Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Opinion
Editorial: BLM's hypocrisy on tribe's sacred site


"We happen to agree with the BLM that these well-intended monuments are inappropriate on public lands, lest the entire countryside be littered with shrines. For the same reason NDOT ought to follow the BLM's lead and remove roadside death markers.

That said, the Paiute-Shoshone Tribe's objection to the Sand Mountain monuments on grounds the area holds some sacred meaning strikes us as a bit hypocritical. No doubt the families who erected these monuments also see Sand Mountain as a sacred place. Consequently, they likely see the BLM's rationale supporting the tribe's "sacred ground" as the application of a double standard.

This is another example of the folly of allowing sacred/religious symbols to be placed on public property. Once headed down this path it is pretty hard to turn back without offending someone's sensibilities."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Sand Mountain illustrates folly of sacred markers (The Lahontan Valley News 8/16)

Related Story:
Treading on a Shrine (The Coloradan 8/14)

Related Stories:
Court limits tribal suits under preservation act (8/10)
Supreme Court Roundup: Indian law cases rejected (04/19)
Appeals court says sacred sites worthy of protection (09/07)
Climbing group backs voluntary ban at sacred rock (07/06)
Group's challenge to sacred site policy rejected (03/31)
Plans for shooting range near sacred site scrapped (1/12)
Protections for sacred sites called inadequate (06/19)
Court won't halt transfer of burial sites to state (06/18)
Federal funds used for shooting range near sacred site (03/25)
Appeals court debates S.D. land transfer (03/18)
Judge: S.D. tribe not consulted (7/1)
Norton aides silent on sacred sites (7/18)
Judge halts work at S.D. site (6/12)
Group bolsters argument with Indian law (06/12)
Input sought into sacred sites (6/5)
Congress considering sacred sites (5/21)
Supreme Court rejects property-rights claim (04/24)
Victory on sacred site case (04/19)
Tribes push action on sacred sites (3/21)
Tribe prevails on sacred site case (3/19)
Norton denies politics played role in drilling (6/7)
Norton hit on exploration of sacred site (6/6)
Myers reversing sacred site opinion (10/25)
Bush nominee has no 'agenda' on Clinton decisions (6/21)
Babbitt denies Calif. gold mine (1/19)
BLM recommends mine rejection (11/10)