Vince Two Eagles: Native Americans are citizens in our nations

Mahatma Gandhi once said: “What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?”

I would add: What difference does it make to the displaced, disenfranchised, oppressed and marginalized people if the insane (although meant well?) destructive, disruptive or fractionalizing policies of plenary authority of one people over another is imposed in the name of “manifest destiny” or religious doctrine?

This brings me to this notion of nationalism that is unique in scope and application in Indian Country.

“Nationalism (according to Wikipedia) is a belief, creed or political ideology that involves an individual identifying with, or becoming attached to, one’s nation.” So, what if you belong to two different nations often at odds with each other over treaty issues, cultural perspectives, human rights and opposing nationalistic interests? What if the body politic that spawned these manmade inequities and resulting disparities does so from racist ideas and notions? Fairness gets thrown out the window, would it not?

And what if one nation, while recognizing the rights of the other to exist as a distinct political entity afforded all other sovereign nations, refuses to be bound by this recognition of rights under the United Nations in any tangible way? What would the moral implications (if not legal violation of international legal principles) be?