Posted on 06/13/2004 4:27:40 AM PDT by oceanperch
Indians trying to save their reputation 10:42 PM PDT on Friday, June 11, 2004 By PAT McREYNOLDS / KING 5 News
TACOMA, Wash.
Native Americans are fighting back after federal agents raided 12 tribal smokeshops earlier this week. Shop owners didn't like their businesses being mentioned in the same sentence as Al-Qaeda.
Just as motorists cross into Tacoma on I-5, a new sign blinks in to view that says: "We are not terrorists. We are American Indians. We have been fighting terrorism since 1492." KING
"We are not terrorists. We are American Indians. We have been fighting terrorism since 1492." Patrons of the Emerald Queen Casino couldn't help but comment as they walked by. "I couldn't believe they put something like that up there," said one. "To me, it looks like an over-reaction," said another.
The owner of Lyle's Smokeshop authored the sign in response to a massive raid by customs agents earlier this week when they seized cash and thousands of cigarettes from 12 stores on the same day that the government announced a crackdown on cigarette smuggling and its ties to terrorism.
Those claims touched off a demonstration by smokeshop employees. David Turnipseed owns BJ's, another shop raided by federal agents.
"I think most people know that we're not terrorists. I think everybody knows that's a crock, that's just an excuse to get in the door," he said.
He even claims to have documents proving the cigarettes seized had already passed through customs. "It was bogus. It's a way in the backdoor to try and break the Native Americans," he continued.
Customs officials still have no comment on the raids, and even though many were put off by the message on the reader board, none of them felt their neighbors are funneling money to Al-Qaeda.
The sign is not owned by the casino and has nothing to do with it, and the message has done very little if anything to slow down Friday night business.
The raids took place on Tuesday and so far, customs agents have not charged any of the shops with a crime.
I agree with that Chad. But I would like it done through the legislature, NOT by putting WA businessmen and employees out of work while special interest groups grease their politicans' pockets to get exemptions from illegal county laws. Is THAT what you mean by conservatism? I think elections and legal legislation is a better and more permanent answer than your "bite me" we've got ours, you get yours proposition. Since when have you begun supporting scheming liberal and democrat politicians as they funnel millions into rat campaign coffers? It is not a choice between your heritage and conserativism. This is a simple issue of democrat pols getting big bucks from a support group by manipulating regulations. The tribes would make $ still, even if other WA busniesses competed. Infact they would probably see greater accountability to their people. If you can get over the Indian connection for just a moment, you could see more clearly past race. Try substituting the word woman, or illegal or Mexican or any other minority, and see if you would feel the same. You would probably not support the two-tiered grab by the rats.
LOL DennisW just jumps into the swirling black waters of a business problem that happens to have the word Indian in it. Watch out! It's hot in this frying pan;)
WA state is a mess business wise. Over regulation and taxation. The rats have had a field day for 40 years. I agree all taxes and regs should be lowered. But by the legislature, not by the democrat politicians exempting their special interest tribal groups - thereby putting other WA people out of business, and then accepting huge campaign donations. NO, that makes for a future mess, not a solution.... IMHO.
Liberals and most conservatives have a guilt complex when it comes to American Indians. This is the obvious reason no one challenges the whole notion of Indian casinos on their phony "sovereign nation" land. I feel for the original inhabitants of America but I don't believe in elevating them to billionaires and millionaires via Indian casinos. Which are basically a Democrat party plot to integrate tribal mega bucks into the Democrat party fund raising machine
You are so right. We are being held hostage by the Chumash tribe and the politicians who benefit from their shake down.
My solution is to allow the free market to work and not give any group special privilages over another.
If people wanted legalized gambling outside of Indian reservations it would happen, but they don't. That's not the Indian's fault.
Are you really this ignorant, Dennis? I thought you were smarter than that. I really did.
Now, why don't you take that ignorant statement, and tell that to the thousands of Mohawks who travelled the country working the High Steel? Ya know, those indians who didn't build modern America, who in reality did a large portion of the work on such engineering marvels as the World Trade Center, and the thousands of other skyscrapers throughout this nation.
And that's but one example. But hey, what would I know?
Because you stated "good for us" and "protection agianst whites". And you stick with your ethnic identificaiton even though it's putting other WA people out of business illegally and unfairly. I don't want tribes to do badly. I am just insisting that if INDIANS can run a certain type of business, other WA residents should have the same right. Don't you agree?
I only support the so-called "two-tiers" because I support the constitution.
As soon as you can show me where in the constitution, or in any agreement between the tribal nations and our government where it says that the county-level governments have the legal ability to regulate Indian land, then I'll stop supporting it.
Until then, I'll just continue to fight for lower taxes and less regulation for EVERYONE, regardless of race, color, creed, sex etc...
We have leagalized gambling across WA (unfortunately) but only tribes are allowed certain games and machines... Non-tribal need not apply....
I can't speak for Fish Hawk, but I agree. So, why don't you work through the state legislature and see if you can get a state law passed allowing non-indians to also have casinos? What's stopping you from pursuing that direction, Libertina? Anything?
So get the law changed. It's State law that's not allowing you to do that, not Indians.
I'm totally with you.
The reason I don't get involved with it other than on the tax/regulation/business/etc end and stay out of the fact that it involves Indians is because I have no experience .......however I have plenty of experience with the special interests greasing pols pockets when it comes to some getting things (like casinos) while others are forbidden. In the case in Delware it was the horse racing industry and the 3 existing tracks in the state.
It is the exact same situation....which is why I don't look at this particular issue as a white man vs. the Indian. It's taxation and regulation manipulation that benefits one group while hurting the little guy who is just trying to make a living.
That is peanuts compared to the Chumash. 150 "tribe members" receive about $500,000 per year for their Las Vegas style casino. There are approximately 7500-9500 Chumash descendants, but the 150 former reservation dweller "tribal members" will not vote into the tribe the Chumash who went to school, worked hard, got jobs, and left the government housing.
And don't even mention DNA tests to determine who is actually a Chumash. The Res Squatters run the tribe.
Good point. Sad, but good point.
Are you really this ignorant, Dennis? I thought you were smarter than that. I really did.
Now, why don't you take that ignorant statement, and tell that to the thousands of Mohawks who traveled the country working the High Steel? Ya know, those Indians who didn't build modern America, who in reality did a large portion of the work on such engineering marvels as the World Trade Center, and the thousands of other skyscrapers throughout this nation.
Mohawks made their big bucks construction money OFF RESERVATION! Yet another argument against your phony sovereign nation when it suits you for casinos scam. That never would have happened except for hack Democrat lawyers ramming casino laws through state legislatures. Who now have Indian campaign contributions streaming into Democrat coffers.
Well if nothing else, the sign is rather witty.
If we proclaim that Indians shouldn't be thin-skinned when it comes to team nicknames, costumes, etc., then perhaps we should follow our own advice and not overreact to a bit of venting.
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