<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>If there had been help from the government to help solve the high unemployement, high substance abuse, the high sucide rate, high rate of teen pregnancies, low quiality education then perhaps this event would have never happened in the first place<p><hr></blockquote><p>Didn't you just have a post earlier, marveling about how great your society and your justice system is. Now it seems your perfect world needs more help from our imperfect one.<br><br><br><br>

Actually the earlier post was on a Justice system used by some if not all Native American groups.<br><br>The fact that a greater power, the US government, has for many many years<br>tried to erase the Native peoples from the map thru the use of various programs designed to keep native peoples <br>"in their proper place" much the same as they tried to keep other people of color in their proper place, simply because they were not of the same<br>skin tone as those in power, The Civil Rights Act was passed back in the<br>50-60's yet there are still groups who suffer at the hands of the government agencies who are in fact suspose to protect those rights<br><br><br><br>

CE, your I'm not white therefore I'm persecuted mantra is wearing thin. I have no doubt that there are individuals — INDIVIDUALS, NOT ENTIRE GOV'T BODIES — who still harbor racial prejudices. And those prejudices no doubt influence their votes and policy platforms. But your claim that all non-whites are deliberately being kept under the white man's thumb as a matter of policy and law is outmoded. I'm sure the gov't. can do better — across all programs for all people. But to continually push the blame outward from your community is nothing more than neo-teflonism. Just google "Native Americans in business" or "Native American success stories", etc., and you'll get plenty of hits related to people who have helped themselves overcome many of the barriers you love to harp on. And you'll find links to countless programs — private and gov't-sponsored — that only need to be taken advantage of. Poverty and disadvantage can be overcome. It just takes courage, determination, and a willingness to take full responsibility for your destiny.<br><br>What you claim was inarguably true a century and more ago. But I have a hard time believing that such gov't. conspiracies can or could still thrive in this era.<br><br>

CE, once again you come out of the gate crying like a baby. You make Native Americans look like they can't do anything without whinning about it. American Indians are a strong people with a true and simple culture. The lazy ones cry about how the can't do this or that. The lazy ones who want hand outs play the victim like YOU do every time you open your mouth. You're a begger with your hand out for anything someone will give you. You're hands are soft because you don't work to make something of yourself..<br>Shut up!<br><br>Sean,<br>It's a crying shame that Bush said so little, so late about the shooting. I guess running an entire country of millions of people has a nasty habit of getting in the way. I'm mean, really, there's only trying to keep North Korea from nuking someone, running a war in Iraq, working with the middle east to reduce oil prices, education, employment, battling with near sighted Dems to want to pack every bill with crap, and minior stuff like that. Not like you have ever been late to a family event or mssed something because of the demands of your work. Nah. More likely, Bush was too busy watching American Idol and didn't want to miss anything. Right?<br>(rolling eyes)<br><br>SteveG, <br>What can I say? <br>You rock.<br><br>

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>I guess running an entire country of millions of people has a nasty habit of getting in the way.<p><hr></blockquote><p>or vacations and terry schiavo. <blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>But on Saturday night, when Mr. Bush made the rare decision to interrupt his Texas vacation and rush back to Washington to be in place to sign a bill that could restore Ms. Schiavo's feeding tube, the White House said that the issue had become one of "defending life," and that time was of the essence.<br><br>So, too, were White House politics, Republicans and conservative religious figures said. Although Mr. Bush was described as personally moved by the issue, his dramatic return was seen as a powerful embrace of the "culture of life" issues of religious conservatives who helped him win the White House in 2004. Those groups will be crucial to the political fortunes of the Republican Party in 2006 and 2008.<br><br>"Look, this is a symbolic move, for sure," said Richard Cizik, the vice president for government affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals. "It's his willingness to interrupt his vacation to make a statement. And not just to make a statement, because we're not playing games here, but to make a difference, too."<br><br>Nonetheless, White House officials acknowledged that the final bill could have been flown to Mr. Bush in Texas, a round trip of six or seven hours that probably would have made no difference in whether Ms. Schiavo lives. Doctors say she can survive for up to two weeks without the liquid meals that have sustained her for 15 years.<br><br>"That would have been acceptable," said Mr. Cizik, referring to Mr. Bush signing the bill at his ranch. "But this president seizes opportunities when they come his way. That's what makes him a good politician.<p><hr></blockquote><p>link here<br><br>--<br>Straw-man rhetorical techniques are the practice of refuting weaker arguments than one's opponents offer. 2 "set up a straw man" or "set up a straw-man argument" is 2 create a position easily refuted, then attribute that position to your opponent.

And what's your point?<br>He's doing something about saving lives. Not much can be done to save the dead.<br><br>But I know that won't slow you down from picking at him. Next you'll fault him for not making a public address about some lady getting a flat tire, or how some kid lost their lunch money. <br><br>Bush didn't shoot those people. Bush didn't let the kid into the school with a gun. Bush didn't put the gun in his hand, BUT because Bush doesn't drop all matters of state and rush to the mic to say how tragic all this is, he's now just as guilty.<br>More than that, he doesn't care. <br>Oh okay. Yeah, Bush spends his whole time surfing the net and watching TV. Yup, he's not interested in doing anything to help America. <br><br>Oh wait, while where at it, why don't you take a moment to condem the emergency room doctor who doesn't take the time to say how sorry someone died, becuse he was busy trying to save a life. I mean, fair is fair. He should be out there shaking hands and doing PR work. Let the bodies stack up while he's making nice-nice, right Sean?<br><br>The President didn't stroke someones ego. Waaaaa<br><br><br>