Dear Editor:

As I watch the State of Arizona press undue laws upon its citizens it reminds me of many other unjust rituals that were perpetuated by over zealous governing bodies in fear...

We tend to be witnessing a real sense of helplessness among a shrinking majority and its a shameful if not embarrassing tactic that undermines the same measure of Freedom that we love to revert to when we cite the United States Constitution which by the way, was partially plagiarized from the democratic league of American Indians known as the Iroquois Confederacy. That’s right, Thomas Jefferson who helped sign into effect this amazing document had derived much of its content from dark skinned beings that were being systematically killed, enslaved, and removed from their lands. This incredible legislative order of the land had actually been a practice of Native people well before 1776 and well before Adams signed it or Benjamin Franklin elected to co-sign with Haycock and the boys. This act of shear craziness is a direct link to the nine eleven incident where we have been trained to be afraid. Yep, the terrorists have won this war simply in the fact that we have become recluses in the name of Taliban, Al Queda and our own little minds. Why do we continue to allow this fear factor level to grow to such a degree while not addressing the meat of the problem. Lets get the bad guys if that’s what we want to do but let’s not pretend we do not know who they are or that we have to hand pick them by virtue of origin.

What are they thinking in Arizona? I am OK with the fact that something needs to be done to secure the borders but since they are so fear driven in Arizona we are breeding poor choices and they are being initiated by even good people.

I have many friends and some distant family that live in Arizona and they are all American Indians, Native Americans, Indians, First Americans, or whatever you might choose to call them because where they are all incorrect for the most part, they are pretty much all utilized by Native people even as a misnomer. Within the state of Arizona there are 21 Federally Recognized Indian Tribes comprised with well over a quarter of a million American Indians. Where many of the illegal immigrants and legal folks as well are in fear of having to have special papers like a dog might, join the club as the American Indian has always been tied to a BIA Card to prove their inherent right to the land. Now, if anyone should not have to show their papers you would think it would be these guys. The police may only be doing their job by pursuing illegals but the fact that they are subject to pull over people of color and interrogate them and/or arrest them for lack of paper work is far removed from where our country should be going. So Mr. Policeman, while appeasing the Governors profile law, please do not take offense to being viewed by anyone as the boogyman as you can not have it both ways, public servant, protector and Gestapo. Until everyone is a viable candidate to be questioned and searched under the same accordance, then your game plan sucks.

Now, with all of that said, if you see a criminal go after them full force but just as I cynically tell all of my KuKluxKlown acquaintances up here in the mountains, hang all the people you want, just hang them for something other than the color of their skin. Must I make the same crude example for Arizona?

Maybe, just maybe, the Governor might consider giving the state back to the rightful owners and then they would have nothing to fear but fear itself which is pretty much what they are experiencing. When the state was founded in 1912 it was done so without asking the Apaches, Tohono O'odham (Papago), Maricopa, Yavapai, Hopi, Navajo, Mohave, Yaqui, Zuni, Yuma, or the Pima whom the great Marine WWII Warrior Ira Hayes belonged. Many of the Mexican people today do not realize they were Indians as well before the Spaniards forced Catholicism down their throats while colonizing their lands and subjecting their people to horrendous torture, murder and subjugation. Maybe, just maybe, a better idea as to how to treat immigrants, our citizens of America, and/or our Nation of Nations within the state of Arizona should come into play. Maybe the governor should consider giving the land back to the rightful landlords or annexing Mexico into their state as the state is not even a hundred years old and they are already more concerned about their quality of life than the life's of others. The Native people of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, etc have paid dearly to remain culturally identifiable and their quality of life was forfeited so please do us all a favor and rethink your position on subjecting people of color to your broad brush of indifference. Remember, this country is just over two hundred years old yet many of its residents have been here for thousands of years. Build a wall and stamp hands as we realize something has to be done to protect the interest of America but the truth is, the real leak in border patrol is not Arizona 2010, it was Plymouth Rock some 500 years ago. I love America and I marvel at the genius of the Constitution and many a man of all colors have fought and died to assure it maintained its substance. At the risk of being rude, keep looking for away to protect the citizens of Arizona and our borders but for everyone’s sake, know your place Governor and enjoy the new shades of America. 

Respectfully,

Chipa Wolfe

Jasper, Georgia