During the February 7 showing of the television program "60 Minutes"
syndicated columnist Andy Rooney once again proved he is no friend of Indian
Country. Andy has established a pattern of taking cheap shots at American
Indians. Not unlike Casino magnate Donald Trump, Andy doesn't think there
are any real Indians left. His world view is such that he might say the
last "real" Indian was possibly Chief Joseph, or Crazy Horse.
This time Andy said that Indian casinos are a joke and the people who run Indian casinos are jokes. I'm assuming that Rooney assumes he possesses some kind of tangible information which provides him a basis for claiming the moral high ground on the issue of Indian gaming. However, I could be fooled here.
I have a strategy to suggest to Rooney which might serve him well as he struggles with the spirits of Indian gaming. I would suggest he join forces with Donald Trump and collaborate on developing a series of new-speak tapes, similar to the party-line of tapes developed by the Newt to combat Clintonism. Rooney and Trump could create tapes full of Rooneyisms or snippets which attack or degrade tribal councils who authorize contracts with investors or corporations.
Here is a list of possible tapes the Donald and Andy could develop:
1. "Indian Bashing 101."
2. "Advanced Indian Bashing 400."
3. "Things Your Mother Never Told You About the Evils of Indian Gaming."
4. "The Shocking Facts About Pow-Wows, Fry Bread and Indian Gaming."
5. "War of the Worlds: Indian Warriors Invade Trump Tower; Exit With Saddle Bags Bulging With Gold."
6. "How to Visit Manhattan on $24 Worth of Trinkets a Day."
7. "The Fry Bread Papers: Indian America's Conspiracy to Have a Financial Life."
8. "White Male Privilege and Indian Bashing: The New Frontier."
I think it would be refreshing to consider that Andy and any other
writer like him might consider expanding their horizons on the gaming issue.
Sovereignty is inextricably linked to the issue of gaming. I'd suggest
that Andy quit reading the cartoon section so much and maybe do a LEXIS
search under "American Indian Sovereignty." This might offer clues to reality.
Information about the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and the National
Indian Gaming Commission would show Andy Rooney that Indian tribes (Nations
Andy) have to jump through more white tape than the average bear, or maybe
even more than their non-Indian brothers.
Maybe Andy should learn something about tribal rights to pursue economic development, which derive partly from retention of ancient internal sovereignty. It probably wouldn't hurt Andy to read where a U.S. Supreme Court decision known as Johnson v. McIntosh (1823) affirmed that Indian tribes have the right to occupy and use their lands for purposes which advance their livelihood. Andy's horizons might be expanded something awful if he were to look into the provisions of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, which allowed tribes to pursue economic development in earnest. While he's at it, Rooney should read something about termination policy (the process of the U.S. attempting to end its official relationship with tribes). This process ended the existence of over 100 tribes. President Nixon disavowed this policy. Maybe Andy has not seen the positive comments which President Clinton has made regarding the relationship of the U.S. with the Indian nations, as well as Attorney General Janet Reno's similar statements about the U.S. commitment to protecting Indian rights.
But then again maybe Andy will just go away. Check that thought - there
are many more like Andy who have funny ideas