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 thought the sign was a nice slap in the face to Anglo Americans.
The year Islam was expelled from Greneda.
That's not going to buy them much sympathy, but they've done things like this before. In upstate NY there is, or was, a big sign comparing the mealy-mouthed, RINO, liberal George Pataki with George Custer.
The fact of the matter is that many Indians hate America and hate white folk. Of course, America and white folk destroyed their cultures and decimated them, so maybe they have a right to feel that way, but never mind all that.
I think these raids on Indian smoke shops have a lot more to do with tax dollars than with terrorism. Anti-smoking political correctness may have something to do with it as well. They're not raiding the gift shops with the faux head dresses and Indian jewelry, after all.
Here's some insight:
"The choice before us at present seems to be between two types of nonfree societies: (a) our present society with its constitutional guarantees of individual freedom and its helplessness against willful individuals who mug, rob,rape, murder, bomb, riot, and disrupt our institutions; or (b) a dictatorship which deprives individuals of many freedoms but maintains order and security in the cities. It is clear that a society in the grip of fear is not free no matter how numerous the freedoms its constitution guarantees."
Who were these people fighting in 1492? It surely wasn't Columbus as that man never put his foot on these shores, and he definitely didn't visit Lyle's Smoke Shop.
I kinda was wondering that it had something to do with anti smoking.
One shop got ticked and started handing out packs of smokes that even teens were taking.
I wish the ATF would at least issue a statement as to why they raided these smoke shops.
I am not a smoker but understand a pack is now over five bucks so maybe it has created a black market and the smoke shops are the venue.
The sign was a bit much but let them vent, if I felt my business was unfairly being raided I would be ticked too.
I believe that technically the Indian reservations are sovereigh nations with their own laws, so if the Indian police arrested these Customs agents and tried them for trespassing, it might put a stop to this stuff. Of course, if I were a sovereign nation of a couple of hundred square miles surrounded by the world's greatest ever super-power, I might think twice about that course of action.
Greed......plain and simple.....and not gred on the part of the Native americans, but on the part of the government.
Governments keep trying to balance budgets on the backs of smokers and smokers are fighting back by finding other sources of less expensive tobacco products.....government doesn't like this....they don't like "losing" money. And since the Reservation smoke-shops are not required to charge state sales taxes, the government big brothers think they are "losing"' money that wasn't theirs to begin with.
I have to admit it - my sympathies are firmly on the side of the Indians, unless it can really be proven that they're funding terrorists. But when you consider that no one has been convicted, or even charged, then I think it's safe to say that it's all a big crock that the state cooked up as a pretext to harass and steal from the Indians.
Once the Indians agree to "share" some of this money with the state there will be no more raids and no more accusations of helping terrorists.
Our local smoke shop sells milk now for almost half the price a gallon and I thought about buying it there on the weeks I can't find a coupon.
Sheesh hate to see them raid milk.
I need to get some shut eye as it is after 5am on the Left coast.
I look forward to checking back in tommarrow night.
They sell milk in the Indian smoke shops? What'll they think of next?
Millions upon millions of Indian campaign dollars (so handy to use all that untaxed income) are going to DEMOCRAT politicians here for the governors race etc. Now they have bought a huge piece of prime property in Puyallup. It will house theaterS, restaurantS, gambling casinoS (an Indian Disneyland, if you will) ALL OF WHICH ARE OFF THE TAX ROLLS! Guess who will be asked to make up the difference in lost taxes to support schools, government, programs, transportation etc?
Our state has been sold down the river and if we don't get it back soon, just get ready to say "How" when visiting Washington. These people are not stupid. They have learned they can get it all, and probaby feel it is justified. But the real culprits are the so-called "elected representatives" who have brokered these massive schemes. BTW The tribes, I have been told, are currently looking into gas stations. Again, NOT paying tax to the state. This so-called "(dependant) "sovereign nation" is truly becoming a HUGE state within a state to the detriment of the citizens of Washington State. And is coming to your town if you don't say no. LOL The Indians may end up with all the land back, after all.
Post 13 for you.
This is not about not smoking. It is about shutting down all other casino businesses, funneling it to the tribes, who don't pay state taxes which are then given to democrat politicians as campaign contributions. End of story. When we recently had an illegal county-wide smoking ban, it somehow didn't apply to the "sovereign nations." So much for caring about the "poor workers who will be hurt by second-hand smoke!" BS! It is about political control and money. Big shocker.
The Indians may end up with all the land back, after all.
That would be ironic wouldn't it? The government wants to renege on every promise made to the Indians. The sovereignty of Indian lands has been on-going since they are starting to make a little money. Its all about the money.
How did we get to two levels of citizenship in this country ?
No Bob, they are not making a "little money." These tribes are making millions by NOT having to obey the laws that other Washington businesses are saddled with. I do not begrudge Indians $ for gambling - IF other businesses are allowed the same. But other businesses are not allowed to do as the Indians do. That is a two-class system and will tear down the country. Remember the Bible, A house divided cannot stand. Two systems, as in Canada, are bringing them down, not making them stronger. Unfair is unfair. A new unfairness cannot "make up" for a previous/historical unfairness. It only sets the stage for conflict. IMHO
Ping. Need you to join in. BUMP
Same way we got "minority" preferences in college, in-state tuition rates for illegals, and gay-"marriages." Sedentary citizens, scheming politicians, and tyrannical judges who don't obey the law.
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