Commentary

Taking time is of the essence
While times -- and the sociopolitical firmament -- are rapidly changing, there is value in not rushing to judgment where important matters are concerned, Tim Giago says.
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Tim Giago
The Lakota Journal

There are those occasions when the ancient Lakota tradition of allowing time to take care of itself outweighs the demands of the talking heads and political pundits.

Election 2000 may be the last national election when the vote of the majority white population determines the outcome. This election of uncertainty clearly defined the polarization of America. For the most part, African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, Asian Americans and poor white people found themselves outside of George W. Bush's camp. They cast many of the opposition votes.

America seems to be split down the middle between the minority races and the poor white against the white middle and upper class. This clear division will most likely become increasingly apparent in 2004, when gender, race, ethnicity, financial and social status, and even religion will come into play.

The single most powerful electorate of all proved that it can be a force in politics when it got behind Hillary Clinton in New York and gave her a monumental victory in her pursuit of a seat in the U.S. Senate. Of course, that block of voters is women. Women alone have the power and the opportunity to cross all of the ethnic, racial, religious, financial and social barriers. And they are in the majority.

Too often, as happens on many Indian reservations where the voter turnout is usually 25 percent higher than the average white voter turnout in off-reservation communities, women tend to vote as their husbands advise them to vote. Of course, the exceptions to this are many. But, as women discovered when trying to get the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution validated, the division in their ranks made it an impossible task. For every Gloria Steinem there was a Phyllis Schlafly. Several years ago Steinem had dinner at my house in Rapid City, S.D., and we discussed this paradox. She said that it may have been the powerful, militant advocacy of groups such as the National Organization for Women that frightened some women and probably frightened their husbands even more. She said that often diplomacy is much more effective than force. When one charges into battle, diplomacy is usually put on hold.

Of course, a view from the sixth decade is usually objective, openly critical and more balanced than the view from the fourth decade. The founder of Ms. Magazine would probably approach things somewhat differently today than she did 25 years ago. I speak to my own perspectives in comparison.

I reflect on the struggle for Indian rights in the 1970s, when American Indian Movement leaders like Vernon and Clyde Bellecourt, Russell Means and Dennis Banks looked at America as the proverbial mule that had to be hit between the eyes with a two-by-four in order to get its attention.

Well, they did just that. But after all was said and done, for the most part, they turned to diplomacy to make real changes in Indian country. Along the way they learned that unity is also an important ingredient in successful political adventurism. It is a lesson that the women should observe because, in Election 2004, they may be the most powerful political force in America.

As I write this I do not know who our next president will be. But I am more aware of the process, the often flawed process, that determined the outcome. I know the Indian people of America prefer an Al Gore to a George W. Bush and they voted that way. Our vote (Indian) didn't matter much in South Dakota, a strong Republican state. But it may make the difference if the votes are recounted in New Mexico, a state with a very large Indian population.

Indian reservations are microcosms of the larger democracy. For too long, perhaps, our political leanings have been more liberal than conservative. It was not until the Indian nations had income independent of federal dollars with casino profits that they were able to join the political process by making large donations to candidates of their choice. Welcome to the parlor of the lobbyists.

Some Indian nations became a part of the very political obsession that we have abhorred for so long. They rushed to put soft money into the hands of candidates they believed would help them. Those seeking federal recognition with high hopes of constructing gaming casinos if recognition be granted, sought out the political hacks they hoped would support their efforts and, with the financial backing of their silent partners, poured money into the coffers of their favorite politician.

I would like to use an analogy to better explain, from an Indian perspective, what is happening in Florida and hope Americans feel the same way. When very important issues arise on many Indian reservations, every adult tribal member is allowed to participate in the discussion. If it takes several days or weeks for everyone to be heard before a decision can be rendered, then that's how long it takes.

We (Lakota) are often ridiculed for operating on "Indian time" but our ancestors always knew that there was no decision so important that it couldn't wait another hour, day, week or month to be decided. I think it was probably a Lakota who first said, "Stop the world and let me off."

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