Reflecting on what happened at Standing Rock
Our nation's sad history concerning the treatment of the native peoples is well known. At Standing Rock, we had a chance to redeem ourselves. We had an historic opportunity to show that we had evolved from our archaic ways.
It seems most folks don't know much about what was going on there. Not surprising: The mainstream news only gave us tidbits here and there. You had to dig deep to find out what was happening and why. It was the largest gathering of native people in modern times. Indigenous people from around the world came to stand with their North American brothers and sisters and draw a line in the sand. This is where it would end. Their quest was deeply spiritual and reflects a profound understanding of our relationship to our environment. We could learn a lot if we just listened to these folks.
I hear friends say, "you realize that is not really their land." Incorrect. The treaty of Fort Laramie in 1851 established this land as tribal land. Do we not honor our own treaties? Other friends would point out "a pipeline is the most efficient and low-carbon way of moving that oil." True, but did you realize that that oil is for export, benefiting very few and endangering hundreds of thousands of folks downstream. This is fracked oil that would best be left in the ground. They have over-saturated our own domestic market. The only profitable avenue left is to export it.
How many of us knew that the 96 percent white town of Bismarck soundly rejected plans for the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross the river upstream of their town. It was deemed unsafe for the town of Bismarck so it was relocated downstream, and upstream of the native people's land. Problem solved.
And did you see the horrific images of military-style assaults on peaceful men and women with water cannons hour after hour in freezing temperatures, tear gas, and rubber bullets fired at close range? Folks were even bitten by police attack dogs. I watched these wretched images night after night and it broke my heart. Actions you might assume would be unthinkable this day in age. They knew no one was watching.
On Dec. 4, the Army Corps denied the permit for construction of the pipeline. It seemed the natives were victorious at last, but the victory was short lived. Just one more lie in a 300-year-long string of lies and broken promises. Our words mean nothing. We do whatever we want. I fear we have not really moved so far from the old days. I hope we'll take a good hard look at what we have just done. I feel overwhelming shame for being a part of this and I'm looking hard for ways to make it right.
Kelly Mulhollan
Fayetteville
Old armory a building worth preserving
For the past several years there have been rumors, not yet made public or official, that there is a desire to demolish the old National Guard Armory at 10 South College in Fayetteville to add more parking spaces for the nearby and actively used Historic Washington County Courthouse.
I am asking the county and my fellow citizens to please not let this happen. The historic armory, designed by the E. M. Ratliff Co. and built by E.V. Bird Construction, dates back to 1929. It is part of what might be called the last intact block of "old" Fayetteville, which includes the Historic Washington County Courthouse (1904-1905), the Legion Hut (1940), the old county jail (1897) and, behind the Guard Armory, the 1885 Fayetteville City Jail. The armory has also been the Fayetteville Boys Club and a jail annex, among other uses.
Please keep our old armory to preserve another important building with great significance to our local history.
Jerry B. Hogan
Fayetteville
Commentary on 03/11/2017