Association speaks volumns about a cause.
Be it right or wrong, who you associate with speaks loudly about a cause.
Vernon Bellecourt, a longtime leader of the American Indian Movement who fought against the use of American Indian nicknames for sports teams, has died at the age of 75.
You may recall Vernons actions in the 70's. Vernon Bellecourt took part in the 1973 occupation of the town of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. He was present only briefly during the 71-day standoff with federal agents, serving mostly as a spokesman and fundraiser.
He was active in the campaign to free AIM activist Leonard Peltier, who was convicted of killing two FBI agents during a shootout in 1975 on the Pine Ridge reservation.
He was also involved as a negotiator in AIM's 1972 occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs headquarters in Washington as part of the Trail of Broken Treaties caravan.
As President of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media, Bellecourt had been active in the fight against American Indian nicknames for sports teams. Arrested in Cleveland during the 1997 World Series and again in 1998 during protests against the Cleveland Indians' mascot, Chief Wahoo. Charges were dropped the first time and he was never charged in the second case.
Here is where Vernon starts to loose any creditability in his causes. After Wounded Knee, Vernon Bellecourt became a leader of AIM's work abroad, meeting with presidents such as Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, his brother Clyde Bellecourt said. He said they plan to list them as honorary pallbearersat the funeral.
Vernon had been in Venezuela about a month ago to meet with President Hugo Chavez to discuss Chavez's program for providing heating assistance to American Indian tribes. He fell ill around the time of his return. Just before he was put on the respirator, Vernon Bellecourt joked that the CIA had finally gotten him.
Vernon Bellecourt had good intentions, though many misguided in effort. Being militant and seeking advice and help from known dictators and genocidal maniacs. Vernon lost creditability in his movement.
You cannot associate with criminals and expect to be considerd an angel. It does not matter what you think. The appearance of association ruins all leverage and consideration. If it walks like a duck, sqawks like a duck, then it must be a duck.
Vernon Bellecourt, a longtime leader of the American Indian Movement who fought against the use of American Indian nicknames for sports teams, has died at the age of 75.
You may recall Vernons actions in the 70's. Vernon Bellecourt took part in the 1973 occupation of the town of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. He was present only briefly during the 71-day standoff with federal agents, serving mostly as a spokesman and fundraiser.
He was active in the campaign to free AIM activist Leonard Peltier, who was convicted of killing two FBI agents during a shootout in 1975 on the Pine Ridge reservation.
He was also involved as a negotiator in AIM's 1972 occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs headquarters in Washington as part of the Trail of Broken Treaties caravan.
As President of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media, Bellecourt had been active in the fight against American Indian nicknames for sports teams. Arrested in Cleveland during the 1997 World Series and again in 1998 during protests against the Cleveland Indians' mascot, Chief Wahoo. Charges were dropped the first time and he was never charged in the second case.
Here is where Vernon starts to loose any creditability in his causes. After Wounded Knee, Vernon Bellecourt became a leader of AIM's work abroad, meeting with presidents such as Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, his brother Clyde Bellecourt said. He said they plan to list them as honorary pallbearersat the funeral.
Vernon had been in Venezuela about a month ago to meet with President Hugo Chavez to discuss Chavez's program for providing heating assistance to American Indian tribes. He fell ill around the time of his return. Just before he was put on the respirator, Vernon Bellecourt joked that the CIA had finally gotten him.
Vernon Bellecourt had good intentions, though many misguided in effort. Being militant and seeking advice and help from known dictators and genocidal maniacs. Vernon lost creditability in his movement.
You cannot associate with criminals and expect to be considerd an angel. It does not matter what you think. The appearance of association ruins all leverage and consideration. If it walks like a duck, sqawks like a duck, then it must be a duck.
