Wis. candidate's (Kagen) remarks questioned (Quote: "We're on Injun time")

[truthpusher]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061024/ap_on_el_ho/wisconsin_house_2

Wis. candidate's remarks questioned

6 minutes ago

A Democratic congressional candidate said at a recent campaign event that he was late because he was "on Injun time," prompting calls for an apology from a Republican office-seeker in South Dakota who is American Indian.

House candidate Steve Kagen, who arrived late to a campaign event in Green Bay after a meeting on an Oneida reservation, told the audience Friday, "Our excuse in Oneida was, well, we're on Injun time."

"They don't tell time by the clock. Our excuse here is that I am a doctor and that we're never on time," he said.

Kagen, 56, who is in a tight race in Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District with Republican John Gard, apologized Monday.

"I did not mean any harm by my words and I humbly apologize if I offended anyone. That was not my intent," he said in a statement, hours after the National Republican Congressional Committee released a tape recording of the comment.

(snip)

"You shouldn't hear remarks like this from people running for Congress," said Christine Mangi. "They should be held to a higher standard."

link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061024/ap_on_el_ho/wisconsin_house_2

[Mythsaje]

1. He should've said "pagan standard time."

:evilgrin:

In Tony Hillerman's books, it's "Navajo Time."

A stupid comment, to be sure.

And there's a Native American wanting to run as a Republican?

Fucking idiot.

[liberalhistorian]

3. Yes, Bruce Whalen truly is a

clueless, theo-con idiot (he's the native american repub candidate for my state, SD). I'd say that no matter what race or creed he was, he just happens to be Indian. And the more he opens his mouth, the dumber he sounds. He's really unpopular among the state's Indian population, especially on the Pine Ridge reservation. Gee, I wonder why.

[liberalhistorian]

2. I have to agree with that, that's

a really stupid and insensitive thing to say, Dem or not. Living in Rapid City, SD, I hear a lot of anti-Indian bigotry and prejudice, and the "Injun time" joke is especially prevalent. It's disgusting no matter WHO says it or what party they're from.

[jwirr]

4. What a fool. Has he had his head up his *? He is truly the lessor

of two evils.

[AlCzervik]

5. yup, that was stoopit.

[Ian David]

6. As inexcusable as it is, the Repukes have no business pointing fingers.

And I thought Gay Republickers and Black Republickers were stupid... there's actually a Native American running as a Republicker?

You know what's even more insulting to a Native American than saing, "I'm on injun time"? Saying, "I'm a Republican."

[Ian David]

7. I thought this sounded familiar: New Darfur Envoy Made Controversial Remarks on Africa

New Darfur Envoy Made Controversial Remarks on Africa

Darfur is among the top issues at this week’s summit. During his speech, President Bush announced the appointment of a new special envoy to deal with the crisis. The envoy, Andrew Natsios, is a former director of the State Department aid agency USAID. The appointment is already drawing controversy over past statements Natsios has made about Africa. In a June 2001 interview with the Boston Globe, Natsios suggested global AIDS funding should be devoted almost entirely to prevention instead of treating those suffering from the disease. Natsios said paying for antiretroviral treatment is impractical because “Africans don’t know what Western time is.” He added: “You have to take (AIDS) drugs a certain number of hours a day, or they don't work. Many people in Africa have never seen a clock or a watch their entire lives.”

More:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/09/20/1412233

[nealmhughes]

12. That is a really lame excuse for such a stupid remark. People all over the entire

world know what "Western time" is if they live in cities or even villages. The only people who aren't on "clock time" are those in purely agrarian/pastoral economies.

The ability to take HIV antiretrovirals is not controlled by a clock anyhow, most dosages are now merely am and pm, that is to say, soon after arising and at bedtime. I presume that most people in Africa know when it is daylight and when it is dark... And if meds were clock dependent, why not give everyone on HAART or other therapies a $2 Casio?

This was more true in the past, when the doses were timed, but modern therapies have very long halflives, negating the requiremnt of "exact" clock schedules.

And by the way, since when was "clock time" Western anyhow? The circle of 360 degrees and the 24 hours, 60 minutes are Babylonian, not Western!
And why could Africans not make a 12 hour hourglass? 6 hour one? The proposition is ridiculous.

Only modern "time clock" regulated societies are bound by the clock anyhow. Artists,farmers and ranchers, craftsmen, and independent scholars and writers are bound by no clock, does that make them non-western?

[Ian David]

8. A friend of mine who works with Native Americans had this to say...

"I dunno, it's hard for me to get too worked up about
that, since at least half the native people I know use
the phrase "Indian time." One of the Oneida people
probably said it to him while he was there.

"I'd be more concerned by the patronizing 'they don't
tell time by the clock' thing. Different cultures just
place a different amount of emphasis on precise
punctuality as opposed to taking your time, that's
all."

[Viva_La_Revolution]

9. a black friend of mine is always late, and jokes about

being on black-people time. I joke with him about it, but I'd never say it in front of strangers. :shrug:

[ozone_man]

10. That is my take.

Indian time simply refers to "Different cultures just place a different amount of emphasis on precise punctuality". If one has ever traveled through Indian country, they would know this, but it's not the kind of thing to say publicly. Along the same lines is refering to Native Americans, while a lot of Native Americans think of themselves as Indians. There is such a thing as being too politically correct.

[Ian David]

11. I think there's a difference between saying "Indian Time" and "Injun time"...

and there's also a difference between saying it when you are and Indian, and saying it to an Indian.

If I was a Republicker strategist, I wouldn't have complained about it.

I know that Republickers are on pretty shaky ground when it comes to racism.

Instead, I would have tried to find an un-official back-channel to a non-partisan group and let them raise a fuss.

Hearing a Republicker complain about racism is like a Nazi complaining about anti-semitism.

I know why the Republicker complained, though. He was afraid the Democrats would steal his party's platform.