Where is the FAIRNESS? There is none. When our elected officials violate our
constitutional rights & ignore policies & procedures, there is no fairness. Remember
the "State Of Emergency"? Civil rights violations under the current administration
rival those of many third world dictatorships! Tribal members were banned,
harassed, disciplined, and unlawfully terminated for exercising the First Amendment!
Thinking about RESPECT reminds me of an incident that took place in the court
room. Council members, BIA Superintendent Rosen, Sheriff Kovach & a federal
mediator from the Office of the US Attorney General were present. Believing that the
mediator was here to offer assistance in resolution of the political turmoil here in Bad
River, Band members began to arrive at the meeting. As one of our Elders carried an
Eagle Staff, Treasurer Lemieux stood up and hollered, "Get out! You hide behind
those ------ feathers. I'll take you outside and straighten your crooked legs!" Total
shock that Lemieux would display such disrespect and physically threaten a Tribal
Elder with bodily harm. Nobody, not the Council, not the Sheriff, not the federal
mediator said or did anything to stop his shameful public display! Chairman Bigboy's
reaction was to simply put his arm around Treasurer Lemieux and sneer at his
people. I ask you, Is this RESPECT?
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