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• Comment by Sebast on June 28th, 2007 at 10:31 am:

  Slaves of ignorance.

  Noone with a last name such as Churchill (he shall, NEVER, surrenda) should be fired. It’s just plain uncommon sense.

  I would never have thought that the tentacles of the allmighty (and slightly mithological) Establishment could reach so far as to invest prejudice and fear of social retribution in a university of Canada. Clearly I am not canadian, but this comes somewhat as a shock for me.

  20 books huh? That’s another shock.

  How can someone help avoid this unjust treatment. Surely there’s a http://www.savethewards.org or sumth’n.

• Comment by gerty on June 28th, 2007 at 1:24 pm:

  sloppy scholarship can be truly destructive and shameful.

  I’ve noticed it show up in Art history, Religious studies, History and Poli-sci. Errors far more aggregious than those countered against churchill.

  It seems a far fetched and absurd a notion to dismiss him from his position at the University of COLORADO. His books are text books in many classes.

  I hope every scholar everywhere tightens the shit out of their footnotes etc and that sales of Churchill’s books spike. I got mine.

• Comment by Marc on June 29th, 2007 at 5:33 pm:

  Risking the impending ire of the great D-Rock, I have to say that I couldn’t care less about this guy’s career. It seems like a lot of his remarks are charged by anger and twisted with his own weird rationale.

  “On the Justice of Roosting Chickens” generalizes every worker/inhabitant of the towers on 9-11 as a cog to the American War machine. He has a few valid points, but there’s a lot of disgrace in that piece. I remember my parents visiting the towers 2 days before it fell. No doubt would he paint them as dead “little Eichmanns” if they had been far less lucky.

  Also he’s a tiny bit of a fascist: http://www.youtube.c.../watch?v=5ukix4iAmWw

  I mean, I support G7’s rationale that this is a case of a firing of a professor on spurious claims of academic unprofessionalism. And i’m trying to care, but it’s hard.

• Comment by D-Rock on June 30th, 2007 at 5:33 am:

  Marc: I don’t think any of this is about specifically Ward’s career - and in fact, Natsu says as much in the closing paragraph above. The point in all of this is that it sets the stage for what comes after. Despite all the bogus charges, this boils down to a person being smeared, blacklisted, and fired from a tenured university position for political speech.

  As for the Roosting Chickens essay, maybe you should go back and read it again. He talks about a “technocratic corps” - hardly referring to janitors, food-service workers, or tourists. Not sure if you ever looked at the laundry list of corporate inhabitants of the towers, but it ain’t a bunch of yokels. Hence, “technocratic corps”.

  I also fail to see any “fascism” in his response to the guy who wanted to march in the Celebration of Genocide Parade - although I don’t agree with his position that the parade should be banned. (Although surely any large-scale parade by neo-Nazis celebrating the Nazi holocaust would be stamped out quickly with little dissent, no?)

  Again - you don’t have to “care” about Churchill - just the value of of a truly democratic and free society where things like “free speech” and “academic freedom” actually mean something.

• Comment by Marc on June 30th, 2007 at 12:02 pm:

  You’re right - I agree, as any rationale person would, that his firing was BS and will definitely have scary repercussion for democracy in academia for the future. So I agree with the blog entry.

  As for the essay, I had this whole thing written up, but I think the big question is what constitutes a “technocratic corp”. I’m looking at the list now. Where is the connect between Computer programmers, accountants, lawyers, insurance salesmen, etc. to the foreign policy in the middle east? This isn’t a rhetorical question, if there’s a real answer, I would like to know.

  Maybe I’m just ignorant and stupid, but I couldn’t find that connection in his essay either. Sure, he goes on with flowery speech about the army ravaging in the middle east, but just labels the “technocratic corp” as some nebulous category of a couple thousand people that deserved to die. Who are they, what did they do exactly?

  Why doesn’t he make the distinction between those who deserved to die and those part of the corp? I’ve read/watched interviews where he’s asked to defend his argument and he never divides the blame between the perpetrators of the attack and innocent people. This lead me to believe (my previous post) that he felt everyone in there was guilty, either by association or by some weird rationale that..i dunno…those chefs cooked the chicken..that fed the investment bankers during those “power lunches”…giving a conduit for venture capitalists to start up weapons contracting companies….BOOM!! Sounds outlandish, huh.

  You don’t have to “care” about Christopher Columbus - just the value of a truly democratic and free society where things like “free speech” and “the right of the people peaceably to assemble”. I know we agree on this point, though. I just thought it was dangerous that he interpreted the march as a celebration of the denial of human dignity.
  People marching in that parade aren’t marching for genocide.

  I totally agree with the blog post, I was just looking for a conduit to take out my confusion with the guy. I’d fight for his right to retain professorship under these lame-ass circumstances.

• Comment by gerty on June 30th, 2007 at 11:38 pm:

  why celebrate columbus?

  churchill does not charcterizes them as deserving to die - that is an unfair and inacurate suggestion on your part. sounding like you’re not averse to the smear campaign.

  I think he suggests that it made americans aware that as a fallout of american wars waged ELSEWHERE in the world that symbolic / militaristic / economic forces at home can be expected. I think he is just suggested that no crocodile tears are any more necessary here than in the case of any other foreign victims.

  He suggests that since America has fought in such a manner their enemy has responded in a similair fashion - and since he of course does not support American militaristic endeavors he does not therefore support the blowback - he has stated this clearly many times.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 1st, 2007 at 9:58 pm:

  Churchill definitely has some character flaws, and i must say that i was bothered by the revelation that he lied about his native heritage (seriously, who does that? That’s friggin weird).

  Nevertheless, he is the victim of a McCarthy style witch hunt. And who doesn’t have character flaws? I have more than my share. And what about all those fuckers screaming for his head? I’m sure they have plenty of skeletons locked away in their closet.

  Bottom line: Ward Churchill has my respect, warts and all.

  P.S. Just as an aside, I was blown away by his fucking GIANT stature. Is he XYY? (J/K)

• Comment by tom on July 1st, 2007 at 10:39 pm:

  happy canada/colonial genocide day everyone!

• Comment by Asshole on July 2nd, 2007 at 11:50 am:

  Yup. Churchill sure is one hell of a huge guy. Yupp…. I wonder if he works out. He must do something, those shoulders arent natural. Hmm. I wonder if I should ask him. Oh, dam I dont know his email address, maybe I should try to find it.

  Daaam, I coudnt find it. Daaaaaam.

  I wonder if he takes protein shakes?

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 2nd, 2007 at 12:07 pm:

  I wonder if he takes protein shakes?

  I’m guessing that it’s a glandular thing.

  Must be those Teutonic genes!

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 2nd, 2007 at 2:58 pm:

  Asshole … I’m sure you have access to his email address, or at least his phone #. I don’t see how you couldn’t ;-)

• Comment by bits on July 3rd, 2007 at 8:50 am:

  “Churchill definitely has some character flaws, and i must say that i was bothered by the revelation that he lied about his native heritage (seriously, who does that? That’s friggin weird).”

  hmm, is anyone else becoming oh-so tired by the left ripping itself apart. Whether or not Churchill is a “true” Native is irrelevant to his writing (if he claimed no Native decent, why would you trust him more). And who exactly decides who is a “true” native? If he feels close to that culture I would consider him a member: he respects and knows the people, knows their history and their language. I’m tired of having someones work discredited because he was oppressive to women, or an anti-semite (even if the individual lived two hundred years ago when seemingly everyone was). Let’s just analyze the work and not the character.

• Comment by D-Rock on July 3rd, 2007 at 9:50 am:

  dumdiddee: Re: Churchill’s “lying” about his Native heritage, there is some revelatory info (with video) here.

• Comment by Tomtea on July 3rd, 2007 at 11:00 am:

  Marc: I reckon that the “little Eichmanns” could be referring to the Hannah Arendt concept of seing Eichmann as the embodiment of the “banality of evil”. She mistaknely believed Eichmann’s claims of just having impassionately done his administrative work, while organizing the holocaust. This kind of blind bureaucratic fulfillment could maybe also be seen in some of the computer administrators etc. in the WTC. Not questioning what you’re participating in, basically. I think we all now hard it is to live without taking part in some fucked up structures and institutions, but some people deissociate themselves from their work and its results to readily.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 3rd, 2007 at 11:40 am:

  Whoa … where the fuck did i discredit his work????

  He claimed part of three tribes even though not a single of his ancestors come from these tribes. Oh … but scholars do that all the time! Everyone does it! Well i guess we’ll redefine the terms lineage and genaology just for Mr. Churchill.

  Dudes … i have not criticized any of his “work” but he really didn’t do himself any favors by claiming he’s “A NATIVE SON” when he’s not. He should have specified that he feels a spiritual kinship or something.

  cuz by that reasoning …

  I’ve always felt a spirtual kinship w/ African Americans. So i am an african american .. and i’ll be goddamned if anyone says otherwise. So i think I’ll go write some books on the plight of African Americans. You guys should really read them because i’ll offer you perspectives from african american viewpoint, it’ll really broaden your horizons.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 3rd, 2007 at 11:45 am:

  By the way … i’m also a woman. Why? Cuz i say so!! So i’m a black woman, just like bell hooks. I’ll just fuucking explode if anyone says anything different.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 3rd, 2007 at 11:54 am:

  Yes, if anyone wants to know what life is like as a black woman in the U.S., I’m open for questions. I’ll tell you how it really FEELS to be descended from slaves.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 3rd, 2007 at 12:01 pm:

  Of course if living life as black women becomes to hard i might switch back to being a white male again.

  I can’t believe that REAL minorities would be very happy that now WHITE people can steal their identities, too!! Hell, we’ve done everything else to non-whites, so let’s make their identities utterly devoid of meaning, too!

  Do you guys even know any non-white people??

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 3rd, 2007 at 12:01 pm:

  Of course if living life as black women becomes to hard i might switch back to being a white male again.

  I can’t believe that REAL minorities would be very happy that now WHITE people can steal their identities, too!! Hell, we’ve done everything else to non-whites, so let’s make their identities utterly devoid of meaning, too!

  Do you guys even know any non-white people??

• Comment by Tomtea on July 3rd, 2007 at 12:15 pm:

  point made dumdiddee
  But it needs to be pointed out that there are rivalling concepts of “belonging” to a nation or heritage, whatever. One of the points, that was also important in the analysis of the allegedly fraudulent footnotes, was that the Indian citizenship apparently worked according to other principles than our concept of biological, genetic origin. If you wanted to be, and were seen as, then you were (very simplified). So, that’s all I’ve seen Churchill claim, but correct me if I’m wrong. So if he lied, that’s a bit dumb of him. But if a different, and not necessarily less plausible, understanding of the issue lies at the root of this dispute, it’s important to know that.

• Comment by D-Rock on July 3rd, 2007 at 12:43 pm:

  dumdiddee: Very dramatic, yes. But, did you watch the video where the “real minorities” discussed Churchill’s membership in the Keetoowah?

  Did you see Churchill, at any point in his history of writing and speaking, “switch back”?

  Just wondering.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 3rd, 2007 at 1:22 pm:

  unfortunately i can’t watch the vids right now but i’ll check them out later. My point is that he COULD switch back if he wanted to. Hell he could join the KKK if he decided to change his beliefs. Many people don’t have that luxury. Could bell hooks just settle into whtitebread society and hangout with lynn cheney and enjoy the priveledges of white society?

  I did see a video where he discussed it and quite frankly he sounded quite mealymouthed in his explanation. Quite frankly it was embarrassing.

  Listen, i have not criticized his work at all and i think him getting fired is bullshit.

  It’s funny, cuz years ago way before this controversy i was talking to some real Native Americans, including a real native american professor, and I mentioned Churchill … and well, it didn’t go over too well.

• Comment by D-Rock on July 3rd, 2007 at 2:00 pm:

  dumdiddee: And you think that somehow Churchill could settle into white society if he chose? Not likely. The man says what people do not want to hear, and will not back down in the face of overwhelming adversity. This goes far beyond ethnicity. He stood strong in the face of a national witch hunt against him.

  So no, he does not reserve that privilege for when he needs it.

  As for who ‘legitimates’ Churchill by proxy - for each “real Native American” who doesn’t approve of Churchill (or so you imply), one can find another who backs him. Like, uh, Leonard Peltier, or Russell Means, or Winona LaDuke.

  So, there’s not much of a point to be made there I guess?

  Again, watch the videos when you can.

  I’m fully aware that you’re opposed to the stifling of academic freedom - but when you make a claim, you gotta back it up and respond to criticism. I say this only because you seem to feel attacked, which is not the case.

• Comment by gerty on July 3rd, 2007 at 3:26 pm:

  I’d like to attack dummidee.

  I am a first nations. I have my card to prove it thank you so much. I support Churchill and any other first nations that I know who are also aware of him are like-minded in their support.

  dummidee, I think your cute 12 post rant is utterly insulting and useless.

  Of course the point should be noted churchill has been recognized a member of the first nations and second that it does not matter what so ever. Any focus on this matter greater than his actual writings is insulting, in bad taste and utterly without merit or point. congratulations for being a petty fuckbag. Lets see what other innocuous “controversial” distractions we can wisk up. LAME.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 3rd, 2007 at 3:31 pm:

  I’m fully aware that you’re opposed to the stifling of academic freedom - but when you make a claim, you gotta back it up and respond to criticism. I say this only because you seem to feel attacked, which is not the case.

  I appreciate that D-Rock, as must admit i was feeling like the “red headed step child” on this guestbook.

  I guess i was upset by chris’s comment of being “oh-so tired” of people like me or what have you.

  I understand that Churchill has supporters who accept him as a native american, but i can’t help thinking that this support has a lot to do with liking his politics. Put it this way, say Churchill was claiming to a native american but did so under a neo-conservative political bent–and that all his political activism was dedicated to convincing everyone that neoconservative politics was in the interest of native americans as well as everyone else. And then it was revealed that he in fact had no native ancestors. Intuition tells me that I might expect to see a post on a website like, say, propagadhi’s, denouncing him as a “poser.”

  here’s something i got offa wiki from the native american quarterly:

  Through the course of all his writings, Churchill gradually has emerged as a spokesman of sorts for those persons derisively referred to as Indian “wannabees”—individuals with no American Indian ancestry or tribal affiliation who nonetheless hold themselves out to the public as “Indians” by aggressively inserting themselves into the political affairs of real Indian people. Churchill’s appeal among the “wannabees” lies both in the boldness with which he expresses contempt for Indian tribes, and in the scholarly facade he gives his anti-tribal propositions.

  and then this:

  Several commentators have pointed out that even though Churchill has been highly critical of tribal enrollment practices, Churchill has attempted to gain membership on Indian roles several times. Jodi Rave has stated: “In the past, he’s denounced tribal enrollment practices, although he’s actively sought enrollment.”[23]

  To me there is something very European in his denunciation of tribal enrollment practices. What the white man wants the white man gets sort of think, yeah?

  Now, if someone doesn’t have a drop of native blood in them, but grew up in a native family or on a reservation than i would totally agree with them identifying as a native. But to grow up as a white person, and have no idea what its like to grow up as a native and experience what they encounter, and then suddenly start claiming to be a native in your 20s because you’re interested in indigenous peoples and have a political conversion … well, that just seems odd to me.

  I never meant to go at lengths on this issue, the only reason i mentioned it briefly in my first post is that i must admit to feeling “deceived” after learning of his ancestry, and maybe even a little creeped out.

  It kinda bummed me out cuz it really struck a blow to his authenticity, and he has became a laughing stock to many people.

  He still has my respect though cuz outside of this issue i think he has done a lot of good things. Too bad most people will never accept that.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 3rd, 2007 at 3:34 pm:

  Gerty: go fuck yourself you muppet.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 3rd, 2007 at 3:36 pm:

  what about this, from keetowah itself:

  Moreover, the United Keetoowah Band responded to Churchill’s claim by clarifying that he was not an enrolled member, but an honorary associate member (just as former President Bill Clinton was) for few months in 1994. According to tribal chief George Wickliffe, Churchill’s claims to Keetowah membership “are deemed fraudulent by the United Keetoowah Band,” and that Churchill “could not prove any Cherokee ancestry.” [33] The tribal statement said that Churchill’s membership claim in the Keetowah tribe after receiving an Associate Membership “is akin to receiving an honorary doctorate, and then claiming to have received eight years worth of university education.” [34]

• Comment by D-Rock on July 3rd, 2007 at 3:53 pm:

  dumdiddee: Churchill did not actively seek enrollment in the Keetoowah. Again, please watch the video of - and read the article about - the actual meeting where is enrollment was discussed by the band.

  As for the supposed revocation of his membership in the Keetoowah in May 2005 - one can only imagine why the current leadership, seeing the firestorm erupting around Churchill from the mainstream media, would want to distance themselves as quickly as possible from him.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 3rd, 2007 at 4:03 pm:

  I totally agree with you on the leadership distnacing themselves from them for political reasons.

  The only reason i brought the ethnicity up is because because i consider it a mistake on his part to claim to be a “native son” because it is now used as a stick to beat him with and makes him look silly to most folks.

  Take Chomsky or Zinn on the other hand. People may disagree with them on things, but its pretty hard to slime them. they are respected academics who many people have come to take seriously.

  Will anyone ever be able to cite Churchill in their sources and be taken seriously at the same time? It doesn’t seem likely. AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT ANYONE THINKS, IT DOES NOT MAKE ME HAPPY TO SAY THAT.

  gonna wathch the vids tonite.

• Comment by gerty on July 4th, 2007 at 10:26 pm:

  haha I dont know you and I’m not trying to besmurch your divinely appointed awesomeness but Churchill is an accecpted scholar (again many courses have his books as text books - your assertion holds no water) and as I have stated he IS in fact native american - there are doubts as to whether or not he belongs to said tribe.

  and this is an absurd statement “and have no idea what its like to grow up as a native and experience what they encounter”.

  I do not hesitate to say you’re boardering on racist.

  and if my I can partially represent even a fraction of my “ethnicity” or even just myself as an individual or hell a human being in order to weigh in on these matters - you can go fuck yourself.

• Comment by caítlin on July 5th, 2007 at 9:43 am:

  Forgive me for interrupting but I think its justified.
  So unless y’all have your heads under big ol’ rocks, you’ll be familiar with a little place I like to call Guantánamo Bay [actually, thats what everyone calls it]
  A dude granted refugee status in Britain [something very hard to come by] was detained there for years, and subsequently found innocent. Now he is facing release but Britain, on a stupid technicality, is trying to stop his return and instead get him sent to Jordan, where he faces the sort of treatment which prompted his application for asylum in the first place. Shitty. So help ‘im out, email the new Home Secretary asking - pft, telling - her to fulfill her committment.
  Info is here: saoirsenic.blogspot.com where you’ll also find details of an Iranian political activist who has been treated like shit by the state and her solicitor, who is facing removal to torture and prison, and a last-ditch effort to stop the removal of a Christian human rights activist to the DRC. G’wan.

• Comment by gerty on July 5th, 2007 at 9:08 pm:

  always a stalwart voice of reason spanks for refocusing us.

  Dumidee I’m sure you’re great and I’m take back trash talk. No hard feelings I just got a lil too heated and defensive. asking questions is good etc anyway hope I dont sound like i’m coddling you. high five?

  anyone see the documentary Ghosts of Abu Graib? watch it then poke out your eyes in horror and perform seppuku in disgust.

  Chilling.

  couple unholier than unholy facts:
  Hundreds of thosands of innocents(to be later released - acknowledged as such) held for up to a year or more.

  the imprisioned 9 year olds. women and children as bartering chips!

  And as a side note… to clearify what churchill mentions in the Roosting chickens ‘essay’(not so much an essay but free expression of thought) about the 500 children who died as a result of the iraq sanctions - Unicef reported it at 567,000 children and infact that is children UNDER 5! no- no I know where my number keys, thats not a typo!

• Comment by kate on July 5th, 2007 at 9:19 pm:

  I guess I’m a bit late on this one, but i just wanna jump in and say that i think that this kind of identity politics being debated here is largely counterproductive. The idea that ethnic minorities must liberate themselves and the rest of us cannot play a central role in this, or that men can have no significant role in eliminating sexism only serves to further divide. And in my mind it holds little weight historically.

  As Bits’ post (which made a lot of sense) suggested, the political relevance of an idea should be judged solely on its social value, not in regards to the individual expressing it.

  I don’t know if you guys are aware of what’s going on (or ongoing, rather) in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory of Australia right now, but there have been Indigenous leaders come out (only a couple, but of course they get all the media attention) in support of the (incredibly fucked up) military occupation of Indigenous communities. In my mind the racial heritage of these people does not automatically give them legitimacy on this issue, especially when it’s very clear where their loyalties lie. I would even go so far as to argue that even as a privileged little white girl in the city, my ideas have more legitimacy simply because i am not a mouthpiece for corporate Australia.

  I guess what i am trying to say is that their are far more relevant distinctions than race or gender under capitalism.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 5th, 2007 at 10:06 pm:

  Gerty - well, i take it all back too. No hard feelings man.

  Still haven’t had time to watch those vids, so i won’t say anything more on the matter until i watch them.

  I must say though that i think all of us agree on the broad thrust of most issues and viewpoints releveant to G7, but we should all agree that we may disagree on some of the more periperal related matters as well as tactical options.

  Cheers!

• Comment by asshole on July 5th, 2007 at 11:58 pm:

  Man, Ward has some good shoulders.

• Comment by caítlin on July 6th, 2007 at 1:10 pm:

  Another day, another easy-but-important chore for y’all… (sorry)

  (…not really)

  Remember that wee country we invaded a few years ago for dubious reason? Turns out there were people there who didn’t want to be blown up! Like, real, breathing, 9/11-non-participating people! Arabs mustn’t be as stupid as was thought, cuz a buttload of them have left for safe(r) havens, where host countries are making some effort to help ‘em out with minimal support from not just those who pledged it but those who are responsible for their very displacement in the first place. Check out this for a powerful piece of ammunition: http://www.reliefweb...-72CRYY?OpenDocument
  Consequently the UNHCR have again asked for governments to do their bit and you, dear reader o’ this hijacked blog, can help! Don’t underestimate how wimpy and impressionable politicians are. Write to ‘em, write to papers and friends and groups and make kathy kelly proud!
  “On another matter, UNHCR appeals over the past few weeks for the urgent medical evacuation of a dozen Palestinian children from Baghdad and from the makeshift Al-Waleed camp on the Iraq side of the Syrian border are yet to yield concrete results despite interest registered from various European countries and from some individuals. These children suffer from serious and life-threatening medical problems. If these children are not evacuated soon, some may die or be handicapped for life. They need help now.”

  Everyone can write about these stories to their local reps/MPs/etc, who are almost always happy to help because they think you’ll vote for em.
  (ha)

  Its that or move to Iraq, peeps.

• Comment by Tony UK on July 8th, 2007 at 10:24 am:

  If anyone was wondering, Caitlin is a “true” Northern Ireland-er. She has a funny accent, she’s ultra hospitable (”would ye like a cup a’ tea?”) and every meal she eats has potatoe in it. And when I wasn’t looking for a split second, she stole my white “Purina Hall Of Fame” shirt. Theres no way she could “switch” to any other culture, its in her blood. The only questionable thing about her background is that she hasn’t seen the 1992 film “Patriot Games” starring Harrison Ford and Sean Bean, which I’ve always thought was mandatory viewing where she’s from.

  http://en.wikipedia....iot_Games_%28film%29

  When she speaks, take heed.

• Comment by caítlin on July 9th, 2007 at 11:03 am:

  Oh la la, random testimonies to my irishness! You forgot my desperate alcoholism and fondness for green…

  As nice as that post was, I’m not Mrs. Doyle, I have my own Purina nightdress, and being hospitable to a brit oppressor is a crime punishable by a lifetime of bad movies…

  Anyhoo, I have a reason for posting! First up: good news! Christine Mulumba was not returned to DRC on Thursday and an attempt to get her bailed is in the works! Thanks to anyone who sent faxes! Unfortunately the UK now considers the DRC sufficiently safe to return some of the thousands of people who have sought sanctuary there during its many, many years of war. If you are familiar with the DRC you’ll realise how horrifying and ridiculous that is, but they aren’t taking it lying down! People in London and Manchester should try to get along to the protests this Friday.

  I wrote a few days ago about an Iranian political activist facing destitution and eventually removal from Swansea with her kids. Farzaneh herself has just finished a hunger strike and is in a very bad way emotionally. I just wanna remind those of you who haven’t had a chance yet to contact their campaign organiser with your name and address so she can send a fax on your behalf. http://www.ncadc.org...szine84/Dadkhah.html

  The sooner you do it, the sooner I’ll be able to fulfill my national duty and get wasted. Everyone wins!

• Comment by Tony UK on July 9th, 2007 at 4:32 pm:

  Caitlin, I just sent an email with my details to jeninswan [at] hotmail [dot] com, is she the head of the campaign? My computers being daft, wont let me download the letters etc. Anyway, I gave her my name and address and asked her to send a fax on my behalf to Mr Byrne. Only reason I’m trippin is I leave to go to Spain tomorrow for my holidays, and I don’t think I’ll be on a computer at any point. Hope thats enough for her. Keep rallying these mohfockers, hopefully there’ll be positive news when I’m back.

  Keep washing aswell, in the morning is best.

• Comment by caítlin on July 10th, 2007 at 7:26 am:

  Aye that should be grand.

  Interesting article in today’s Guardian. http://www.guardian....y/0,,2122548,00.html

  P.S. its actually better to wash in the evening [if you aren’t too busy drinking tea and invading countries].

• Comment by Sebast on July 13th, 2007 at 7:36 am:

  ¡PENISFUCKINGPOSERZ!

  Now that i’ve got you’re attention, I just wanted to reccomend a documentary film I had the chance to see last night between beer and condomn commercials sponsored by my drunk housemates.
  It’s called “Vivir la Utopia” (Living the utopia), and it’s CNT-FAI produced docufilm about the spanish anarchist revolution before the civil war and the Durruti faction against fascism.

  I highly reccomend this video ‘cuz it’s, under other things, subtitled in english (and not a bad job doing so) and you get to learn facts first hand (lot of interviews with grandpop’s) about how, ooooh, forexample Barcelona was in a state of complete socio-economical anarchy during 2 years before the republican-left crushed this ideal through bloodshed.

  Fascinating protein-based shit.

  ¡Check it out!

• Comment by Yaniv on July 14th, 2007 at 12:07 pm:

  Thanks Sebast for the movie, I’m definitely going to check it out.

  On a related note, I had the opportunity to meet a veteran of the Spanish Civil War during the U.S. Social Forum, which was held a month ago. Like all anarchists, he fought with the CNT-FAI, and was a member of the Durruti militia.

• Comment by tom on July 17th, 2007 at 12:35 pm:

  yeah, i think that whatsherface brought up a good point. the fact that wether or not the churchhill beliongs to a certain ethnicity or not is not at all at question here. well, at least it shouldnt be, it makes no fuck of a difference.

  so i think dumdidee maybe you got carried away by a fart or something.

  in any case, dude has a super low voice, i used to listen to Doing Time before going to bed and i’d have nightmares before waking up from my own farting. i also think dude is brilliant and his work is complex. some of his books are not easy reading, but they bring up loads of stuff we’re not taught aboot.

  i also heard a part to that Praxis media thing g7 was drooling over the other month and i am forced to re-recommend it to all of yous. this is crazy shit and way easier than a book. did you know that NONE of nova scotia (where d-cock now resides) is ceded territory? 75% of my province, quebec is unceded? same with onhario, shitatoba and shittish columbia. yet the huge hydro corporations are all up in the far north redirecting rivers and killing thousands of eco systems just to satisfy our own seemingly endless lust for energy.

  so fuck canada, fuck the u.s.a. and fuck all the states until there is some honesty and some goddamn immense reparations for this destruction.

  and my mom had the audacity to complain when natives shut down a bridge running through their land? pffffttttt why did i come from your vagina ?????????????

  farting

• Comment by caítlin on July 17th, 2007 at 12:50 pm:

  Don’t worry about it bud, I’ve come from your mammy’s vagina hundreds of times…

  hohoho!

  Anyway, if you’ll indulge anyone too lazy to investigate beyond non-loading Google: Praxis media? Murgh?

• Comment by tom on July 17th, 2007 at 1:05 pm:

  http://www.praxismedia.ca/cs_hope.html you lazy nincompoop.

  i wanted to name my child praxis, but your mom didnt think it was a good idea. she doesnt want another daughter with an awkward sounding name. so in the name of consistency she actually called her beaver, both for the canadian heritage, and her own heritage of naming her own kids after female genitalia. hardy har hard.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 17th, 2007 at 4:24 pm:

  Check this out —

  http://news.yahoo.co...4a4e8070577d110017a8

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 17th, 2007 at 4:27 pm:

  possible cover for the next Prop album?

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 18th, 2007 at 6:20 pm:

  War is peace. Slavery is freedom. Ignorance is strength. And Churchill’s a native American.

  “so i think dumdidee maybe you got carried away by a fart or something.

  Actually, dear Thomas, i got carried away by a little something called “reality.” Anyhoo, how’s the weather in River Heights today?

  The purpose of this thread as i understand it is to discuss the controversy surrounding churchill. His ethnicity is part of the controversy. I made a passing comment about it in my first post that didn’t go over well, even though the rest of what i said was totally supportive of him. If this is in fact nothing more than a place to see who can uncritically praise the man in the most glowingest terms then i guess i’ve come to the wrong place.

  Recently i’ve been re-reading some of ward’s writing and i hafta say the man is brilliant in both prose and historical analysis. I agree with him on so many things. Which is why it tears me apart to have to say anything negative about him. But if i’m to be HONEST i have to.

  I tried to sit through those vids that D-Rock recommended but i really didn’t understand them. Sounded like so much leagalese to me.

  But here is what i do know: Churchill has NO ancestors that lived in the Americas prior to columbus. Furthermore, he was not raised in a native american household or community. Ergo, the man is not a native american by any standard use of the term, no matter how much poetry one tries to weave around it. So he either knowningly decieved everyone by presenting himself as a native (of three tribes i might add) or believed his own bullshit. And if he did indeed get his job on the basis of affirmative action, he should hang his head in shame.

  And Kate, just so ya know, being native american ain’t a political thing, its an ethnic thing. And for every native who supports churchill there’s one that supports Rush Limbaugh (I might be exaggering the limbaugh bit but you get the point). Here in colorado we once had a full-blood native right wing senator by the name of Ben Nighthorse Campell. Is he not a real native?You seem to think unconsciously that the only real indians are the ones who have adopted political philosphies such as yours that were hatched in some european university. How European of you. Becoming an expert in native history and having close sympathies for them does not indian-make. Incidentally, it’s funny how you never see natives trying to push their philosphies on other people, unlike the europeans.

  At any rate, since it has come to light that churchill is not the indian he claimed to be, this is certainly cause for close scrutiny and scepticism of his scholarship, is it not?? If one would deceive people of his own ancestry, this surely raises some mental alarms as it would seem there’s a good chance he might be bullshitting in his accounts of history.

  Now, I’m happy to say that i haven’t seen any substantial evidence of fraud or deceit in his works. So as someone who has bought his books as well as a colorado taxpayer who contributes to his salary, i stand by him.

  Regarding the vid mark posted, i must admit that churchill responded to a simple question like a choleric asshole. I mean the guy was being respectful of Ward. Again, this is the stuff that tarnishes a dudes rep.

  Oh, and Bits, when you said you were oh-so tired people like me (subtext: people who disagree with you) you mentioned that you were tired of some historical figure being disparaged for being an antisemite, mysogynist, etc since everyone was back then. Well, by that logic, was columbus not just a man of his times? A blood thirsty maniac who set in motion the wheels of genocide, or was he a brave and daring explorer who bucked conventional wisdom and helped to advance our understanding of the world? His actions certainly went far in proving the world wasn’t flat.

  Celebrating columbus is certainly in bad taste, i agree. I would much rather see italians celebrating some amazing figures like galeio or da vinci. But italians haven’t always had the easiest time in the new world, and they have faced discrimiantion and numerous negative sterotypes and slurs (wops, guieneas, daigo). I think columbus to them is just their way of showing that america wouldn’t “exist” if it wasn’t for them, and that they earned their spot on the continent. They aren’t taking natives feelings into account, no doubt, as i can only imagine that columbus to natives is like hitler to jews. But churchill isn’t going to help them realize this by talking like that.

• Comment by Tony Uk on July 19th, 2007 at 6:07 am:

  Im in Granada at the moment, theres footage on the news of these bull runs. Apparently it proves your manhood to touch a bull. Ha. I was gonna buy a postcard from this shop until I saw a real, full sized adult bull stuffed in the corner of the room. I mean, Im all for beers and tapas but come on now Spain…

• Comment by kate on July 19th, 2007 at 7:59 am:

  dumdiddee:

  that was neither the point or sentiment of my comment and you know it.

  If this is in fact nothing more than a place to see who can spew out the most self indulgent rant with no interest in engaging with other people’s ideas then i guess i’ve come to the wrong place.

  Tom:

  if by “whatsherface” you meant “kate”, i just wanna let you know that you’ve dealt a huge blow to my very fragile ego. I may not recover.

  Where’s the romance gone?

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 19th, 2007 at 11:17 am:

  Kate … so you can voice your opinion and that’s cool, but when i voice different one i’m being “self-indulgent”, eh? Thanks for enlightening me.

  As Bits’ post (which made a lot of sense) suggested, the political relevance of an idea should be judged solely on its social value, not in regards to the individual expressing it.

  I fully agree. However whether it is appropriate for a white historical & political scholar to misrepresent himself as a native american is another, especially considering that he is writing about a group of people who have been brutally pushed to the brink of extinction by white people.

  In the liner notes of LTMR it says something about the importance of exposing oneself to a diveresity of perspectives and to not just focus on those of white males. I took this to heart. I long thought i was increasing my diveresity by reading churchill. Turns out i was misled.

  In my mind the racial heritage of these people does not automatically give them legitimacy on this issue, especially when it’s very clear where their loyalties lie.

  As repugnant as neo-liberal plutacracy is, these people still have a LEGITIMATE right to voice their opinion in their own communities. We ain’t gonna win with Stalinism (if so i don’t want any part of it). We have to win in the market place of ideas.

  . I would even go so far as to argue that even as a privileged little white girl in the city, my ideas have more legitimacy simply because i am not a mouthpiece for corporate Australia.

  Then maybe you can “force them to be free.”

  As for myself, i would like to see an end to corporate dicatatorship with compelte decentralizaiton and regional autonmy. But i refuse to “delegitimze” other peoples or fudge facts or history to achieve this. History shows us that dishonesty and tyranny as a means to achieve a better future always fail miserably in the end.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 19th, 2007 at 11:49 am:

  Tony — even though i’m sure that bull was butchered to death afterwards, at least inflicted some pain on his tormentors before he went out. He scored one for the animals.

  I’d love to go to spain one day for the balmy weather, scenic landscapes, historical relics, and of course the beautiful ladies.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 19th, 2007 at 12:37 pm:

  I realize i’m probably not the most popular dude here, but i have a favor to ask.

  I’ve been turning to antiwar.com a lot lately for news regarding the mideast conflict. It’s run by right wing libertarians, but it regularly posts articles by lefties like chalmers johnson, cockburn, tom engleheardt, etc. Good to see some cooperation and common ground against militarism i says.

  Anyways, i’ve become sorta interested in Ron Paul, as he seems to be a man of principle (i.e. practices what he preaches) and lots of his platform seems to be dedicated to dismantling concertrated power. Some things i don’t care for like his stance on abortion and his pro-christianity, though it seems he would let all these matters be up to states to decide.

  Anyways, does any one know where i can read a critique of his ideology from a left viewpoint. Something like a left wing anarchist vs. right wing anarchist? I would be much obliged for any suggestions.

• Comment by tom on July 19th, 2007 at 5:48 pm:

  dumdidee, yeah dude, i totally missed a post and had to go back and read again. i agree with alot of what youre saying, but honestly, i think either kate or bits said it best when his ethnicity shouldnt be involved at all when its his academic integrity and his reputation thats at stake. i know you said it bothers you that he lied, but it just doesnt fit in to the argument of him getting kicked out of his tenure. but neither does farting so what the fuck am i saying? haha, im crazy

  i also am finding it interesting that this whole thing began after he published “On the Justice of Roosting Chickens” or whatever the writing was that caused all the controversy. is it me? am i wrong, he says something uncomfortable, i think its uncomfortable, but i think a comparison between nazi germany and modern america is completely viable, and like d-snot said, look at the companies that used to pay the rent for that fucking place, and you or may not start getting urges to apply for your pilots license. ha.

  in any case i think its perfectly sane to criticize ward’s work, and his actions as a person, hell we should all be accountable for what we say and do. but this dudes rep has been shot to shreds, and in my opinion its not because of any academic falsification, or lying, i dont even think it has anything to do with wether or not dude is a native son.

  i think its about ward saying some very dangerous things, dangerous to power, and sure there’s some sensitivity to the victims of the attack, i mean, duh, but again just pointing out that nobodies going after any one who’s decisions have destroyed hundreds of thousands more of real, real people in iraq, afghanistan, former yugo, guantanamo etc etc…

  so what im saying is, i agree with you, but your rantings about his ethnicity just serve to further the spin. and, you’re a black woman from africa? oh. ok.

  kate, i cant tell wether thats bitter sarcasm or just plain ol sarcasm. so, sorry, it wasnt a stab at you, i read through the the posts quickly and couldnt remember who said what. but yes, it was your argument, and i think its valid and i think it def contributes to the genreal discussion. and we all do get a little self indulgent, no? if i may recall a bad day and 10 paragraphs about the moon? tee hee. i like that rant. aahh la lune. wow how awkward i am.

  i think youre in the right place and we all (me especially) need to focus on the argument. i’ve had a horrible day, and you know, i like reading what you guys all write, we just dont need to attack each other. i like this “community”.

  speaking of farting, where the fuck is my husband, hairhole? he sent me an email (yay i have friend!) and he said “im going to central ahairica to eat some burritos”, and i havent heard from him since. you ok, dear?

  oh geez………

• Comment by tom on July 19th, 2007 at 5:50 pm:

  (_o_)

• Comment by tom on July 19th, 2007 at 5:50 pm:

  ( . Y . )

• Comment by asshole on July 19th, 2007 at 11:59 pm:

  Ward =]

• Comment by kate on July 20th, 2007 at 12:57 am:

  Dumdiddee:

  I never said anything about silencing anyone. If a member of the small indigenous elite wants to come out in support of the racist, paternalistic policies of a government that has done fuck all for Aboriginal people in this country except engage in further dispossession, then fine, whatever, let him have his say.

  But am i gonna sit back and say “well, this guys says it’s ok, and look at the colour of his skin. Who the fuck am i to disagree?” No.

  A large portion of these people live in Third World conditions, have an average life expectancy 20 years less than the non-indigenous population, and make up 2% of the general population yet 33-80% of the prison population.

  So while their resistance both currently and historically has been inspiring and at times mildly effective, they are hardly in a position to take on the Australian Government and military alone. The only way Australian Aboriginal people will be able to win any real gains is with support and solidarity from the rest of the population. In this current campaign I (along with other non-indigenous activists) have received nothing but appreciation from the Aboriginal activists for the support we’ve given them. Some of them have been quite clear in saying that they expect it.

  So no, I’m not trying to “force them to be free”. When there is a two hundred year ongoing genocide happening in your country it’s fucking bullshit to stand aside and say “this is not my fight cos they’re different to me”. And it’s very clear in my mind that that is where your politics lead. I’ve heard non-indigenous people say shit like “we all need to look within and de-colonialise ourselves”. What the fuck??? It’s so fucking insular and frankly gets you nowhere.

  You call me eurocentric (among other things), but what could be more eurocentric than rejecting collectivist perspectives.

  To relate this back to Churchill, if the guy identifies with the indigenous population and has spent his academic life bringing indigenous issues to the forefront of society then he is relevant regardless of what you may think of his “character”.

  In the liner notes of LTMR it says something about the importance of exposing oneself to a diveresity of perspectives and to not just focus on those of white males. I took this to heart. I long thought i was increasing my diveresity by reading churchill. Turns out i was misled.

  Is it to be understood that if another scholar who was otherwise raised as a member of white society could successfully prove his hereditary connection to an indigenous group you would be more interested in his ideas?

  cos that makes zero sense to me…

  Maybe i am just as self indulgent as you but at least i make an effort to listen to what other people have to say without resorting to name-callling. Much.

• Comment by caítlin on July 20th, 2007 at 9:47 am:

  Sign this:
  http://www.ipetition...tion/quintacampaign/

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 20th, 2007 at 10:18 am:

  Kate … aside from one retaliation for a broadside fired at me from gerty (which we since resolved) i haven’t resorted to any name calling. I’ve simply self-indulged in cold hard logic and the undeniable truth!!

  I challenge you to find one instance where i stated that whites should not be allowed to join forces or stand in solidarity with indigineous peoples. Your mind is playing tricks on you.

  However, i do think it’s bizarre for someone to lie about their family background, especially for a scholar/historian. The only reason i could fathom someone doing this is if they’re either emotionally disturbed or trying to create opportunities for themselves. With churhill let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to emotional issues. Remember he’s human and has insecuries and faults just like the rest of us.

  Well, this thread has exhausted me. I’m off to listen to The Haunted’s “Made Me Do It” for probably the 50th time today. Any fans of melodic death metal simply must check out this album.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 20th, 2007 at 10:36 am:

  Caitlin,

  I admire your activism. Not bad for a fookin’ “Taig”. When i caught wind of the deportaion cases that you were invovled with i called one of my aunts in donegal to see if she would send her info. Even though she ain’t British like you (haha .. kidding) if figured her close proximity might give some weight to her voice. Sadly … VERY VERY VERY SADLY

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 20th, 2007 at 10:39 am:

  oops, accidentally hit space bar.

  … SADLY she is very old fashioned (racist) when it comes to immigration. She even went on a racial tirade about all the Polish people moving to Ireland. She sounded like some of my german relatives when they speak of “polacken”. SAD. SAD. SAD.

• Comment by Hairhole on July 20th, 2007 at 9:07 pm:

  Dumdoodle: Fuck sand. I spent far too much time trying to pronounce all them big words ‘ol Wardy boy uses in those two books of his I read (Agents of Repression and that one they sold on this site before the store became ‘crunked’ - wtf) to have you tell me he ain’t cool.
  I do, however, appreciate ‘The Haunted’ name-drop. So far they sound pretty kick-ass.
  Lately I’ve been listening to 3 inches of blood’s new album ‘fire up the blades’. Urgh! Amazing. I guess this is where that ‘Tony BK’ guy, who I’m pretty convinced is basically a racist, comes in and tells me they’re homophobic baby-punchers too. Jerk.

  Wife!: I spent the last 24 hours starring at your cryptic prose, and have determined that either it’s a ‘hairhole’/ little nippled boobies or that I should kill myself. Thoughts? We can further discuss this if you drop your email address again, as I lost it in a drunken fart storm a little while back.

  Pft! Central ‘Ahairica’. That was fun. I didn’t lose my virginity, but I lost my passport.

  p.s I owe you a extra tickley special for your Hiretsukan Invasive/ Exotic recommendation.

  ‘Crunked’…

• Comment by Sebast on July 21st, 2007 at 1:55 pm:

  TONY UK!

  WHAT IN A FICTICIOUS GOD’S NAME ARE YOU DOING IN GRANADA!

  Geeez, it’s the most conservative fucking spot of all Spain (except maybe Madrid).
  Hahaha, no wonder you fell across a stuffed bull with pig legs hangin’ from the ceiling. I’m surprised you didn’t dring Sangre de Toro (Bulls Blood, as in a wine mix, like Sangria, but without the fruit and with body fluids).

  For a positive and encouriging aspect of Spain, i reccomend Galicia, Euskadi (basque country) or some parts of Catalonia. The rest we’re basically Franco supporters. And most of that most, still are.

  Yaniv,
  If you like that one, checkout “Tierra y Libertad” (Land and Freedom). However i haven’t found any subtitles or stuff to comprehend it in english. So… ¡Learn Spanish! (or should i say ¿castilian?).

  ¡Keep on pukin’ in a slave world!

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 21st, 2007 at 11:08 pm:

  Just a quick note to hairhole

  if you get any of “The Haunted” albums, i would recommend the one called “Made Me Do It”. The songs “Trespass”, “Bury Your Dead”, “Dark Intentions” and “Under the Surface” are all fucking fiercely beautiful tracks full of wicked riffs. The rest of their albums don’t quite measure up to this one if a may humbly opine.

  It’s weird, but i’ve become totally preoccupied w/ death metal lately. Once you acquire a taste for the growl everything else starts sounding kinda feeble. Except good ol’ Propagandhi. Chrissy has the perfect hardcore voice, y’know?

  I’m gonna go sample “3 inches o’ blood” right now. The name sounds like they’re in the same vein as “Amon Amarth.” If you haven’t heard Amon go check them out right away. Fucking maniacal!!

• Comment by falcore on July 22nd, 2007 at 12:32 am:

  I haven’t been following this stuff with Churchill all that closely but i would like to add my mom was born and raised in Hawaii and is of a mixed heritage like most people on the island, and from what she told me in the Hawaiian culture when someone is adopted in to a Hawaiian family they are now Hawaiian themselves and it is excepted as such by all. Only with the influx and domination of European culture has this tradition been diluted if not eradicated on the islands. I feel it might be the same in Wards case and it is only through a European stand point that Wards Indian heritage is in question because European culture is the dominating social doctrine which is more concerned about superficial features and genetic ancestry than cultural practices which in my mind is all that really separates the so called races of black, white, red, yellow etc.

  About the University wanting to fire him well if the pattern of power holds true then they are trying to silence or at least
  dissociate his views from themselves because he tells ugly truths. People have gotten killed for challenging authority in this way.

  Does any body find this kinda similar to the Norman Finkelstein case where Allen Dershowitz
  was trying to block Norman’s tenure because of his work on the the israllie occupation in Gaza and the west bank which also full of ugly truths?

  Hey Sebast
  i cant believe you mentioned that movie because about 4 days ago i came across this site
  http://recollectionb...l/library/utopia.htm

  It has the screen play to the documentary. I have been searching the web for a copy of the movie but i haven’t found one if you know where to get a copy pls let me know.

• Comment by caítlin on July 23rd, 2007 at 3:47 am:

  Haha, I can’t believe I just got called a taig on the internet…! its like primary school all over again :(
  Yeah, since Polish people started coming here, people have been pretty quick to panic and come out with all sorts of reactionary bullshit. One of the groups I volunteer with splits an office with a Polish group, dudes who get swastikas painted on their walls and shit… we are a stupid people.

  Anyhoo, there have been a good few battles won in the UK on the ole “not chucking people to the wolves” front lately, so I would just like to remind y’all to sign the Quinta campaign petitio and help add her to the list of success stories, lest I come and kick your ass.

  Also another really great [sad] article from the Guardian about the lot of refugee women in Britain - read eeeet. http://observer.guar...y/0,,2131382,00.html

• Comment by tom on July 23rd, 2007 at 9:49 am:

  hmmm….come to think of it, this case makes me feel like 1960-1970.

  the regents are the fbi and ward churchhill is AIM and the BPP.

  “the purpose of this new counter-intelligence endeavor, is to expose,disrupt,mislead, discredit, or otherwise neutralize Ward.”

• Comment by tom on July 23rd, 2007 at 2:16 pm:

  oh yeah! since when do i live in river heights, you assumptuous nosehair? what, am i not living in reality because im not as coherent or articulate as you there, bud? wtf is that? am i supposed to now assume you live in colorado springs or something? ha. no, i dont think so.

  in any case, wrong city there, nub. :)

  i would however be interested to know what the media was like in colorado when all of this came out last year. i heard a squeak about it here, in MONTREAL, but other than 15 minutes of fame in the local mainstream, i havent heard a peep about this in quite awhile. was it a frenzy? sure seems that way.

• Comment by wtf on July 23rd, 2007 at 7:38 pm:

  wtf..

  Rebell spell are a good band???
  They sound just like the offspring mixed with the casualties.. this is nothing new.. it sounds just like every other band. I’m begining to think.. that it wasn’t the fact taht g7 couldn’t find a good punk band that there are none on the label.. its the fact that no punk band would sign to this label.. Honestly this is absolute shit and the politics sound about as indepth as pennywise saying “fuck authority” yay… Propagandhi are the best ever.. I don’t think any other band will ever come close.. but this rebel spell sure as hell aren’t even worth wasting my ten dollar speaker cones to put their sound thru… time to go find that broom stick and take my pants off..

• Comment by Hairhole on July 23rd, 2007 at 11:58 pm:

  Anyone here seen ‘Deliver Us From Evil’? That’s one of the more anger-inducing documentaries I’ve come across in a while. I (am) highly recommend.

  Dumdiddle: You shot-gun a beer to ‘Assasins of the Light’ yet? Fire up the fuckin’ Blades. Weeoo!

  You know Wife, if you’re not careful, you’re going to lose me.

  Lastly, Michael Vick’s a fucking…poop http://getactive.pet...k_2?rk=0pA8YuK1C9EOE

  ‘John Paul the toiletfart’…

• Comment by D-Rock on July 24th, 2007 at 5:39 am:

  wtf: Have you so little faith in us? Trust me - The Rebel Spell’s lyrics are not, in any way shallow, and your comparison in this regard to Pennywise of all fucking bands is really atrocious. Give it some time. Sit with it. You will understand. We do not take these things lightly.

• Comment by D-Rock on July 24th, 2007 at 5:48 am:

  Despite fear of reigniting the Churchill discussion (oh wait … that’s what this post was about wasn’t it? hahaha) … falcore struck a chord with the discussion of ancestry vs. culture and traditions, etc. This is something discussed in many of Ward’s books, specifically discussing how many Europeans were “adopted” into Aboriginal communities in the period after “contact” and in effect became Aboriginal peoples.

  And the fact, dumdiddee, that you “tried to sit through the vids” but “didn’t understand them” … come on man, that’s kinda weak, no? Because they actually explain a whole fucking lot. It is, after all, a group of Aboriginal folks, who in fact made up the United Keetoowah Band Council, discussing Ward’s enrolment, and speak to his “Indianness”. The videos (there are six in all) and accompanying text get to the root of the matter, truly.

  Here’s that link again.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 24th, 2007 at 7:39 pm:

  Falcore made a good point. But given that it is 2007 and aboriginals have now endured roughly 500 years of getting fucked over by the white man and nearly wiped off the face of the earth, i think the operative statement in his post was:

  Only with the influx and domination of European culture has this tradition been diluted if not eradicated on the islands.

  Can you really blame the natives for instituting “racist” criteria for tribal enrollment as a kind of barrier against further European penentration into their lives?

  Also, i’m not sure that the original adoption politices of hawaiian natives are representative of all north american tribes. I do realize that “race” as we know the term is a European concept, but similar conceptions of ethnicity have certainly existed amongst non-european peoples, e.g. Japan and India, so it is possible that such conceptions were indigenous in some indigineous tribes.

  It’s funny that the same people who say that Churchills’ “ethnicity” is irrevelant are the same people who insist that he is a “native american.

  I couldn’t watch the vids but i carefully re-read the accompanying explanation, in which the author claims to debunk reports that churchill but in reality offers little more than pure wind and ad hominem attacks:

  Our initial selections for a place in that little Hall of Shame include Vernon Bellecourt, accused rapist/murderer-in-charge of “National AIM,” and his cronies

  Honorable mentions go to UCB profs Payson Sheets (anthropology), William “Wild Willie” Wei (sales of self) and Paul Campos (fatness studies).

  hurchill was/is under no obligation to “prove” his genealogy to a “white punk reporter

  Bottom line: Churchill’s most definitely an Indian, while Kevin Flynn and his ilk are self-certified slime-suckers.

  No where does it prove Churchill can meet the following criteria for tribal affiliaiton:

  a) that some of the individual’s ancestors lived in what is now the United States before its discovery by Europeans, and (b) that the individual is recognized as an Indian by his or her tribe or community.”

  Surely some of you all can read between the lines when churchill states “no obligation to “prove” his genealogy to a “white punk reporter.”

  Why not show the proof and put the whole matter to rest? Because he can’t.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 24th, 2007 at 8:06 pm:

  Just to clarify, i do believe that races and cultures are totally interchangebalbe. Humans just need to get past the whole skin color thing.

  If anyone has any doubts about this, i encourage you to check out “the mismeasure of man” by Stephen J. Gould, in which he demolishes the myths of race that emerged especailly in the 19th century.

  But there are limits as to how complete one can become wholly aborbed into one nation/culture after being brought up in another, because upbringing does play such a crucial role in shaping an individuals thoughts and character. Take the generally sociable and hospitable nature of the people in ireland. They generally like to smile and laugh and have a good time. Now consider the generally staid demeanor found in germany. They have different senses of humor and ways of interacting then the irish. So can someone from eire move over to germany in their 20’s and wholly adopt the german mindset at the expense of his/her native irish one and become wholly german? Even if they loved germany and become wholly obessesed w/ their culture and history? I don’t think so. Usually such a person would be caled an irish “germanophile.”

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 24th, 2007 at 8:13 pm:

  Hairhole - yep, i did chek out 3 inches on myspace and holy fuck their musicianship is top-notch! I don’t see how it could get much better!

  Only thing that i couldn’t get into was the singers voice, it’s a bit shrill for me. But maybe that’s just cuz i’ve been listening to much growling lately. Anyway, thanks for the head’s up!!!

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 24th, 2007 at 8:17 pm:

  Hopefully i’ve explained now the thinking behind my original comment, in which i consider the part in bold to be the most important part:

  Churchill definitely has some character flaws, and i must say that i was bothered by the revelation that he lied about his native heritage (seriously, who does that? That’s friggin weird).

  Nevertheless, he is the victim of a McCarthy style witch hunt. And who doesn’t have character flaws? I have more than my share. And what about all those fuckers screaming for his head? I’m sure they have plenty of skeletons locked away in their closet.

  Bottom line: Ward Churchill has my respect, warts and all.

• Comment by gerty on July 24th, 2007 at 9:08 pm:

  Okay, I promised myself I wouldnt keep this topic alive but in hopes of leaving it as is and moving on I am posting.

  One thing surely a reasonable person can hold these two thoughts in one head

  “It’s funny that the same people who say that Churchills’ “ethnicity” is irrevelant are the same people who insist that he is a “native american”

  I believe it is IRRELEVENT what his ethnicity is as a scholar and yes even given his scholarly works. I also believe the evidence put in front of me weighs in favor of him being native american.

  I think everyone will agree with the following:

  1) It would be (is?) rediculous to “pretend” to be of another nationality - regardless of if you were writing about and advocating, for or about them.

  2) Churchill’s work is important.

  3) Ethnicity should not undermind his output - only the sound nature of his arguments should be considered.

  4) There has been a distancing as well as a smear campaign against Churchill because of his ad hoc airing of greivences.

  5) Short of, as Dumdidee put it “proof”* from Churchill beyond ANY recongnizable shadow of a doubt(which for some reason is necessary to some) or “proof” from the band unequivacally rejecting Churchill’s heritage through evidence - WE DO NOT KNOW.

  * The video shows that they approached him ‘on the fly’ and in person (IE he wouldnt have had time to prepare an elaborate lie) and asked if he would join and what his family tree was. He reconstructed his family tree in front of her on the spot and the names were added up. They went on to accept his membership.

  6) Speculating over something that for the present is at best unknowable and I would suggest irrelevent does not yeild much.

  I appreciate and aknowledge the search for the truth here. I am just wondering - what this particular issue, that of his heritage(ruse or otherwise), will change? Lets say he lied about his heritage. That in no way renders his erronious.

  Lastly I just wanted to mention again that people have doubted my Cree heritage because my hair is dirty blond - some have been convinced that I am not of Cree ancestry. I do find it a bit tacky if not offensive to provide proof - which thanks, I do have.

  oh and by the way I think the next propagandhi album should have Cecily Brown’s work on the cover and it should come with a hit of acid.
  http://img166.images...ownpyjamagameig7.jpg

• Comment by gerty on July 24th, 2007 at 9:22 pm:

  ohh oops I didnt finish reading the blog oh well. In other “oops” news…

  “Lets say he lied about his heritage. That in no way renders his [WORK] erronious.”

  Also I think it is at least a stretch to say: “the revelation that he lied about his native heritage”.

  You think that he lied is what you surely mean.

  Also worth mentioning “Race” is a misnomer
  members of different “Races” cannot reproduce. Technically whites, blacks, etc are all of the same race - different ethnicity. A point of clarification.

  anyway bye until something interesting comes this way.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 24th, 2007 at 11:01 pm:

  Gerty, you raised some good points.

  You’re right, i may have gotten a bit carried away in some assertions. i should have said something more along the lines of “based on everything i have read from both sides of the controversy i have concluded that churchill lied about his ancestry.” but i can’t be 100% certain.

  I know “lied” sounds harsh but after watching the presidential debates where the everything is so clouded by equivocations and euphemisms i’m making an effort to avoid sounding like one of these jack asses myself, y’know? The lack of clarity in public discourse these days is eroding my sanity.

  Clarity. Clarity. Clarity. Oh where art thou Clarity?

  As a scholar, historian, and activist, Churchill is a public figure and has portrayed himself as “a native son.” In all his works he has not failed to mention he is a “native american.” Hell, it was even included on G7s bio of him until recently. Is it thus unreasonable for him to produce some evidence supporting his claim when doubts arise, no matter how lame the cirumstances? Why not put the matter to rest?

  BTW, i certainly would never challenge a private indivuial on their ethnic claims.

  I meant “race” in its traditional 19th century “eugenics” sense. I haven’t heard it used the way you describe …

  Anyways, thanks for the civil reply.

• Comment by falcore on July 25th, 2007 at 1:41 am:

  “But given that it is 2007 and aboriginals have now endured roughly 500 years of getting fucked over by the white man and nearly wiped off the face of the earth, i think the operative statement in his post was:

  Only with the influx and domination of European culture has this tradition been diluted if not eradicated on the islands.

  Can you really blame the natives for instituting “racist” criteria for tribal enrollment as a kind of barrier against further European penetration into their lives?”

  Pls correct me if I am wrong. Wasn’t this criteria set because of US and i am assuming Canadian legislation was created to theoretically protect Aboriginal rights, land and culture but they had to prove that they did belong to a tribe and that tribe had to be officaly recognized ( actually i think this idea was in a Churchill spoken word cd which is probably what D-rock was refering to about racial identity in wards books ) by the Federal government. This would kinda curtail native organizations ability to accept who they wished in to their culture because the US or Canadian gov could maybe take away their standing as an officially recognized tribe and they would loose their “protection” and autonomy under the law.

  So maybe they wanted to officially accept ward in to their tribe but had to play around with his genealogy to satisfy US and or Canadian law.

  Either way i think we all agree he should not be fired.

• Comment by gerty on July 25th, 2007 at 8:56 am:

  oh just meant anthropologically speaking race is…(of course different uses of the word are out there, and accepted) “3 a : an actually or potentially interbreeding group within a species; also : a taxonomic category (as a subspecies) representing such a group”. Hence if we cannot potentially interbreed we are of another race.

  Ps I missed Dereks drumming at Greg Macpherson last thursday. Some homeless guy who looked as though he belonged in a ZZ top tribute band was playing. In his defence he was good.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 25th, 2007 at 11:12 am:

  I think your right that those blood quantum standards were inititially proposed by the federal govt. But i’m not sure if there has much widespread resistance to these quauntums amongst tribal members these days (or even back then for that matter) … especially amongst those on reservations, who i imagine see it at least some kind of rampart against further white encroachment and keep guys like Rush Limbaugh out of their internal affairs:)

  Also the quantum is used to determine who receives tribal entitlements and affirmitive action benefits. The affirmative action aspect plays a role in churchills case because he may have received his position because of it, as it is unuusual for someone w/o a doctorate to become a professor at CU.

  Now one last thing to ponder. Churchill stated that he “was/is under no obligation to “prove” his genealogy to a “white punk reporter”.

  Besides the irony of calling the reporter a “white punk”, ( a psychoanalyst could have a field day with this … “corporate punk” would seem more appropriate) he says he has no obligation to prove anything to him.

  Yet he does seek to prove “himself” to the reporter and everyone else by posting those vids, which seem to be put forth by someone close to him.

  we promised to post these clips more than a year ago, and that the reason we haven’t is because we were being coy…. we were inclined to bait the trap and then wait to see how many folks out there in Ballerina-land might be lured into going on record making really stupid statements as the months went by without our following up with the promised posting.

  WTF … Besides being weird, this explanation sounds suspect. And given the quality of the “proof” finally submitted, the plan totally backfired.

  Churchill had already been approved for enrollment by the Committee—a matter which would automatically included a vetting of his ancestry by the Band genealogist (then the late Louis Griffin)—he would like an opportunity to have the material attending Churchill’s application rechecked before his enrollment was finalized. This was approved. Churchill’s Cherokee lineage was thus confirmed not once but twice before he was enrolled

  Ok there’s some talk going on there that he might have been properly vetted by two people. This is cited in the article as proof that Churchill has native blood, but c’mon this is pretty vague stuff to say the least.

  Why can’t he simply make his family tree public … then we woudn’t even be having this conversation now! This article actually further cemented my belief that he bullshitted about his ancestry.

  P.S. Unfortunately he has been officially fired.

• Comment by Tony UK on July 26th, 2007 at 12:22 pm:

  “If you we’re given a choice… would you make Geordi human again… or give Data his eyesite back?” *pulls a bit of trapped food from braces*

• Comment by gerty on July 26th, 2007 at 4:21 pm:

  honestly, I am really surprised your death grip on this issue for your sake I hope you find some closure on this. I’d also add some of your inferences and speculation, I think, are a bit imaginative. I honestly do not mean disrespect but it seems all the more moot now.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 26th, 2007 at 8:10 pm:

  I honestly do not mean disrespect …

  Yes you do. Don’t play coy.

  Anyway, i have complete “closure” on this matter. I have merely defended the content of my original post from the charges of being racist, self-indulgent, petty fuckbag. It’s a great way to kill time at work during downtimes, and gives me an opportunity to hone my debating skills.

  I resorted to the irish-german comparison in an attempt to illustrate how an upbringing in one culture will prevent someone from completely changing their worldview/mindset to that of another culture. Walk down the streets of Munich and and then go to Galway and you will sense completely different vibes based on differnet cultural differences, not racial. Thus an Irishman in his 20s can never become an authentic German no matter how hard he tries, or vice versa. I believe this is plain common sense.

  However, it seems Churchill gets a get-out-of-jail free card to describe his ethnicity & ancestry however the hell he wants because you like his politcs. I would love to see what y’all would say if Rush Limbaugh was in a similar predicament.

  For christ sakes, think for yourselves. Just cuz you adopt the opinions of Chris Hannah or Ward Churchill doesn’t mean you’re thinking for yourselves. Gerty & Falcore were the only ones that offered anything of substance to the debate.

  The only thing certain in life is death, but i am next to certain, based on the evidence, that Churchill was living a lie in terms of his public identity. That ain’t right, no matter how agreeable his politics.

  Here’s something he said in 2002:

  This brings up a personal hook in addition to my intellectual motives. It comes with the fact that I am myself of Muscogee and Creek descent on my father’s side, Cherokee on my mother’s, and am an enrolled member of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. I’m also married to an Ojibwe woman of the Lynx clan, from the Onegaming Reserve in Northwestern Ontario. The truth is, although I’m best known by my colonial name, Ward Churchill, the name I prefer is Kenis, an Ojibwe name bestowed by my wife’s uncle. So there’s that, and I suppose it speaks for itself.

  What a load of shit. And i love the way he talks about his “colonial” name. The man descends entirely from “colonial” stock. Nothing “native” about it.

• Comment by falcore on July 26th, 2007 at 11:06 pm:

  dumdiddee

  the only thing i can refute about you about your last post is

  “The only thing certain in life is death”

  the other thing certain in life is life cuz you are alive

  Is there a site that Ward has posted his heritage and had he recently said that he is not of Native decent?

  On a more serious note:
  Tony UK

  Their is nothing wrong with Data’s eyes and Jordie has always been human except when he is behind the drums then he is a GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Gentle Omnipotent Demon)

• Comment by gerty on July 27th, 2007 at 12:18 am:

  ha I havent meant any disrespect since my first couple posts, not being coy, just trying to be honest with my criticism. Trading tact for truth, here.

  For example considering Churchills towering work in native studies it seems beyond ironic that he would get his Ethnic studies position on the basis of affirmative action all the while he was in reality a “white punk”. In fact its quite possible that Churchill had his position before he had his band membership since he got membership later in life - when they approached him. As well many Professor’s at many universities do not have doctorates - some lack their masters even. Associate professors for example. Looking now at the U of C’s website it is about half associate and assistant professors. Churchill is infact a tenure professor which is based on merit from a lengthy record of research. As it is also a myth, and one might argue an echo of prejudice that people hired on the basis of affirmative action are less qualified and therefor the connection to churchills lack of a doctorate seems spurious. That Churchill supposedly not having the credentials would use his fradulent ethnicity to fung shway his way into the U of C eventually using it to leverage and fuel his widely recognize academic persuits is the counter point of occam’s razor. A fanciful master plan that informs the public, garners noterity, a healthy income and by virtue of his controversial positions and historical unveilings puts him in a decidedly and violently opposed situation open to many a public tarring and feathering. I don’t know. It IS possible.

  I definitely agree that towing the “party” line is ultimately pointless and in fact I dont 100% agree with Churchills strategies anyway - and your point is well received. On the other hand I suppose to a degree I am consciously sticking by him on this giving him a surperfluous(to me) benefit of the doubt since I think the left is pretty shattered and without its bearings quite often and yet desperately needed. So to call him on this in the midst of his firing and in light of his works, and talks I’ve seen I just am not as enthusiastic.

  I’m assuming anyone who’d object to further discussion have wisely stopped reading so (disclaimer not being antagonistic…anymore) what is the evidence that has convinced you? As far as my touristing mind can tell its that certain band members decided it in their best interest to expel Churchill.On just what basis, it is at least contested.

  I am unclear why his general discription of his geneology is “bullshit”. can you elaborate?

  Perhaps in lieu of contraversy -Churchill was on the front page when the popes death was covered further along - or, I admit, possibly by the discovery of his non-native herritage.

  I do find it curious that amidst the Nation-wide scandle with the Band being inundated with calls and lives being threatened elements(ie not a consensus) of the band(which he did not seek membership in) ‘discovered’ his non-native herritage. Course such media coverage could have lead them to evidence that he was not native. In either case neither Churchill nor the band - to my knowledge- have provided any evidence that the public can access with any real certainty. Who really has the onus to provide evidence? The people who sought after Churchill and approved him twice as native who now have further smeared the intellectuals name, or the person who feels they dont have to prove their ethnicity (yup I’m leaving out the ‘to a white punk reporter’ because the intonation confuses his statement through provocation). Perhaps he hasn’t provided evidence because as is apparent he was occupied lecturing(preparing lectures etc), writing books, touring, and fighting for his job. Fuck I(!) can barely get out of bed in the morning! Like you’ve mention, and he has mentioned, he has outlined his tree on numerous occasions and at the very least roughed in the tribes of his alleged background. so what then DNA test? Again I wonder what this will change. His credibility? Well, I think the biggest test to his credibility is whether or not his works are honest and in proper scholarly form.
  Which for me is of greater interest.

  It has been pointed out that during the review of his tenure no scholarly bodies or officials were jurrors.

  Clinton cheated on Hilary and lied about it but that’s amongst the least insipid thing he did. I’m only making a chalky, faint impression of a comparison. They both seem somewhat like gossip and like a smear campaign.

  At any rate I guess I’ve got a tenuous kungfu action grip on this too, and although I hope for Churchill and the left that he is being honest about his ethnicity I am willing to recognize the truth when it surfaces until then I don’t actually know.

  Anywhom, hope I’ve spent more of your work time. ;}

• Comment by gerty on July 27th, 2007 at 12:25 am:

  Ps rush limbagh isnt an academic he’s a pundit radio host among other “things”

• Comment by gerty on July 27th, 2007 at 12:26 am:

  oh and if he were claiming to native while explaining their history and how they are oppressed… maybe I wouldnt be upset - maybe happy.

• Comment by mooduh on July 27th, 2007 at 10:02 am:

  There’s the whole thing about Churchill supposedly not being Native American. I really don’t know. But the whole “blood quantum” thing (if you’re 1/4 Indian, then you’re Native) was an invention of the Bureau of Indian Affairs way back when they were setting up the concentration camps-”reservations”. Less Indians, less land to allocate. Before that, like any nation (maybe still today?), the First Nations might invite someone into their Nation. But the blood quantum thing, as far as I know, was an invention of the BIA. Do the First Nations of the Americas adhere to this today? It’s their right to if they wish. They are sovereign nations afterall. Like any other nation have a right to require passports to enter their land, can have a standing army if they wish, and even possess nuclear weapons if they would wish to do so. True, most people are not as ignorant to think nukes could be a good thing, but the point is sovereignty. So the whole thing about whether Churchill is a “real Indian” or not. There’s might be more to the debate than if his parents were Indigenous or not. Wasn’t the “lying about his heritage” THE most contentious issue when the fascists were trying to be as mainstream about it as they could? But did one have to be “an ethnic” to head an ethnic studies program?
  His published works? No untruths about them.

  p.s.
  don’t neglect vinyl.
  computers are a fad. they are sooo a fad. just you wait.

• Comment by gerty on July 27th, 2007 at 10:34 am:

  mmm here is a gut wrenching article which supports Dumdidee’s perspective. How much of it is true? Seems like a fair bit may be. Including Dumdidee’s suggestion that he may have been hired under something perhaps not entirely dissimilar to affirmative action. All though this point seems muddled as the writer says other more clearly native professors were turned down. I’m starting to feel betrayed myself.

  At anyrate the whole this is a fucking mess.

  Fucking scary that the right is so militant, organized, and powerful.

  Fucking shitty that it quite possibly is that Ward Churchill jeopardized so much that he and the left have fought for.

  Brent please bring on the baseball bats.

• Comment by gerty on July 27th, 2007 at 10:35 am:

  oh ya! this is what I meant http://hnn.us/articles/10633.html

• Comment by D-Rock on July 27th, 2007 at 11:31 am:

  gerty:: The only thing gut-wrenching about that article is the fact that people read it and think it’s all true, when in fact Mr. Brown provides not a single reference to back-up any of his claims. It’s a hack article filled with distortions of fact.

  I would also like to know who has this “evidence” of Churchill being of exclusively European ancestry? Read this.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 27th, 2007 at 12:27 pm:

  Actually, D-Rock, the article is essentially just an op-ed piece, and such articles usually don’t come w/ citations. The allegations in it i’ve read elsewhere, such as Churchills claim to have been involved w/ the Weather Underground (despite no one from the Underground remembering him) as well as the controversy over his military record — was he part of a crack commando team or a truck driver/projectionist as his military record states? It seems there is a pattern deciet.

  As for the article you provided, all it really does is attack the motivations and characters of the accusers.

  I sited the qoute in my previous post from a speech he gave in 2002 in which he made very specific claims of his heritage. Why can’t he just provide the name of at least one native american forebear? Or how he is related to them, e.g. great-grandfather, great-great grandmother, etc?

  Again, i realize that this scrutiny is the result of an outright political witch hunt. But does this excuse him from misrepresenting himself?

  The more i learn about the man, the more it seems to me like he kind of fancies himself as an indian Che Gueverra. Having pictures taken of himself holding assault rifles, always wearing dark sunglasses (which he even wore for a bit at the Prop show) creating a kind of mystique. He seems overly concerned over his “image.” Of course that is just specualtion on my part.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 27th, 2007 at 12:33 pm:

  I understand that many univerisities have professors w/ only MAs, but I believe it to be rare at CU. Granting Churchill professorship in ethnic studies when he only holds a masters degree in a completely different field is highly unusual.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 27th, 2007 at 12:38 pm:

  Also, the cantankerous attitude of Churchill has not exactly helped to win over “hearts and minds” to the “movement.”

• Comment by D-Rock on July 27th, 2007 at 12:41 pm:

  So you, dumdiddee, you are saying that Churchill is not qualified as a professor (despite achieving tenure)? Or that he falsified an identity as a Native American in order to receive professorship? I would imagine you’re saying neither of these things, so what exactly is your point?

  Do you think a “family tree” done by three people - none of whom are genealogists, and two of whom are professedly anti-Churchill - holds water?

  You don’t think he should wear sunglasses?

  When an argument contains spurious claims and statements like this, you have to wonder if one is trying to cram as much as possible into an argument in an attempt to make it bear more weight.

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 27th, 2007 at 1:19 pm:

  So you, dumdiddee, you are saying that Churchill is not qualified as a professor (despite achieving tenure)?

  No, but i am saying he got his professorship ship under unusual circumstances.

  Or that he falsified an identity as a Native American in order to receive professorship?

  Given all that has transpired i believe that his claims of native ancestry are fraudlent. I don’t pretend to know what motivated him.

  Do you think a “family tree” done by three people - none of whom are genealogists, and two of whom are professedly anti-Churchill - holds water?

  It doesn’t matter what their motivations are, he has yet to disprove them.

  You don’t think he should wear sunglasses?

  No. But he does seem to wear them more than most people, especially when indoors, which kinda reminds me of Kim Jong Il, not in terms of thirst for blood but in creating a public image. I was totally speculating though, and never claimed otherwise.

  When an argument contains spurious claims and statements like this, you have to wonder if one is trying to cram as much as possible into an argument in an attempt to make it bear more weight.

  What? That statement bears no weight.

• Comment by Tony UK on July 27th, 2007 at 2:24 pm:

  Dumdiddee, its become pretty obvious that your scraping the barrel, let it go. You keep posting essays, I’m reading them and there isn’t a decent arguement to be found in any of it. Its killing me to read.
  “However, it seems Churchill gets a get-out-of-jail free card to describe his ethnicity & ancestry however the hell he wants because you like his politcs. I would love to see what y’all would say if Rush Limbaugh was in a similar predicament.

  For christ sakes, think for yourselves. Just cuz you adopt the opinions of Chris Hannah or Ward Churchill doesn’t mean you’re thinking for yourselves”
  Thats gotta be the most condescending thing I’ve read on this here blog. Heres a POINT for you, Rush Limbaugh isn’t in a similar predicament. We could talk about hypothetical situations til the cows come home(I’m sure you could). You seem to be the only person on here who has such a problem with Wards ethnicity. I thought this debate was supposed to be looking at the reasons behind his firing, and the whole idea of free speech being quashed. Your picking at the guy about his fuckin sunglasses. I mean come on. Think about these things for a second before you type. Your bringing his dress sense/style into a debate and you somehow think you have the moral high ground?
  As for being cantankerous, well so is/was Chuck D, or Michael Moore, or Propagandhi, or any other liberal thinker trying to make headway in the valley of deushes. Go take a shower boi!

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 27th, 2007 at 2:47 pm:

  Thats gotta be the most condescending thing I’ve read on this here blog

  Hahaha … well it was squarely directed at people like you!

  You obviously have no fucking clue what you’re talking about. Ward’s ethnicity is part of the controversy because throughout his career as a scholar/historian/activist he has always made prominent that he is a native american–with native blood–and that he brings the native perspective to his work.

  Doubts about his ethnicity became widely known due to a bullshit witch hunt, but that is not an excuse.

  So the questions are is Churchill an indian and if not is it acceptable for him as a public figure to say he is, especially considering he is a scholar.

  I say no on both counts.

  Whew .. it was really hard to control myself on that one!!

• Comment by dumdiddee on July 27th, 2007 at 7:28 pm:

  As for being cantankerous, well so is/was Chuck D, or Michael Moore, or Propagandhi, or any other liberal thinker trying to make headway in the valley of deushes

  Venting anger & outrage through artisti