Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Opinion
Column: Target alcoholism, not beer stores in Whiteclay


"It's only 9 A.M. and a Monday, and inebriated Indians are already lying on the dusty curb here in Whiteclay. This speck of a town has 16 people and three beer stores. Its main business is selling alcohol to the residents of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, just over the state line in South Dakota.

The situation in Whiteclay has become an obsession for both Nebraskans and the Oglala Sioux. Alcohol is a curse for many Native Americans, and the reservation bans its sale or possession. Good people see the Whiteclay business as despicable exploitation.

Now what to do about it. As H.L. Mencken said, "For every complex problem there is a solution that is simple, neat and wrong." There is no shortage of simple solutions for Whiteclay: Close the beer sellers. Regulate them to the eyeballs. Have Indians patrol the town.

But the simple solution to this complex dilemma is problematic. That's because it centers on special restrictions based on race or ethnicity."

Get the Story:
Froma Harrop: Dry the drinker, not the town (The Providence Journal 7/6)
pwpwd

Related Stories:
Lakota Republican questions Whiteclay campaign (06/15)
Hundreds march to protest sale of liquor in Whiteclay (6/13)
March to call for end of liquor sales in Whiteclay (6/10)
Editorial: Whiteclay deserves extra attention (6/3)
Oglala Sioux Tribe agrees to patrol Whiteclay (6/1)
Frank LaMere: State needs to address Whiteclay (5/31)
Editorial: Turnaround on the horizon in Whiteclay (05/24)
Lincoln Journal Star: Whiteclay at the crossroads (05/16)
Nebraska Democrats call for action on Whiteclay (04/15)
State: Oglala Sioux Tribe to patrol Whiteclay (01/27)
Whiteclay fuels proposal to change liquor laws (11/29)
Man drops bid for Whiteclay liquor license (11/23)
Judge allows another Whiteclay liquor license (11/18)
Request for Whiteclay liquor license delayed (11/16)
Nebraska panel considers more police at Whiteclay (11/05)
Man denied license to sell beer in Whiteclay tries again (10/07)
Nebraska commission denies Whiteclay liquor license (08/11)
Oglala Sioux Tribe opposes more stores in Whiteclay (8/6)
Whiteclay beer establishment loses liquor license (04/02)
Neb. lawmaker continues fight over Whiteclay liquor (02/10)
Lakota activist sees lawsuit as means for change (07/11)
Lawsuit seeks accountability for Pine Ridge deaths (7/10)
Lakota activist suing Neb. over Whiteclay deaths (7/9)
Editorial: Attack alcoholism with jobs (06/18)
AIM leader threatens blockade in Whiteclay (6/13)
Tribe would share police duties in Whiteclay (6/9)
March on Whiteclay called a day of unity (6/6)
Pine Ridge residents to march on Whiteclay (05/16)
Bill would beef up law enforcement at Whiteclay (03/10)
Neb. lawmakers to consider three Whiteclay bills (3/4)
Activists call for enforced laws at Whiteclay (3/3)
AIM joins protest against Whiteclay liquor sales (2/28)
Activists plan Year of Atonement in Neb. (02/21)
Bill would outlaw liquor sales near reservations (01/15)
BIA investigating death near Whiteclay (12/18)
March planned over Whiteclay liquor sales (12/04)
Whiteclay activist wants apology from state (10/30)
Whiteclay protesters fined for drinking (9/25)
Whiteclay becomes a campaign issue (8/21)
Whiteclay protesters say beer is free speech (7/18)
Candidate: Tribe could police Whiteclay (7/12)
Whiteclay law enforcement considered (6/25)
Neb. protesters cited for public drinking (6/11)
Another year for Whiteclay protest (6/7)
Neb. accused of racism for liquor sales (5/28)
State takes tour of Whiteclay (5/24)
Activists drink beer for Natives (5/10)
Whiteclay activists drink beer (4/19)
Suit may be filed over Whiteclay liquor (3/28)
Editorial: Review Whiteclay laws (3/26)
Abourezk: Exploiting Indians (2/27)
Solution to Whiteclay liquor pushed (2/26)
Whiteclay protester gets hearing (2/25)
Bill would prohibit new liquor at Whiteclay (1/24)
Whiteclay liquor store suspended (12/14)
Whiteclay store owner pleads guilty (11/15)
Whiteclay liquor case delayed (11/14)
Whiteclay liquor license denied (10/26)
Leads still come in on Pine Ridge deaths (10/12)
BIA sends investigators to Pine Ridge (10/11)
Whiteclay liquor protested (8/23)
Thompson heads out on reservation tour (8/15)
Whiteclay patrols draw complaints (8/6)
Whiteclay liquor store fined (7/18)
Whiteclay summit held in Neb. (6/12)
Whiteclay protest march held (6/11)
Whiteclay land still disputed (6/11)
High schoolers hear Whiteclay talk (6/7)
Peaceful protests expected in Whiteclay (6/6)
Attention being called to Whiteclay (6/4)
Whiteclay protest trial resumes (5/24)
Whiteclay liquor protests planned (5/18)
Movie being shot at Pine Ridge (4/24)
Whiteclay establishment fined (4/20)
Whats Going on at Whiteclay? (4/9)
Action on Whiteclay liquor promised (2/13)
Liquor executive order sought (2/5)
State questioned on Whiteclay liquor (1/12)
More Whiteclay investigation sought (12/15)
Whiteclay liquor sales targeted (12/14)
Whiteclay protesters reject plea (09/15)
Means fined for Whiteclay protest (08/28)
Whiteclay protests continue (06/12)