Urges U.S. to fight poverty and disease

Another shuttle disaster and I am reminded of the native people’s teachings, which is do not tamper with nature or nature will exact a price for your misdeed. Accordingly, each shuttle mission should be blessed for the safe return of astronauts. In Native people’s way, usually there is an offering made to the Creator.

It is also the native people’s teaching that, knowledge without respect is dangerous. Releasing the power of the atom is a good example. Without respect, the power of the atom now threatens human existence. In the case of space exploration, we must state to our Maker, exactly what it is we want to gain from exploring outer space, and make a humble request for the privilege of doing so.

This, the second shuttle disaster, appears to send a message to America, President Bush in particular because the disaster took place over Texas. The message could be any number of things, but one certainly would be the president’s push to invade Iraq and possibly North Korea. While September 11 appears to be about terrorism, yet both of these events appear to warn America about its use of power, both military and economic.

America was conceived at a time when despotism ruled the world, yet in America, the people lived a very simple and pastoral life — family, ceremonies, hunting for food and game. It would appear that the Creator decided to start a new nation in a land, which is free of human exploitation. For a while the Native people were the teachers to the newcomers, but with guns and increased population, greed led to conquest and subjugation.

Nevertheless, perhaps because of a new document upon which the new government was established, there was a promise of a great democracy. Thomas Jefferson, who helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the new constitution, upon becoming president, organized the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

“Make friends with the Indians, study their way of life, record all plants and animals” the President stated.

“Study how the Indians govern themselves,” he told them.

Evidently, President Jefferson was inspired by a greater being.

In the ensuing 200-plus years, all this changed. Exploration was replaced by plunder and brotherhood was replaced by bloodshed.

Now it is the world. Can America bring peace and democracy with bombs?

America’s greatest strength is not military might, but humanitarianism. America is a great economic power, but it has not use this power to fight poverty and diseases in the world. I would suggest this was the message to President Bush and America.

Daniel Peaches

Kayenta, Ariz.

Put your emphasis on world pride

With so many nations acquiring nuclear technology, the world has grown very small indeed. Today North Korea, tomorrow Iran...who’s next?

With the health and well being of humanity now residing in the hands of so many different governments — some unstable, others fanatical, we are at grave risk. After 50 centuries of conflict, we must finally come of age. No longer can we afford to be a world divided.

A world of warriors drunk on testosterone or religion and armed with nuclear weapons is a world doomed to destruction. As the butterfly emerges from its chrysalis, we too must emerge from a violent and ignorant past.

National pride must be replaced with world pride. The United Nations represents one plausible means to emerge from a past of violence and separation, to a future of unity and peace. For our country’s leaders to do whatever they please despite world opinion is incredibly shortsighted.

We can’t move America to another neighborhood. This country has a jury system to decide important matters. That system works. The UN works the same way. We can not afford to dismiss and disdain the wishes of the rest of the world, while the potential for nuclear war and nuclear terrorism now shadows our planet, and demands that we all co-exist or face unthinkable consequences.

Like it or not, our adolescence is over, and we must have leaders of vision to uplift us to a new world unity, not drag us down into the final dark ages. It is not the UN who faces a “moment of truth,” it is the United States.

David Singelyn

Warner Springs, Calif.

Praises teamwork in youth drug program

In reading the Navajo-Hopi Observer, there are a lot of interesting articles on what is happening on and near the reservation.

There was one article that motivated me to write this letter — ”Hopi Youth Wellness Court garners high praise at banquet.” That was published in the Feb. 5 paper. It gave me hope and pride that there is a tribe within the four sacred mountains that is working together to help our young youth of today with drug and alcohol problems. I see that the Hopi Chairman Wayne Taylor Jr., Chief Justice Gary LaRance, the Tribal Council delegates and the Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement have come together to face the issues of drug and alcohol problems facing our children.

We hear time and time again that our children are our future, and yet it seems that support is lacking when it comes to helping our youth. Yes, one glitch in the program is there are no juvenile facilities, and the Navajo Tribe faces this same dilemma. The drug court programs do need tons of support from the judicial branch, service providers, district judges, communities and parents — and all other departments in between that have a part in helping.

We need people that are open-minded to these issues, not narrow-minded individuals that will stunt growth in the program and box the program in a cubicle box. The Navajo and Hopi tribes can come together and work together and learn from one another to make the program work for the youth of our future.

My hat goes off to all of you for your teamwork in facing this problem with our children. I would also like to thank you for sharing this article with the public. Ahee’eeh.

Marlene L. Shondee

Kayenta, Ariz.

Donate to nhonews.com Report a Typo Contact
Most Read