Reply #40: There are two different issues about Ward Churchill

[LdyGuique]

1) He has written several books and essays. I've read the essay in question and had no major problems with it. He has a valid point that the world has tunnel vision about the Holoaust and the founding of the Jewish State. We've given Jews a free pass for decades due to this. The local population, now called Palestinians, have been removed from their land and put into substandard living conditions. There is an obvious history of human rights violations -- on both sides. Neither is clean, but many innocent civilians, men, women, and children have died due to it.

Meanwhile, there have been many atrocities that are virtually ignored, from Sudan to Native Americans right here in this country. Until we atone for what we as immigrants have done to the Native Americans and deal with them in good faith through all of the treaties that have been signed, we have a karmic debt. Until it is paid, we are all guilty of "war crimes."

Churchill has every right to assume the mantle of anger -- anger at the incredible power and wealth of a nation that may never have happened if the "Indians" had been somewhat more populous or technologically modern or less trusting of oaths given. It was also built on a tradition of slavery and indentured servants. Let's face it, we are and have been a nation of oath-breakers whenever it suited our purposes.

2) The second issue has to deal with Churchill's integrity. He's never proven that he has any Native American blood in his heritage, and in fact, research conducted by Native Americans claim that he has none. Beyond that, he spent years attempting to earn his living as a native and if copying others' works is any indication -- he lacks integrity.

The original was a pen and ink sketch by a Native American artist -- NOT a photograph that was converted to a pen and ink drawing by Churchill. He didn't even re-render it in his own style. It appears to be an out and out copy, but presented as a mirror image. This is flat out wrong, both from copyright law and from artistic integrity.

THIS is the critical issue. If he were RW, we'd be all over his case like flies on shit -- or like lefties on Gannon. He should not get a free ride.