Dear Editor, Your centerfold for December 22 was greatly appreciated, especially since it was in full colour! We have always taken pride in our unique stained glass windows. The congregation photo is a cherished moment, taken in 1932. Our Mohawk minister was Reverend Thomas Kaheróthon Whitebean, who came from Cornwall Island. He had a marvelous voice and taught us many hymns. He and the choir were in great demand in Montreal churches. We were devastated at his sudden death in 1935. He also served in Oka, and was our last Native pastor. I wish to thank Michael Dugas for his excellent photos.
Dorris Kawennanó:ron Montour
Response to Natalie
Dear Editor, This is in response to Natalie’s diatribe entitled “What our travels may or may not bring us…” Obviously, Natalie hasn’t traveled enough to broaden her horizons. Natalie, you must live in your own black-and-white world, where everything is so simple, you have all the answers and they are so easy, because there are never any gray areas, and everyone is either good or bad. But the world that most of us, or at least I live in, is IMPERFECT, and there are moral dilemmas. My world is not so cut- and-dry. It is, in fact, complicated and complex. I think that Natalie’s diatribe against both the previous and present Pope, along with her comments regarding those serving in the Armed Forces, were insensitive, disrespectful, and indicative of bigotry. Natalie uses the Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha’s pending canonization as an opportunity to poke fun at, and to insult two leaders of the Catholic faith, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. And then she has the nerve to end her rant by saying that she hopes one day that, “Kateri finally gets the respect she deserves.” How can you hope Kateri gets respected when you disrespect the very religion of Kateri’s faith? That’s hypocritical. Furthermore, to refer to an elderly man who was quite ill (Pope John Paul II) as a “disgusting, decrepit old geezer,” and to make fun of his religious attire, i.e. “ridiculous, little white beanie,” sounds like a childish cry for attention on Miss Natalie’s part. This was the carefully inserted line that would get people’s goat and have her on the tip of everyone’s tongue all weekend long. Well-done Natalie! You retain your title as most controversial or fascinating or whatever it was you were voted, and you do so at the expense of others. (My apologies to all children for my use of the word “childish,” for lack of a better word when describing Natalie’s comments. Even children aren’t that mean.) As far as Natalie’s comments on Pope Benedict XVI, and on those serving in the war in Iraq/Afghanistan, whom she disrespectfully refers to as “brainwashed kids” who are all “just following orders,” I ask her where she gets off passing judgment on them? I am not in favour of war, and I don’t believe there’s ever a good reason for it, but in the world I live in, there IS war, and I don’t know how to stop it. The governments are in control of it and I, just like everyone else, must figure out how to deal with it, and NOT by blaming or insulting the troops who are in harm’s way at the request of the government, whoever they are and whatever country they represent. Their families are worried about them, and some of those families are here in this community. It is insensitive as a community member and local journalist to make fun of them when they could lose their lives at any moment. We don‚t always know why people join the armed forces. Some are drafted and have no choice. Some take a chance and do it to escape poverty, because for some, it is the only job opportunity or chance to learn a skill or get an education, and then they find themselves in active wartime duty. (Ever watch Fahrenheit 911?) And in some oppressed countries during certain times in history, like Nazi Germany for example, it may have been mandatory to serve in some form of militia. I seem to recall that the Nazis were masters at intimidation, and disobedience was sometimes punishable by death on the spot. There are all sorts of circumstances to be considered in the world I live in, and people must make choices, and do things they don’t want to do every day. And quite frankly, it’s just not always BLACK and WHITE or CUT and DRY. So go knock THE SYSTEM – not those for whom THE SYSTEM fails and as the old saying goes, Natalie, “Never judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his stilettos.” It is wrong to disrespect anyone’s church, religion, faith, culture or lifestyle. Our Two-Row Wampum teaches us this mutual respect. And of course, there is this famous quote, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Translation Natalie: If YOU want to be respected, then you must show some respect. I’m pretty sure you’d like to be treated with respect.
Respectfully yours, Alexandrea Rice Deer p.s. I will remember you in my prayers this weekend.
Passports
Dear Editor, If our Confederacy chiefs can’t decide what to do about issuing each of us a recognized identity card or passport, isn’t it time for our own leaders (meaning the Traditional as well as elected leaders of our community) to do so? They should get together on this important issue, contact others of the Mohawk Nation everywhere, and go ahead with it. Surely a positive format can be worked out for some sort of legal documentation that would be acceptable to both the U.S. and Canadian Governments. Once the process is underway, we can be sure that other members of the Confederacy will join us in the effort. Act now, before further restrictions are imposed upon our right to freely cross their manmade borders.
