I urge Eli and others to move forward with their exploration. I hope 
that the GRP will take a principled stand on this issue.

Mike Heichman

PS Please forward this to Adcom. I do not have posting privileges. I 
also have sent this to statecom-discuss and request that further 
discussion take place on this list.

Eli Beckerman wrote:

>Clarification -- the Green-Rainbow Party has not even been approached with
>this issue.
>"Might soon be taking positions" meant my intent to propose something for
>the next State Committee meeting. Before proposing anything I wanted to see
>what some indigenous perspectives might be.
>
>If I thought casinos were a sound way of lifting native populations out of
>poverty and pain I wouldn't
>object. I do have concerns about tribal sovereignty which is why I wrote to
>Jamie. And I hope you are
>not characterizing my concerns about casino gambling as concerns about
>native people controlling their
>own destiny or the morality/mental health impact on white folks. I am
>concerned from the perspective of
>the commonwealth -- the common well-being of ALL the people in this state.
>This is garbage policy for us to depend on the regressive tax revenue of
>gambling -- whether it's dog-racing, the lottery, or casinos.
>
>I do not see the Green-Rainbow Party as a typical left Party, but as an
>ecological party -- meaning that my well-being is dependent on the
>well-being of all the people in this state, and that true sustainability
>is not about solar panels and priuses but about justice and equality as much
>as it is about the environment and the earth's finite resources.
>
>Are you asking that I not propose anything, or that the Party not adopt
>anything?
>
>Another reason this party isn't going anywhere -- the contempt we all seem
>to express towards each other!
>And I'm not kidding.
>
>In hope,
>Eli
>
>On 11/2/07, gary hicks <gooberthink06 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>  
>
>>dear colleagues:
>>
>>do NOT speak to me again of building a green-rainbow party in this state
>>if this party signs on to the anti-casino coalition.
>>
>>gary hicks
>>
>>*gary hicks <watermelongreen2003 at yahoo.com>* wrote:
>>
>>Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2007 09:22:11 -0700 (PDT)
>>From: gary hicks <watermelongreen2003 at yahoo.com>
>>Subject: Re: FW: native rights & casinos in MA
>>To: Eli Beckerman <elibeck at gmail.com>
>>CC: Jamie Bissonette <jbissonette at afsc.org>,
>>Chuck Turner <chuck.turner at cityofboston.gov>,
>>gary hicks <watermelongreen2003 at yahoo.com>,
>>David Ebony Barkley <blackindian_art at verizon.net>,
>>gary hicks <gooberthink06 at yahoo.com>, mel king <mhking at mit.edu>,
>>grace ross <graccross at aol.com>
>>
>>
>>
>>*eli:*
>>**
>>*by what process was this decision arrived at? *
>>**
>>*this is a decision that involves the lives and livelihoods of a people
>>who have been here long before the white man with his concerns about the
>>morality of gambling, etc. -------- concerns by the way which never saw
>>zipshit the light of day as long as it was the white man controlling the
>>lottery, bingo, and other gambling arrangements. *
>>**
>>*it was only when a native people took control of their own economic
>>destiny that white people suddenly became concerned about the morality and
>>mental health and addictive behavior, etc. this is called racist hypocrisy.
>>it is one of many reasons that the green-rainbow party is one of many left
>>parties that remains unable to engage with people of color in a qualitative
>>fashion that might actually lead to building something.*
>>**
>>*as for the linkage with massachusetts coalition for healthy communities,
>>i have yet to see any document or commentary where they discuss anything
>>concerning native peoples, and indeed their definition of public lands seems
>>to be something along the lines of fighting corporations in order to keep
>>the land ecologically healthy for white people.*
>>**
>>*in short, the green-rainbow party needs to NOT get involved with any
>>anti-casino politics before talking to ALL OF THE PARTIES INVOLVED.*
>>**
>>*gary hicks*
>>*south boston MA, suffolk county representative to the steering committee*
>>**
>>**
>>*Jamie Bissonette <jbissonette at afsc.org>* wrote:
>>
>>Can we talk about this. It is really upsetting that the GRP would make
>>this kind of move.
>>
>>
>>------ Forwarded Message
>>*From: *Jamie  Bissonette <jbissonette at afsc.org>
>>*Date: *Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:03:45 -0400
>>*To: *Eli Beckerman <elibeck at gmail.com>
>>*Conversation: *native rights & casinos in MA
>>*Subject: *Re: native rights & casinos in MA
>>
>>Dear Eli Beckerman
>>
>>I do have thoughts on this issue—as a Native person (who is also a Green
>>Rainbow Party member) I have a well-developed perspective and would like to
>>talk with you. Many Native people in Massachusetts joined this party when
>>Winona was running for vice-president and I think the GRP should do some
>>outreach to its own constituency before they take a position.
>>
>>But, for starters, you should talk with Shaun Hendricks who is the Tribal
>>Chair of the Wampanoags. They will be most impacted by the Patrick proposal.
>>
>>The issue is not Patrick's proposal or gambling in general it *is* Tribal
>>sovereignty. It would not be right or respectful for the GRP to take any
>>position without consultation and direction from the Tribe.
>>
>>Contact Info for Shaun Hendricks:
>>
>>The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council Building is located at:
>>
>>483 Great Neck Road, South
>>
>>Mashpee, MA 02649
>>
>>Mailing Address
>>
>>P. O. Box 1048
>>
>>Mashpee, MA 02649
>>
>>
>>
>>Phone and Fax:
>>
>>(508) 477-0208     Fax (508) 477-1218
>>
>>Jamie
>>
>>
>>Jamie Bissonette
>>Criminal Justice Program
>>American Friends Service Committee
>>New England Regional Office
>>2161 Massachusetts Ave.
>>Cambridge, MA 02140
>>
>>jbissonette at afsc.org
>>
>>617 661 6130 x 120
>>www.raisethewire.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>On 10/31/07 4:24 PM, "Eli Beckerman" <elibeck at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>Dear Jamie,
>>
>>I don't know if you remember me from the D7 roundtable on Mondragon --
>>I was working on Jill Stein's campaign for Sec. of State. I am currently
>>working with Jill's non-profit called the Massachusetts Coalition for
>>Healthy
>>Communities (MCHC), and have also gotten more involved in the state level
>>of the
>>Green-Rainbow Party (GRP) (I'm the new communications director).
>>
>>Both organizations might soon be taking positions on Patrick's casino
>>proposals,
>>and considering joining the emerging coalition opposing casinos in the
>>Commonwealth
>>(www.casinofreemass.org <http://www.casinofreemass.org><http://www.casinofreemass.org/>).
>>
>>Seems tricky to separate the policy stance from the rights of indigenous
>>tribes on this
>>issue, and I wonder if you might be able to point me to an organization or
>>individual who
>>is grappling with this dilemma. If you have any thoughts on the issue I'd
>>be very curious
>>to hear them.
>>
>>Many thanks,
>>Eli
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>------ End of Forwarded Message
>>
>>
>>__________________________________________________
>>Do You Yahoo!?
>>Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
>>http://mail.yahoo.com
>>
>>
>>__________________________________________________
>>Do You Yahoo!?
>>Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
>>http://mail.yahoo.com
>>
>>    
>>
>_______________________________________________
>StateCom mailing list
>StateCom at green-rainbow.org
>http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom
>
>  
>