Issue 52
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In this issue:
1) Welcome Letter by Sibyl McLendon
2) Sinusitis by Pat Valle
3) Dream Stealers by Lori Enos
4) Your Mountains by Robert Taylor
5) The Power Of Music
6) Should We Kill Off Columbus? by Terri Jean
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Welcome Letter
by Sibyl McLendon
Yá'át'ééh, and welcome to November! November is National Native American History month.
I find it sort of ironic, because it is also the month of "Thanksgiving", that beloved National Holiday based on a lie. For those of you new to my newsletters, Thanksgiving actually commemorates the massacre of an entire Tribe of Pequot Indians in the early 1800's. That old saw about the friendly Pilgrims inviting the Indians to a meal of thanksgiving for making it through the winter is really hogwash. At my house, we still eat turkey and all the trimmings on the fourth Thursday, we just call it the "Wish We Had Let Them Starve" Day.
Here are a couple of online articles about this:
http://www.yvwiiusdinvnohii.net/history/ThanksgivingDayMassacre.htm
http://www.rwor.org/a/firstvol/883/thank.htm
Many Tribes actually call for a National day of mourning on this day.
I have included a very long article on the site from Terri Jean, and The Native Truth about Columbus, another of our not-so-favorite guys. If you live in the U.S. and would be interested in signing an on line petition to establish a real Native American holiday, please go to:
http://www.petitiononline.com/indian/petition.html
And hey, if you want to know more, and celebrate the month, you could always subscribe to my newsletter about American Indian Spirituality and information, Spirit Path. Just go to
http://spiritpath0.tripod.com/
Have a great week, everyone.
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Sinusitis
by Pat Valle
Sinusitis is characterized by an inflammation of the mucus membranes which is usually caused by a cold or viral infection. For millions of Americans, a sinus infection can cause headaches, runny nose, pain and pressure, loss of smell and taste, fever and difficulty breathing.
Chronic sinusitis may be caused by polyps in the nasal cavities, hay-fever or allergies which compromise the immune system and are susceptible to fungal infections. More than 50% of cases are caused by bacteria, while a smaller percentage stem from throat and respiratory problems.
Over the counter sinus medications can aggravate the situation by not allowing drainage of the cavities and pushing back the infection deeper into the sinus cavities. Natural healing methods actually relieve the causes of inflammation and allow the body to restore itself to normal. It's important first to find out the cause then use appropriate steps to alleviate the symptoms.
One of the ways of cleansing the sinus passages is to use a solution of sea salt and warm water. This method can eliminate mucus effectively. Another method would be to use a warm compress or ice pack to help relieve pain.
Herbal remedies that may help are bromelain, an enzyme from pineapple which has the ability to fluidify mucus secretions from nasal passages and bronchials. Studies have shown that large percentage of patients have achieved remarkable results. Goldenseal is also effective in combating sinusitis as it works like a natural antibiotic. Although it works for most people, caution should be used if the person has high blood pressure. Echinacea is another herb which boost the immune system and fights viral infections.
Plenty of water should be consumed and hot liquids such as soups and herbal teas as it helps mucus flow and aids in relieving congestion and pressure of sinuses.
Eliminate all dairy foods including milk which causes mucus formation. Reduce intake of sugar and salt and eat at lease 75% raw food that include onion and garllic.
There are a number of other natural methods that can be beneficial such as homeopathy, massage and steam treatments. If the situation becomes worse or is chronic and severe, medications or surgery may be necessary. Always consult a health care professional if in doubt.
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Dream Stealers
By Lori Enos
Who are the dream stealers? Dream stealers are the people who make you believe that you'll never reach your dreams. They're the people that encourage you to play it safe: to get a nice safe job, to marry the first nice person you meet, to vacation in Texas instead of Africa. Does this sound a lot like your parents? That's not surprising because family members are often the worst offenders when it comes to Dream Stealing.
There are two different types of dream stealers: 1. Concerned Dream Stealers-These are the people who love you so much that they can't stand to see you fail. They want you to have a nice, safe, and secure life. They truly have your best wishes at heart but don't understand that for you to be happy you have to reach for your dreams.
2. Jealous Dream Stealers-These are the people that life has passed by. They gave up any opportunity to live their dreams and they can't stand to see you succeed where they failed.
How Dreams are Stolen
Dream sabotage is often subtle, it comes in the form of "Are you sure you want to do that?" Someone close to me stole my dream of going to a writer's retreat. I asked this person if she could watch my kids while I went to a writer's retreat. She said, "Oh that would be a nice time away for you and John." I said, "No I'm going alone." She said, "Oh, you're leaving your husband and going away for a week. I've never spent time away from my husband." Without saying it she made me feel as if I was selfish for wanting to spend time working on my craft. I understood that I was being told that my writing -and therefore my creativity-wasn't as important as family commitments. Although she didn't tell me I couldn't go I began to have second thoughts and wouldn't you know it, I still haven't made it to the retreat.
Some dream stealers aren't so subtle; they come right out and tell you that you have no talent and that you'll never make it. And of course, they're telling you this because they have your best interests at heart and don't want you to end up broken hearted. Beating the Thieves Although they'd deny it to their last dying breath, dream stealers really don't know what's best for you and the sooner that you acknowledge that, the quicker you'll be on the path to reaching your dreams.
The following tips will help you keep your dreams safe:
1. Keep your mouth shut-Most dreams get stolen because we share our dreams with the wrong people. We hope that they'll be as excited as we are about what we hope to accomplish with our lives, but too often we're disappointed and they steal our dreams. This rule is especially important at family gatherings.
2. Share your Successes but not your failures--Every time you succeed it makes you believe in your dream a little bit more and gives you that much more confidence. And when you share your successes with the dream stealers, it takes away their power. Don't share your failures because then the dream stealers take that as validation of their opinion that you'll never succeed.
3. Plan your defense--Sometimes dream stealers find out about our dreams through other people and they'll confront us. Some typical openers are: ?"So, Johnny tells me that you're...." ?"Why didn't you tell me that you were going to...."?
Plan exactly how you're going to come back. You can either be honest and say "I didn't tell you because I didn't want to listen to you tell me that my plans will never work." Or weasel out of it and change the subject until you're ready to share your plans.
4. Remember it's Your Dream--Sometimes dream stealers come in the form of people who want to collaborate. These are the people that want to tell you how to reach your dreams, even though they've never reached their own dreams. The best strategy is to listen politely, nod, and thank them for their interest. Then go ahead and live your dreams on your own terms.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Lori Enos is a best-selling e-book author and an award-winning screenwriter. Her book, The Portable Coach, was one of the top 50 bestsellers of 2000. She also offers personal coaching and a variety of classes to help you realize your dreams. For more information visit http://lenos66.com email portablecoarch@lenos66.com
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Your Mountains 
by Robert Taylor
What is the mountain in your life? Or is it an entire
mountain range? This basically applies to the challenges in
your life.
We all have different challenges. Some of us have too much
month and not enough income. Others have health challenges.
There are those who have mental or physical impairments.
Many have challenges which are only imaginary, yet seem
perfectly real to them.
In a speech he gave after first attempt to conquer Mt.
Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary turned to a picture of the
mountain and said words to the effect "You can get no
bigger, but I can."
Can you see how this also applies to the challenges we face
in life? We can always grow to the point we can overcome
our challenges.
It is self defeating to turn a molehill into a mountain.
Keep the correct perspective and the molehill is easily
defeated. Turn that molehill into a mountain and we have
created a monster.
You tear down a mountain the same way you build it, one
scoop at a time. Our challenges are not normally created
overnight. They usually come together over a period of
time. It then makes sense to destroy or overcome them a
little at a time.
Taken as a whole your challenge may seem insurmountable.
However, taken in smaller pieces it becomes manageable. It
is often easier to handle smaller things than large ones.
Instead of asking why we are facing our current challenges,
ask how we can overcome them. There is magic in asking how
instead of why. How leads us to solutions whereas why keeps
us locked in our challenges.
When we ask how we set our minds to thinking of solutions.
Asking why keeps our thoughts on what is happening and bogs
us down. We can overcome our challenges by reducing them to
who, what, where, why and when, and then deciding how to
overcome them.
Don't ask why you are poor, ask how you can increase your
income.
Don't ask why you have poor health, ask how you can have
excellent health.
Don't ask why your vehicle is a piece of junk, ask how you
can get a quality vehicle.
Don't ask why you have a job that doesn't satisfy you, ask
how you can get a job you truly enjoy.
Apply all of the above to the challenges in your life and
see how quickly they are solved.
I wish you the greatest success in everything you do!
Copyright 2001 by Robert Taylor
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The Power Of Music 
Shower the People
James Taylor
You can play the game and you can act out the part
Though you know it wasn't written for you
But tell me, how can you stand there with your broken heart
Ashamed of playing the fool
One thing can lead to another; it doesn't take any sacrifice
Oh, father and mother, sister and brother
if it feels nice, don't think twice
Just shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna work out fine if you only will
Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way you feel
Things are gonna be much better if you only will
You can run but you cannot hide
This is widely known
And what you plan to do with your foolish pride
When you're all by yourself alone
Once you tell somebody the way that you feel
You can feel it beginning to ease
I think it's true what they say about the squeaky wheel
Always getting the grease.
Better to shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna be just fine if you only will
Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna be much better if you only will
Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
You'll feel better right away
Don't take much to do
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The Native Truth
A column dedicated to historical truth and human rights activism
of the American Indian
Editor/Historical Activist: Terri Jean
Director of The Red Roots Educational Project
Contact: the_native_truth@yahoo.com
Established year 2000
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Should We Kill Off Christopher Columbus?
by Terri Jean
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"Christopher Columbus is a symbol, not of a man, but of
imperialism... Imperialism and colonialism are not something that
happened decades ago or generations ago, but they are still happening
now with the exploitation of people. ... The kind of thing that took
place long ago in which people were dispossessed from their land and
forced out of subsistence economies and into market economies --
those processes are still happening today."
~ John Mohawk ~ Seneca, 1992
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More often than not, when I involve myself in a conversation
pertaining to eradicating Columbus Day, I must generally endure a
grand share of verbal punches and defensive slaps from those who feel
the need to defend a man they believe to be heroic. Though most
rattle off the same weary myth of the first explorer to
"discover" a New World, others defend him as a pioneer of the
waters who should be commended for his bravery, tenacity and courage.
And once a woman went so far as to inform me that if it were not for
Christopher Columbus, today's residents of the Western Hemisphere
would be absent of paper, computers, airplanes, telephones and
literature because Columbus "brought civilization to people who
lived like cavemen."
For over five hundred years the tale of Christopher Columbus has
sailed through history books as a romanticized metaphor for
discovery, bravery, adventure and perseverance. After all, claims a
pro-Columbus website, "he set in motion a series of historical
events that resulted in an entirely new world."
Few of us would deny the lasting effects of Christopher Columbus and
his "New World" ideology in the western hemisphere. But what
some would see as a hero, others view as a cruel, cold tyrant who
murdered and enslaved thousands of innocent people he unexpectedly
happened to encounter and on land he was never looking for in the
first place.
The Man Behind the Myth
Christopher Columbus (Cristoforo Colombo in Italian) was born in
Genoa, Italy in 1451. His father, a weaver and wool merchant,
expected his son to follow in his footsteps, though from an early age
Columbus had a keen interest in sailing. At the age of 14 he was
hired as a captain boy, and in his own diary he wrote, "As a man
and boy, I sailed up and down the Guinea Cost for twenty-three
years." What this passage does not tell us is that during this time
span in Guinea, the Portuguese slave African trade was initiated. Many
historians believe that Columbus was involved in the African slave
trade and African Holocaust of that time.
Columbus became captain of his own ship at the age of 30 and after
much failure at enlisting support for his "Enterprise of the
Indies" project from Portugal, he moved to Spain and eventually
gained the support of Catholic monarchs, Isabel and Fernando who
funded his endeavor in 1492.
On October 12, 1492, Columbus and his three ships came upon a little
island in the Caribbean Sea. Though the land was already well
inhabited by the Tainos community, he promptly claimed the land for
Spain and renamed the island, San Salvador. Initial response to the
Spaniards was warm and friendly, as is with most Native welcoming
traditions. The following day Columbus wrote of his admiration of the
people he encountered, "At daybreak great multitudes of men came to
the shore, all young and of fine shapes, and very handsome." He
later compliments them and their culture, "They are the best people
in the world and above all the gentlest without knowledge of what is
evil nor do they murder or steal...they love their neighbors as
themselves and they have the sweetest talk in the world always
laughing." It wasn't long after this entry did Columbus admit that he
was not necessarily admiring the Tainos, he was looking for their
weaknesses. "They would make fine servants." He wrote. "I could
conquer the whole of them with fifty men and govern them as I
pleased."
Columbus departed on January 16, 1493 with two ships and less thirty
men left behind to establish a town and gather gold. Columbus also
kidnaps 1-2 dozen Taino members and establishes them as his own
property - as slaves and exhibit pieces to show Spain. Only a handful
survive the trip and most of the dead are discarded into the sea.
The Second Voyage
Though the association between the Spaniards and the Tainos remained
"friendly" during Columbus' first landing, the second
invasion (November, 1493) saw a repeal of this relationship and the
eventual death of an estimated 50,000 Tainos by 1494. When the
Spanish were hungry, they ransacked homes - and entire villages - and
took what they wanted, leaving little or nothing for the Taino people.
Columbus and his men also demanded gold, spun cotton, the growth and
care of vegetable gardens, sexual relations and servitude and ensured
the communities cooperation by issuing severe physical punishment and
torture to those who did not comply. Minor infractions would result
in a hand or nose being cut off, and the disfigured person was
returned to his/her village to serve as an example. The population
was devastated by starvation, disease, and murder. When the Taino
people fought back, Charles V of Spain declared that all Indians were
enemies of the government and were to be eliminated. This open
invitation to corruption enabled Columbus and his men to ravage, rape
and brutalize all inhabitants of the islands as they pleased. War was
declared by Spain and the horrific acts of the invaders escalated to
the point where hunting dogs were released on Native men, women,
children and even the sick and elderly. Tiny infants hung from trees
while hungry dogs ate at them, people were burnt alive, had swords
lunged through their bodies, they were used as target practice and
many were tortured to death.
According to Ferdinand Columbus's biography of his father, "The
soldiers mowed down dozens with point-blank volleys, loosed the dogs
to rip open limbs and bellies, chased felling Indians into the bush
to skewer them on sword and pike, and 'with God's aid soon gained a
complete victory, killing many Indians and capturing others who were
also killed." Naming himself governor and raiding other islands for
slaves, Columbus established a tribute system - the encomienda - that
included forced labor, and a payment tax schedule that, if not kept,
meant death or dismemberment. Ferdinand Columbus described how the
tribute system worked: (The Indians) "all promised to pay a
tribute to the Catholic Sovereigns every three months, as follows: In
the Cabino, where the gold mines were, every person of 14 years of age
and upward was to pay a large hawk's bell of gold dust; all others
were each to pay 25 pounds of cotton. Whenever an Indian delivered
his tribute, he was to receive a brass or copper token which he must
wear about his neck as proof that he made his payment." Without such
token the individual would be severely punished.
The Taino's were homeless, imprisoned, hungry, battered and
raped. Many could tolerate no more and choose suicide as their only
recourse. Some communities committed mass suicides and women gave
themselves abortions so their children would not be born into such
cruel and inhumane slavery.
Columbus returned to Spain in March, 1496, after capturing 500
"Indians" with him to sell into slavery. An eyewitness
described the slave raid, "Among them were many women who had infants
at the breast. They, in order the better to escape us, since they
were afraid we would turn to catch them again, left their infants
anywhere on the ground and would flee like desperate people..."
The "slaves," held in bondage and jammed into a boat, were packed
below deck with all doorways/airways closed to prevent their escape.
Death was commonplace and bodies were thrown overboard at a constant
pace.
The End
Columbus made his third and final voyage in 1498 after legal and
financial obstacles kept him in Spain for several years. There he was
responsible for exporting hundreds.. thousands.. more slaves to
Spain. He died in 1506 in Valladolid, Spain at the age of 55.
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"A hundred castellanoes are easily obtained for a woman as for a
farm, and it is very general and there are plenty of dealers who go
about looking for girls; those from (ages) nine to ten are now in
demand.'
~ Columbus in a letter to a friend,
describing the value of young girls ~ 1500
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Hero or Barbarian?
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"The proletariat and oppressed peoples have nothing to celebrate on
October 12. The Columbus anniversary is a celebration of
mass murder, slavery, and conquest. More: it exalts the continuing
oppression of billions of people today. Columbus is something only
oppressors (or fools) could celebrate."
~ Dr. John Henrik Clarke ~ Christopher
Columbus & the African Holocaust
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500 years after the initial invasion, Columbus is celebrated in the
United States via statues, roads, cities, highways and a national
holiday (established 1971). But with all that is known about
Columbus, why is he still regarded as a national - and international
- hero by mainstream America?
Perhaps it is because most Americans do not want to admit that
Christopher Columbus was a vile man who not only invaded a group of
people he himself said to be the "best people in the world"
but he also set up an organized crime initiative where he controlled
and manipulated an entire group of innocent people with barbaric,
cruel and deadly methods that brought about the death of thousands of
people and set in motion a dominant philosophy aiding the demise of
millions. Some say Columbus brought forth a "New World" -
though the world had been populated for 14,000-40,000 years prior to
his invasion and was in no way "new" to those who already
discovered and settled it. Others claim that judging Columbus, a man
"of his times" by today's standards is unfair, yet research into this
subject shows that his fellow countrymen even thought his actions were
brutal and extreme. Few people admit, even when presented with the
truth, that Columbus was a slave trader, a racist, a murderer and a
tyrant. They hold tight to tales of discovery, exploration, bravery
and courage, disregarding all facts that dispute his gallant status.
Killing the Columbus Myth
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"When I tell the truth, it is not for the sake of convincing
those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those
that do."
~ William Blake ~
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The one-dimensional views of Christopher Columbus as a heroic
explorer need to be put to death. Half a millennium of historical
amnesia and patriotic coverups is more than any nation should endure.
For those of us who know the truth, the continuance of the dauntless
myth is embarrassing, frustrating and unjustifiable. Parades,
holidays and the omission of truth in books read by children in our
country's schools systems is more than intolerable - it's a
disgrace to our children and to our nation as a whole.
Columbus Day promotes myths and historical lies that dehumanize
indigenous cultures living upon these continents for thousands of
years prior to their invasion. Columbus Day justifies horrific acts
of genocide and gives Americans a distorted patriotic view of
history. Indians were then victimized by prejudicial propaganda, and
it continues today in this nations educational, social and political
system.
Name another slave-trader in American history who has his own
national holiday. Name another man who initiated the slaughter of
people, the Mafia--style organized crime corruption, and the
disfigurement of those who did not give him enough payoffs - who has
statues in his honor and highways in his name.
Why Christopher Columbus? Why is this greedy man who committed such
violent, racist acts honored in the United States? He initiated
slavery in the Americas, he participated in the sexual slavery of
young girls, he was involved in the torturing and slaughtering of
innocent people, he allowed his men to rape and pillage as they
pleased, he operated a forced labor system, forced the Taino's to
convert to his religion, he mutilated people who did not submit and
he allowed his men to hunt Native people like wild animals, using
their bodies to test swords (cutting them in half) and as dog food -
including tiny, newborn babies!
It does cause a rational person to ask if the admiration of such a
man is an act of political racism. After all, the truth has been told
time and time again, yet we still fill our children with the same
lies year after year. Don't believe me? My 14-year-old son, Alex,
brought home a handout from his Social Studies class. It defined
"encomienda" as "A large estate where groups of Native
Americans lived under Spanish care." I told my son that by
"care" they meant slavery, imprisonment, rape, torture, dismemberment
and death. He looked at me with curiosity and confusion, asking if we
should tell the textbook authors the whole truth so they can revise
their information. Sadly, I had to admit to Alex that the authors and
publishers already know the truth - but still opted to omit it from
his education.
And still this year, Christopher Columbus was alive in America. Truth
and righteous, again, were not.
===========================
For more information, I recommend the following books:
The American Holocaust by David E. Stannard
A Little Matter of Genocide, by Ward Churchill
Stolen Continents, by Ronald Wright
Lies My Teacher Told Me, by James W. Loewen
The American Indian and the Problem of History, by Calvin Martin
Textbooks and the American Indian, by Costo and Henry
Confronting Columbus by Yewell, Dodge, and DeSirey
American Indian Holocaust and Survival, by Russell Thorton
===========================
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