LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Rape Cases on Indian Lands Go Uninvestigated

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12203114

Part 1, broadcast yesterday: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12203114

Part 2, broadcast today on "All Things Considered."

This is beyond outrageous. Non-native men are responsible. No investigations, no indictments, no trials, no convictions. This is in the general region of where I come from. It's our version of the Mexican borders maquilordoras, where sexual kidnapping, torture and murder happen with impunity.

When did my part of the world become like this, filled with men making war on the most defenseless, children and women? O.k. granted I come from the bottom of the Red River Valley, which is far from the North-South Dakota Standing Rock stateline-bridging reservation. But I read in the Fargo Forum, and even the smaller towns' papers, every week of terrible crimes involved torture and beating and kidnapping and rape, of small children, of girls, young women, old women. This wasn't going on when I was growing, lucky for me.

This nation is beyond sick.

And, I truly fear, beyond healing.

1 comment:

Graeme said...

sick indeed. In Fargo yesterday an eighteen year old guy tried to kill another guy with his SUV. The police said he seemed proud of himself.


Link