Month: November 2023

A time for thanksgiving yet today there will be some protests for this or that.

Mainly whatever is the flavor of the day or week or month or…!

That is, some one’s perceived right or their rights have been violated.

Today I start my protest, against the letter “F.”

And another one is against hair turning white!

Creeks that have water flowing in them.

Dead batteries and dead trees too!

Birds that cannot fly.

The four seasons no not the singing group but why four?

For us to have one climate.

One nation under heaven or God. Wait! Is that two protests?

I wonder would anyone come? 

Some might, if I told them about it or shouted long and loud enough.

The question is like the proverbial question one of “if a tree falls in the forest does it make a noise?”

Well yes it does, I have been in the forest and heard and seen it fall.

It was clear as day I heard it yell, I am falling, and timber!

It did not yell “look out!”

Well not really, just joking.

I started a protest today about the unfairness and ugliness in the world today.

I was all alone.

I thought but, just like the characters in the Bible such as Moses, Elijah, Gideon, and others I was not.

The Great Spirit himself came to hear and remind me I was not alone. As it turns out there were two others along with the Father, came the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

A protest is a lot of hot air and shouting mostly by weirdly colored-haired people.

Ndn braves would color their hair to look fiercer in battle. This might be a native appropriation thing too I do not know.

Red hair works, green I do not think so unless it is a camouflage thing.

Orange sorta yea. Purple naw. Blue well, maybe dark blue.

 Pink? Really!  Pink? I, can picture ol ndn Joe Scout shake his head and say Ha!

Ha is a short ndn word for……….. well, you get the idea.

This thing I do know if!  I started a protest and no one came the Lord tells me that I am not alone.

The Great Spirit is always with me in three personages.

Believe it or not!

Why can’t we just have food and feetball?

How does one change the climate or affect climate? That has been quite a debate over time but now more so lately.

At the very least understanding of terminology helps such as:

Climate: noun the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general over a long period of time. Ok understand that this is a basic concept taught in or was during my time in grade schools and high school.

I wonder with all the shouting and screaming from kids and even so, called adults if they understand this.

That climate changes over time. History shows this and what temperature was it before man appeared?

Here in what is known today as America, were the people of the land. i.e. indigenous, Indians, ndns’.  Are those that lived here before the start of this American global warming?  There is blame being passed about but, is it because the tribal people used up too much resources? Did we chop up the forest for wood to cook meat and for heat?

I never ate raw meat at least not intentionally. I have camped out in the army and in civilian life. Those boogers can get cold so even teepees, and mud-houses, needed wood for heat.

Over time this country discovered oil on ndn land and of course natural  gas too. The fight came over the ndn not using them or knowing what they could be used for.  

As also in other countries this has happened too.

And oh Lord no, one must have a good log cabin to live in more wood from the forest. Less places for the animals to run wild and free. Plus the ndns too. Wild that is and free.

There is a lot of crying going on about air pollution from autos, planes and trains. I might have to get rid of my little Ford Ranger at least I do not own a plane or even a train.

I have worked at a frozen food processing plant and a nursery.  Nothing as disgusting to activists as an oil, gas, or a coal mine worker.

Yes siree, Bob I do not own a fuel guzzling, polluting aeroplane. How do all the people get to where they are protesting? What mode of transport did they use?

One thing for the ndn before civilization came, he had to walk. Oh darn! He did leave a footprint some they seem get mighty upset about that. The ndn cannot win for losing. He left a footprint. Darn!

Justice: noun just behavior or treatment.

Hmm justice, was another of those words banded about during this climate deal they had going on.  Well, those old ndn’s have been looking for this but sometimes in the wrong places and ways.
We have seen if you stand in the way of progress, you get trampled or put on a piece of land no one wants. That is until something is there they need.

That is an injustice to those who do not benefit from it. it is true that not all the promises made by big corporate America have been kept. Land lays wasted and bears the scars of misuse.

Often the land is not fit for occupation after the minerals or whatever is exhausted.

Occupied: adjective being used as busy or active.

There was a lot of shouting going on about occupied land. It had to do with Israel in the Gaza strip. True there is an occupation going on. How does one get climate justice on occupied land from this?

Climate Justice really that is not even a thing! I as an ndn would love that kind of justice for my little piece of land.

Every spring the grass grows and grows there is no justice in that. Why it would be great if it grew to and inch in height and stopped! That would create a great climate for me. No seating as I mow the yard. It certainly would make my occupation of this land more just to me. I could justify buying a hammock to laze in.

Alas there is no justice for this occupied land subject to the changes in climate year after year.

Darn..oh yea, it does say in the Bible something about it in Genesis 3:18 “both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you…”I do battle dandelions, garlic and other weeds.

Such is life as we are occupied with in this climatic, unjust, land.

Here is a thought:

How about lowering the voices so you can create a climate of calmness, maybe with this climate there would be no anger or loud shouting creating a just or fair environment for a discussion, furthermore with a calmer voice you would not use up so much oxygen and leave some for others, this means you occupy less space than you deserve.

It is just a thought.   

The 12^th has passed and no birthday celebration or trip to anywhere. This date of mom’s birthday but she passed from this life back in 2007.

My birthday is two days after and I would joke that I was her birthday gift.

Mom and dad raised eight kids four boys four girls.  Now there are only four daughters and one son left.

 I had seen in the news about women fighting for their reproductive rights. They claim the government has taken them away. Not so they still have them.

They were not sterilized or given forced abortions. Though over the ages some have such as with native people among others. History is a forgotten thing until it serves your own purpose.

We as a country and people do have a sad history.  As do other countries too.

Mom and dad faced the same things as others had to. They grew up during the dust bowl days and lived through the depression and just life in general. With each new baby more resources were needed to clothe, feed, and board us.

I remember beans, and taters both fried and boiled. Meat came from the occasional deer and butchered pig along with rabbits, squirrels, and fish. Wild onion, Polk salad and other greens and berries too.

Along with some commodities which came our way.

Clothes that had patches from hand me downs-handed down till even the patches wore-out.

From log cabins with no indoor plumbing, or electricity, to finally an NDN home. We lived where mom and dad could afford to keep a roof over our heads.

Did mom ever think oh, no, another mouth to feed? This I do not know but yes, probably. When dad passed away in 1970 mom had to learn how to drive at the age of 42 and she got her drivers’ license too!

I must say we were not the greatest kids to raise and she had to raise her voice to us many times.

Six of us went to boarding school after graduating from Dahlonegah Grade school. Boarding school was cheaper than going to regular high school.

Why this story now, you may ask, or wonder about it? Well, it is to say this, I am thankful to have known my mom. To have had a mom even against odds of raising us, in the-midst of poverty. With our own alcohol problems and some surprise pregnancies.

Pregnancies happen when one has sex, without precautions. Some come from being under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Others from rape or incest. And from adultery or if it makes you feel better from affairs.

Those are reasons why?

These things do happen. In all cultures and countries.

I can say our family has taken care of those born into the family.

The Bible does say in Psalm 127:3 “behold children are a heritage form the Lord the fruit of the womb is a reward.” On the 14^th of November I was born into the family but, I do not remember mom holding me.

At first since, I was a newborn!

I was blessed to have a mom that kept me and raised me. I never did say to mom I love you. Nor to my brothers who have passed away. I missed those opportunities.

This expression I can start with my sisters and all my nieces, nephews and now some great ones too.

This one thing I learned from my mother was that she loved the grandkids more than us.

 Funny huh?

I believe that Mothers’ Day is on the wrong day and month it should be on your birthday that you celebrate your mom!

                                                                                 Amen