EDITOR:
First let me congratulate Robert Mitchell, recent recipient of
the coveted
”
Golden Quill Award.
”
This honor is bestoed only on those writers who most perfectly
meet the criteria of saying EXACTLY what the editors would have
said.
EDITOR:
First let me congratulate Robert Mitchell, recent recipient of the coveted “Golden Quill Award.” This honor is bestoed only on those writers who most perfectly meet the criteria of saying EXACTLY what the editors would have said. Amazingly, a “Golden Quill” was also awarded to James Brescoll for his beautifully biased “report” on unionism. What are the odds of that?
In an attempt to crush the impression that he is intolerant toward California Indians Robert Mitchell dashed off his award-winning piece shrugging off the whole notion that he could be either lying or merely wrong.
I will ignore Mitchell’s childish threat and alliterative insult. Mitchell is about as likely to respond to my “fightin’ words” as Cynthia Walker is to show up on my lawn with her broadsword.
I read the Time article he was referring to. I combed it carefully for any evidence (not rumors or accusations) suggesting that the impressions Mitchell tried to leave in the minds of readers were in any way accurate.
Did the article tell a tale of grand perfection in the administration of California tribal casinos? No, it didn’t. Did it expose the fact that large sums of money tend to corrupt leaders and politicians? Yes, it did. Did the article confirm what Mitchell alluded to in his mean-spirited article? Not in the slightest.
I’ll assume that Mitchell was appalled at the idea of a woman learning later in life that she was the sole surviving member of the Augustine Cahuillas and later gaining the ability to start a casino. I’ll admit that I didn’t have as big of a problem with it. Instead, I was wondering why all the other members of her nation were dead.
I wonder also if, as an attorney, Mitchell has ever engaged in arguments about the value of lost lives. I guess since this woman wasn’t born knowing of the crime committed against her people it doesn’t really matter. But remember, Mitchell isn’t mad about the money being generated, he’s mad that the state isn’t getting more of it.
Let me repeat: Mitchell made assertions that would lead anyone to believe that California Natives have been conducting scam operations by setting up fraudulent tribes and of seeking tribal status solely for the purpose of obtaining casino profits. Beyond slanted accusations, Mitchell’s vaunted Time magazine article proves none of those assertions.
Robert Mitchell and Denise Baer Apuzzo obviously don’t drink in the same bar because if they did they’d have this “American Indian poverty” business down pat.
The authors of Mitchell’s Time report (unexcelled reporting perfection) say that “the majority of Indians remain in abject poverty.”
What? How could this be? Denise says they AREN’T living in poverty or she would KNOW it! How could a member of the respected Academic Educational Aggression Alliance POSSIBLY be wrong about something? This is like a bad dream, except I am not in my underwear.
Now, I know I am at risk of uttering “fightin’ words,” but I remain ever vigilant.
However, if I see any Christmas carolers on my front lawn holding broadswords, I’m definitely calling the cops.
Bill C. Jones, Gilroy
Submitted Friday, Dec. 5
