“Da plane! Da plane!” Tattoofrom the television series Fantasy Island
would yell, running up the bell tower to ring the bell, thereby announcing the
arrival of a new set of guests at the beginning of each episode.
On June 13, from our frontlawn, my husband Mark announced the arrival of da plane! It was Air Force One flying over our house in
Bismarck, ND with President Obama on board. He landed at the Bismarck airport and helicoptered out to Cannon Ball, to
the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. It was his first visit to a reservation
during his presidency. The theme of his visit? Fantasy Island. Officially, it was the welfare of the Native
American children, but I don’t buy in to other people’s fantasy.
Children are
Sacred
Sacred
During Obama’s talk at the pow-wow, Obama said, “I understand that the Lakota word for ‘children’ —
‘wakanyeja’ — comes from the word ‘wakan’ — ‘sacred. That’s what young people
are — they’re sacred. They’re sacred to your families and they’re sacred to
your tribe, and they’re sacred to this nation.” It seems, however, that the federal government
has not been informed of this.
‘wakanyeja’ — comes from the word ‘wakan’ — ‘sacred. That’s what young people
are — they’re sacred. They’re sacred to your families and they’re sacred to
your tribe, and they’re sacred to this nation.” It seems, however, that the federal government
has not been informed of this.
According to Rob Port on NorthDakotaWatchdog.org Betty Jo Krenz, a former employee of the Spirit Lake Tribe in North Dakota
said the federal government is ignoring the suffering of Native American
children. “It’s a bad place,” Krenz was quoted, referring to the state’s
reservations. “It’s a scary place to live. For some reason our government has
chosen to overlook that.” When Port asked Krenz if she felt Obama’s visit would
make a difference in protecting Native American children, she said “absolutely
not.”
said the federal government is ignoring the suffering of Native American
children. “It’s a bad place,” Krenz was quoted, referring to the state’s
reservations. “It’s a scary place to live. For some reason our government has
chosen to overlook that.” When Port asked Krenz if she felt Obama’s visit would
make a difference in protecting Native American children, she said “absolutely
not.”
Many claim the federal government is failing to
protect children and point to high rates of child abuse and deaths. “The recurring deaths and child abuse cases on Spirit
Lake are unacceptable,” North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer told the Jamestown Sun. “Clearly the current system is failing our
children.”
protect children and point to high rates of child abuse and deaths. “The recurring deaths and child abuse cases on Spirit
Lake are unacceptable,” North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer told the Jamestown Sun. “Clearly the current system is failing our
children.”
Port wrote that Elizabeth Morris, chairwoman of
the Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare, agreed that the federal
government was lax in protecting Native American children. “We can see it in
the microcosm of Spirit Lake,” she said. “We can see the children abused. We
can see the federal government turn its back on it.”
the Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare, agreed that the federal
government was lax in protecting Native American children. “We can see it in
the microcosm of Spirit Lake,” she said. “We can see the children abused. We
can see the federal government turn its back on it.”
Good Health Care; No, Seriously, We Really Mean It This Time
The fantasy goes further. According to the White House press release from his
June 13 visit, Obama said “And thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Native
Americans, like all Americans, finally have access to quality, affordable
health care.”
The fantasy goes further. According to the White House press release from his
June 13 visit, Obama said “And thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Native
Americans, like all Americans, finally have access to quality, affordable
health care.”
This is interesting because longstanding
treaties with the federal government guarantee all Native Americans free health
care. (Thus, the Affordable Care Act
exempts them from paying a penalty if they choose not to purchase insurance.) Now, since their government health care was actually
not very good, the new deal is giving them better
health care through the government. Oh, whatever.
treaties with the federal government guarantee all Native Americans free health
care. (Thus, the Affordable Care Act
exempts them from paying a penalty if they choose not to purchase insurance.) Now, since their government health care was actually
not very good, the new deal is giving them better
health care through the government. Oh, whatever.
Double Speak or Disconnect?
After the array of costumes,
drums, chants, and fancy dancers had processed before Obama for the pre-Flag Day
celebration, he said he realized a powwow isn’t just about celebrating the past
but about keeping sacred traditions alive for the next generation of children. “Let’s
put our minds together to advance justice — because like every American, you
deserve to be safe in your communities and treated equally under the
law. “
After the array of costumes,
drums, chants, and fancy dancers had processed before Obama for the pre-Flag Day
celebration, he said he realized a powwow isn’t just about celebrating the past
but about keeping sacred traditions alive for the next generation of children. “Let’s
put our minds together to advance justice — because like every American, you
deserve to be safe in your communities and treated equally under the
law. “
Given Obama’s radical pro-abortionstance, speaking of the next generation and the safety and future of children
is always a tragic irony.
Obama: “Before we came here, Michelle and I sat with an
amazing group of young people… I love these young people.”
amazing group of young people… I love these young people.”
Me: But not pre-born?
Obama: “They feel
like my own. And you should be proud of them — because they’ve overcome
a lot…”
like my own. And you should be proud of them — because they’ve overcome
a lot…”
Me: Yup, lived to
be born
be born
Obama: “…but they’re strong and they’re still standing, and
they’re moving forward.”
they’re moving forward.”
Me: That’s the potential after birth.
Obama: “I believe that we can turn the corner. We can
break old cycles. We can give our children a better future. “
break old cycles. We can give our children a better future. “
Me: The first step is giving them all a future. That would be better.
Obama: “And we’ve got to invest in them and believe in them
and love them…”
and love them…”
Me: Love means not
killing.
killing.
Obama: “…and that
starts from the White House all the way down here.”
starts from the White House all the way down here.”
Me: Yup.
Obama: “And every day that I have the honor of serving as
your President, I will do everything I can to make sure that you see that our country
has a place for everyone…”
your President, I will do everything I can to make sure that you see that our country
has a place for everyone…”
Me: A place for
everyone? That would be heaven on earth
because there’s a place in heaven for every one.
everyone? That would be heaven on earth
because there’s a place in heaven for every one.
Obama: “…including every single young person here — and all
across the Dakotas and all across America, and that you’re getting the support
and encouragement you need to go as far as your hard work and your talent will
take you. That is my commitment to you — to every single young person
here. “
across the Dakotas and all across America, and that you’re getting the support
and encouragement you need to go as far as your hard work and your talent will
take you. That is my commitment to you — to every single young person
here. “
Me: Stop pretending every single unborn young person is
not here. They are.
not here. They are.
Obama: “Hechetu welo. Thank you. God bless
you. And God bless the United States of America.”
you. And God bless the United States of America.”
Me: Amen! And God
bless you too Mr. Obama. May he open your heart to the sacredness of the unborn.
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bless you too Mr. Obama. May he open your heart to the sacredness of the unborn.
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For more inspiration, check out Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories From Everyday Families uplifting stories on love and life. Children’s books, Dear God, I Don’t Get It and Dear God, You Can’t Be Serious are fiction that present faith through fun and adventuresome stories.
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