CapeCodToday Blog Chowder

Hi Peter, and thanks for at least trying to interpret the fine print or get answers to simple questions, like what is meant by giving "preference" to the Wamps. Sounds like the old "set aside" that was used as a way for minority companies to compete with big business. In any case, with this economy, casino development will not happen anytime soon on either side so don't spin your wheels over it.

The government should NOT be involved in a woman's personal decision who knows best of their situation to raise a child properly and giving them a head start in life. Many unwanted pregnancies become societies burden and lead to children being disadvantaged causing tremendous dysfunction in the family. The best solution is prevention before, not after the fact. The ability to choose being a parent by both parties, and dispelling the conditioning that little girls can only grow up to be mommies. There was a time in society when a women's role could only lead to being a wife and mother, but now that we are in the workforce and independent of a man financially, we have a choice to be involved in a career and have a wonderful lifestyle. That is what I call PRO LIFE, the ability to have freedom of choice.

Cedric has a lot to overcome after eight years of corruption and a lack of unity amoung the tribe. He is far more capable of bringing back honor and pride to the tribe and needs our support. The "pending" issue should be a top priority to heal the past treatment of members that have provided more than sufficient proof of their lineage to the council but have not received any acknowledgement. Pendings have been treated with disdain instead of being embraced by their own people. Keeping people off the roles was used by the corrupt administration as a manipulative tool for control in the past. This needs to be corrected.

Chandramaed, you're right, SISTER. Sorry for the attack. Peace!

Chandramaed - yes I'm mixed, black/native. Caught hell from both blacks and whites because of my light complexion and features, but like most of our Civil Rights leaders and activists who are mixed, Andy Young, Malcolm X, Julian Bond, Katherine Cleaver - etc. we didn't let the truth "cripple" us into believing white is right.

Chandramaed, your half white children will still experience racism as long as they have one ounce of black blood running through their veins whether Obama is President or not. Although biracial, he looks no different than the rest of us mixed folk, that is black. He is a beautiful black man with a beautiful black wife and children and is considered a black man for all intents and purposes by most. Ending racism begins with being proud of who you are instead of bragging all the time about how you're having some light skinned babies by a white man. Who cares???? Be careful of what might be "thrown back at ya".

Anything can happen in this election, so I will hold my breath until the final count, but as I stood in line for six hours to vote for Obama and marvelled at the spectacular turn-out in my district of over 8,000 people in one location with only 30 machines, as well as my 80 year old mother who was able to participate in something she thought she would never see in her lifetime, WE HAVE ALREADY WON.... by showing our patriotism, strength in numbers, and our resilience in facing adversity. The Civil Rights movement is what made this happen and must continue until we get it right.

Solon, just don't vote. How can any candidate have a "fix" for this economic crisis, it took decades to get like this and it's going to take years of stragegic planning to get back on track. Certainly, the candidate who seeks the best solution(s) for the middle-class and poor has my vote. The economy is the main issue that has created change in this country as it threatens our most basic needs - jobs, food, shelter. The middle class have put their petty differences aside and finally realize they have been screwed by a system that caters to the "filthy" rich. IN FACT, THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS MAY HAVE WON THE ELECTION FOR OBAMA.

MOVE ON is correct.... only it is you who needs to "move on" and off indian land.

Per your comments:
...pay them back what it was worth when the town TOOK IT AWAY
...purchase title insurance in case some indians some day try to take your (their) land (back.

The natives should purchase back the land that you've settled on at a price of what it was worth back when the land was TAKEN and send you back to EUROPE where all of you immigrants belong.

The only reason that the land has not been given back to the natives, is because of corruption, greed, and plain old stealing.

GET TO PACKING - change is coming.

Obama displayed eloquence, class, and intelligence. He tried to stay on track with the real issues but had to spend time defending false and unfounded accusations. McCain is no match for Obama who clearly won this final debate based on his brains, character and temperment. If McCain can't get it through his head that if "Joe Plumber" does NOT gross 250K annually in earnings, he will not be affected by a tax increase, he's really dense and the real Joe Plumber didn't fit his sorry example. He is out of touch with the middleclass and clearly for the already RICH.

How gracious of Senator Biden to go easy on Ms.Six Pack so that she could show her ignorance. She on the other hand filled up her time with attacks and accusations. After weeks of rehersing she still couldn't answer the important questions. In any case, she doesn't represent me, I'm not poor white, I don't live in a trailer, I don't have a beer gut and I don't play hockey.

My solution is to give the $700 billion to the tax paying citizens of the US, averaging about $200 - $250K each. We can then pay off our houses and cars and stimulate the economy with consumerism again.

Look at the educational attinment of these candidates. How important is it to have an educated President? McCain never stepped a foot in a college or university; Palin attended five different schools before she received a B.A. in journalism from the Univ of Idaho. No wonder they consider highly educated Obama "uppity" with his B.A. in Political Science from Columbia and a J.D. from Harvard. Biden's has a degree in Political Science from University of Delaware and a J.D. from Syracuse. Family values, McCain left his first wife after she had a tragic car accident that disfigured her for life, Palin has issues with family values - but they are white so it's alright. WAKE UP WHITE AMERICA.

It amazes me that you 1. think that educated people are not racists, and 2. that you think racism is a republican or southern thing. Boston is the most racist city in the country. In all of your exposure of living elsewhere, you still do not understand the "root" of racism in America. This is the only country in the world that enslaved people based on "race" as opposed to religious beliefs (sinners) or conquest. Until caucasians stop saying "my grandparents are responsible not me", you will never understand that this country was built on your greed, corruption, human suffering due to racism that has destroyed the fabric of our society. It was the educated people who devised this horrible system in the first place. "A Peoples History of the United States" by Howard Zinn may provide you with some insights. Of course there are people who will not vote for Obama strictly based on his race, fortunately, there are many people who see the light. Also, any person of color who stands up for what is right will be accused of being an uppity n-word.

Is there any way to identify the wonderful natives in the picture? I am touched by what the polite young man said in this article, and although the article is very condescending, it is a true example of how natives treated strangers with kindness. Mr. Davis, obviously, had not received this kind of treatment from his own and had no understanding of the ways and culture of a true native, that of being kind, giving, sharing, teaching, and how to love and respect the earth. The Mashpee's were very warm people who were truly balanced and had a basic common sense about life that has been strangled out of them by the "others" and may have become a little uppity in the process by unfortunately adopted some of the nasty ways and treatment of others.

Peter, the current Wamp Tribal Council is in a deep FOG, they are in complete denial about GM's rape conviction and the embellishment of his military record. Why, because they are all on payroll and getting paid well. Not only is Andrews milking six figures doing stuff, but her family is on payroll too. I'm sure you know that GM got paid up front which is why he can maintain his new living standards because before he was struggling to pay his mortgage. What are these people going to do when the next election comes around, go back to the Aquinnah tribe perhaps?

Cape Mom, stay at home, raise your children and teach them what is morally correct. Begin by stopping the name calling and try to express yourself more intelligently. My friend is by no means a "token" and is a third generation BLACK jew who was also a member of the Black Panthers. The Black Panthers had their place in history because they made white America stand up and pay attention. Turning the other cheek was out. You always miss the point, anyone can be a jew if they choose it as a religion. You are showing your ignorance and limited exposure with your comments. Truth will always prevail over lies, ask your girl Hillary. Why are you the only one uptight about my mention that the jews control something. It's common knowledge that Jews make up only 2% of our country, but control quite a bit. Actually I admire the jews and it would help the economy if other cultures adopted some of their views in financial matters. DID I MISSPEAK?

Racism - 1. The belief that some races are inherently superior to others; 2. discrimination based on race. Therefore, a black person being called a racist is as absurd as the oppressor (to persecute or subjugate by force)being the oppressed, or the discriminator being the discriminated (as in reverse discrimination). You just can't reverse racism to minorities.

Being jewish is a religion not a race. Jewish people are still white and many have changed their jewish names to avoid persecution. I respect all religions and their differences and have never been called anti-semite before, in fact a good friend of mine is a third generation practicing black jew from New York. A very interesting man who joined the black panthers in the 60's and became Huey Newton's body guard. Do you know how many black jews are in the U.S.?

Did I misspeak? Thank you Hillary for showing us how white America covers up a lie. Who is her "spiritual" advisor? As a blogger I am entitled to my opinions about racism and slavery. The point is to have free discussions, exchanges of ideas and thoughts, and being open minded. I have arrived at my conclusions from many years of studying the white man through my black scholars and experience. I am entitled to express my views from my own perspective. I can do without calling names or accusing anyone of being a racist or a bigot, but just by stating facts and telling the truth. Investigative journalists are on the front line and dying every day, while trying to get to the truth. Where did I misspeak?

For the very few of you that didn't get it and have labeled me a racist, if I am a racist don't I have every reason to be. What is your excuse?

Mislead, mistake, misconduct, misappropriate, misinterpret, mistrust, and misspeak. What's missing America?

See how things are taken out of context - my point being that the Jews can talk openly about the Holocaust without any criticism - so why can't blacks speak openly about racism or slavery? Why, because the slave system happened here, not in Germany. I'm not a racist or a victim. The analogy of being raped and having people say get over it is a good one. Unless it affects you personally, YOU JUST DON'T GET IT. I had a white friend from college who was very liberal and exposed to blacks, but she didn't really feel the extent of discrimination until she found out that a white man doing the same job was getting paid much more. BTW, I live in the deep south. Atlanta is as black as Boston is white. I never saw so many affluent blacks until I moved south. But when you go 50 miles outside of Atlanta, you would think you stepped back into the early 1900's. I lived in Nashville and suffered from serious culture shock because blacks were not even in the mainstream in terms of jobs. Also, it's ignorant to think that Jesse and Al represents all blacks. Does Imus speak for all of you?

I don't hate anyone and I'm not angry. I am a patriot and love my country but it needs to heal. Why does the TRUTH hurt so much? The jews can speak openly about the holocaust that didn't even happen in American because they own/control the media. I wrote about "race" here in America, not slavery. Slavery is quite a different story. Ancient Rome was built on slave labor, but slaves were not classified by race, these were people conquered by the Romans and enslaved. There are many whites that were against slavery here in this country and underground railroads would not have been successful had it not been for them. There are many, many great white people and here's how they have made it right, advocacy in so many areas; housing, healthcare, education, prison reform - do what you can to make it right. Also, all reporters have the responsibility to be objective and tell the truth. You can have an open mind by being so defensive. Nobody is blaming any one individual, but nobody is going to ever forget the "black eye" that you gave America either.

Buzz, education is key. Instead of sticking your head in the sand, be open and objective. Healthy discussions about slavery, racism in America, prejudice, and poverty can bring about awareness and change. Most of you want to forget everything and will not accept any responsibility for your forefathers. You can no longer erase it or "white wash" what has happened to the natives and the Africans in America. At least the President of Australia apologized for the criminal acts done by whites to their natives.

Dilligaf - High Five is black thing. The original expression is "give me five on the black hand side". Now you see white people slapping five everywhere. You hate us but yet you imitate us, why?

History lesson for white folk - the tribal wars in Africa have nothing to do with race but are based on conquest. Historically division in European and African society has been based on - US vs. THEM, human vs. inhuman, christian vs. non-christian, etc. It is only here in American that division is based on race. The English treated the Irish as sub-humans and when the potato crops failed in Ireland their poor asses fled to America and they became "superior". In America legal "lynchings" were attended by families and children as if going to a county fair. This has never been addressed in this country so then how can you deal with racism. Stop being so defensive and admit the truth so we can all move on. How can the OPPRESSOR call the OPPRESSED a racists? You can't reverse that unless you become a slave a provide free labor for us. Black churches were the only institutions we had for prayer, education, politics, and social activity, and the ministers have always been highly vocal. It's hard for white's to be objective when they sweep their "crimes" to humanity under the rug.

Bittersweet - white folk seriously need to be educated about what has caused racism in this country. Immigrants arrived here on their own accord, escaping persecution because of their religious beliefs, etc. The Chinese arrived here on their own accord and built the railroads. They didn't arrive on slave ships to be held captive for 400 years. Instead the Europeans arrived on ships bringing with them disease, rats and roaches causing "genocide" in the Native American nation. As you stated the real culprits are your own people stealing from you poor and middle-class whites and blaming all the social ills on minorities. I'm not angry I am seeking peace. I was born in this system and like most of us have been very resiliant. The TRUTH must be very painful to whites who suffer from guilt. When "Roots" came out and all the white people at work wanted to know if I watched it. I told them "Roots" was for you, not me, I've been living it. Awareness and truthful education from a black and native perspective will really help resolve the race issue in this country.

My credentials - a black/native american woman born in America during the 50's when racism was rampant. I have experienced first hand discrimination in jobs, education, housing, healthcare, etc. Were you around when our children had to be escorted to schools by the National Guard and being spit on and attacked on a daily basis by white parents? Were you around when a black man was beaten downtown Boston by a gang of whites from Southie with the American flag? Those are a few of my experiences with racism and those are my credentials. What are your credentials?

Also, understand this, I DON'T CARE who you procreate with, he could be a china man for all I care, my question was "is this your answer to racism"? And did the 95% of most blacks are multiracial come off the top of your head? So you are saying that only 5% of black American's are not mixed? Wow, if you believe this, you should never enter into any factual discussions regarding racism.

"Slave Rape". It's deep that you can casually use this as an explanation for our mixtures. Do you know what those mixtures consists of? Irish, English, French - no you don't because along with the slave rape African's were given "slave names" and their true identies were lost forever. Oh, so you have a masters, don't talk slang and speak well - don't confuse intelligence with education. I don't know where you come from but black people have always been well educated, articulate and have made many, many significant contributions to our country. Only those with stereotyped attitudes think we are all poor and ignorant. Perhaps if your discussions were with a class of people who have been exposed to those of us who are educated and worldly, you wouldn't receive those types of comments. My people have owned property on the Cape since the 1900's, my Aunt was the first black/native nurse in Boston City Hospital, my father has a degree from Harvard.

Chandramaed - is that your answer to racism to keep mixing with the white race until your black race is obliterated? Most biracial's try their best to choose the white side if they can pass. Halle Berry can't pass as dark as she is but her children may be able to. Tiger Woods is dark like his daddy but only identifies with his Korean side and chose a nothing, non-educated former nanny white blonde to obliterate his blackness. You call it multi-cultural, I call it culturless. Your white boyfriend is right, this would eventually create a "color blind" society because everybody would be white (perish the thought). I'm black and native and I'm keeping all of my beautiful color, heritage and culture. A pure, innocent race of people stolen from Africa. Native Americans who were disease free before the Europeans came over and stole our land and a culture that is most in tuned with the environment. No white GUILT running in my blood.

Buzz, you need to listen to Obama's awesome speech on racism and you will know that he does not share his ministers views. Another thing, WE OWE NO APOLOGIES to the people that have crippled this nation with racism and built it's economy off of free black labor. Sorry, but it was public outcry that got Don Imus fired, and a suspension for that reporter??? Please, I'm sure you've been behind closed doors with whites and heard the racist remarks. Did you speak out or go along? Racism has to be addressed in this country or it's not going anywhere. Obama makes it clear that he is for all of us - for the people and by the people.

White people are a trip. They can blatantly express their views and talk publically about "nappy headed whores" and "hang Tiger in an alley" because the media has gotten away with it for soooooo long. A minister is entitled to speak the TRUTH about HIS VIEWS on racism to his congregation and you want to blame Obama. I hope the American working poor, uninsured, and unemployed people who have children being killed and maimed in Iraq (I don't care what color you are) are politically educated enough to see this. Billary, you have been exposed again for your smear campaign tactics. Keep playing the race card, but get out of the race. You are morally unqualified to run this country.

How can a white man accuse me of being a racist... someone who has experienced first hand discrimination in housing, jobs, education, and in health care practices. White men have enforced these practices. I know a few white people that are good, but the majority, who under the slave system in this country, feel superior and entitled to what is not theirs. My people didn't go to another country and kidnap their people and enslave them, or go to Australia and New Zealand and butcher the natives. You stole our land and brought with it disease, rats and roaches.The natives were such a "pure" disease free race that they never had as much as a common cold. Wake up, you created a subculture that exists now in the ghetto's of Roxbury. You desecrate a race of people and they should be angels and forgiving? I'm not a muslin, however I respect their resolve to stand up for themselves. MLK, turning the other cheek, that was a southern movement. What have you contributed to this country, slavery, the KKK and square dancing. Me being a racist is as ridiculous as reverse discrimination.

This election and the support that Obama receives is proof that white american has finally put their petty differences aside and are now ready to unite against the injustices that we all are suffering as "human beings" by the rich upper class white politicians. As an intelligent minority woman working in corporate america, I have found that white women do not align themselves with us, and in most cases become extremely adversarial toward us. I do not understand why minorities would vote for Hillary. The Civil Rights movement freed white women who were treated like 2nd class citizens by their own men. I've heard white women complain about affirmative action when they benefited MOST assuming higher paying jobs and suddenly becomeing CEO's of their husbands companies, etc. They still resent the black woman who has always been the backbone of their race and held at a very high esteem by the white man (Ms. Rice is an example). We love Obama because he is for human rights. Your analysis of Obama's personae as that of a white woman is askewd.

Conflict, YES of course. The governor's wife is a partner in a law firm that is involved in gaming and the only firm that is a member of the American Gaming Assoc. (must be a reason other law firms are not members). The solution is for her to keep her high paying job and let him resign as governor. His record speaks for itself, he got fired from Coke and Ameriquest just settled a huge class action suit for predatory lending practices to poor people. He was a fake Civil Rights Attorney, no commitment there. The Mashpee tribe should have the right to sue the state for infringing upon their rights and impeding their progress as a federally recognized tribe. Patrick is a descendent of slaves who is mad at the natives because he didn't get his forty acres and a mule. Patrick is typical of an "elitist" black just like Clarence Thomas who looks down on the poor. They are both morally weak. Leave Obama out of this, please.

Your answer is that the natives are in fear of the racist white mans wrath? WOW, I always thought of the natives as being "warriors" and natural "environmentalists". Are you so comfortable and complacent that you have no fight left in you and leave it up to one of the elders to stand up for what is rightfully your land? Nothing would have been "accomplished" in the struggle for civil rights, human rights, women's rights, etc. with that kind of thinking. What would it accomplish? The idea is stop further development that has ruined Mashpee. Property could be grandfathered for existing land owners. They have the option to sell and move to Hyannis and desecrate the Kennedy clan land if they want. Again, knowing the risk of building on questionable land has come back to haunt them.

Quohog, when the Mashpee natives filed to claim their land they were denied due to "not being a tribe" and having too much "mixed blood". That is when the federal recognition process was pursued to prove that they ARE a tribe. My statement is that Mrs. Bingham INITIATED the recognition in pursuit of the land. This small tribe went heads on with Chase Manhattan Bank, a crooked judge, affluent whites, and other powerfuls that coveted the land. The original objective was to maintain the natural resources allowing natives to hunt and fish on their land. All credit is given to the members who worked on the recognition, quite a few unfortunately did not live to see it happen and would be appalled at the corruptness, greed, infighting, etc. Still my question is, why would the natives object to the suit and not want their hunting grounds back?

Staying on the subject, help me understand why the natives of Mashpee are objecting to the land suit? The tribe was recognized by the U.S. War Department in 1822 and when the BIA took over in 1849 a bookkeeping error "omitted" the Wampanoag's from the list. This was over 100 years ago and is clearly a different set of circumstances than the Narragansetts who may or may not have been recognized before the 1934 Ind Rec Act. It's a no brainer, the land belongs to the Mashpee's who lost their "recognition" due to an "error" that took over 30 years to correct. The affluent whites knowingly developed on indian land and knew the risk involved when the banks would not grant mortgages to buy and sell the indian land in the late 70's. Also, DON'T FORGET that federal recognition came about because of the land suit initiated by Amelia Bingham and her brother Russell Peters over 33 years ago in 1975. A corrupt tribal council has disgracefully banished her from the tribe for questioning the fiscal management of the tribe. Any constructive comments?

Quohog, Amelia Bingham has lived and traveled all over the world and is a lady of sufficient means. She has two beautiful homes and has raised a wonderful family. Don't hate because she can afford minks, jewelry and whatever else she wants, bought and paid for from her own money, not from raping the tribes funding. Further, she is one of the few that has the tribes interest at heart and has been very brave to stand up to these greedy bullies. It is because of her demands for disclosure of tribal funds that these people have been exposed.

I was born in 1950 so I'm around the same age as Marshall. During the 60's I remember the division between minorities and the Portuguese (really Cape Verdians). They distinguished themselves by thickening up their accents, otherwise their dark skin would blend in with the rest of us. Those with last names such as Fernandez, Gomez, Lopez, and Gonzales thought they were better and held the same bigoted attitudes as the other Europeans. This attitude prevails to this day. This is why Glenn Marshall, a convicted rapist and a self-admitted Portuguese, had no qualms with raping the natives of Mashpee with his corruption and thievery. What an insult to have these people who have made no significant contribution to this country ride off the backs of our natives. How many Portuguese passing for Wampanoags have been added to the rolls under the Marshall adm? Add this to the list of his dastardly deeds. There should be an investigation to the sudden push to add members to the roll just before an election, as well as exposing these Europeans "passing" for Wampanoags.