OUTRAGE IN NORTH DAKOTA

SPECIAL POST

We white folks know no end to our insensitivity or mean spirits when it comes to Native Americans.  

A number of natives have gathered in North Dakota at the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to protest the building of the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline, and not without some justification; there was a recent break in the Keystone Pipeline in South Dakota and another leak occurred at the Ventura Pipeline in southern California.   In fact, there have been almost 600 oil or gas line leaks in the country just since 2000.   

Tribal officials now say construction crews deliberately destroyed American Indian burial and cultural sites on private land near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation.  Several hundred protesters confronted construction crews Saturday and violence erupted.  A security officer was taken to a Bismarck hospital for undisclosed injuries and two guard dogs were taken to a Bismarck veterinary clinic.  

Tribal spokesman Steve Sitting Bear said protesters reported six people had been bitten by security dogs, including a young child. At least 30 people were pepper-sprayed, he said.  The tribe fears the project will disturb sacred sites and impact drinking water for thousands of tribal members on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and millions further downstream.  The protest Saturday came one day after the tribe filed court papers saying it found several sites of "significant cultural and historic value" along the path of the proposed pipeline.  Tribal preservation officer Tim Mentz said in court documents that the tribe was only recently allowed to survey private land north of the Standing Rock Sioux reservation.  Mentz said researchers found burials rock piles called cairns and other sites of historic significance to Native Americans.  

Nevertheless, Federal laws regarding the national preservation of historical and cultural sites not withstanding, the builders of the pipe line appear so focused on rushing to completion of their project that they are willing to trample the sacred rights of Native Americans.  I can't begin to imagine how those calloused bastards would react if a tribe were to start building a road through an all-white cemetery.  

This reaction of mine has nothing to do with my stance on pollution and energy; in fact, I'm all for getting more energy to more Americans at a cheaper price.  However, the actions of those involved in the North Dakota project are outrageous and totally insulting to the dignity of mankind.  

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.