Why is the social media so unsocial?
You don’t have to be vulgar to disagree
By Native Sun News Editorial Board
www.nsweekly.com
The advent of the Internet and Social Media has brought a dramatic change to Indian politics. It is more than easy for anyone to post anything about anybody and what is posted can be filled with lies, hate and vulgarities and there are no decent controls over what one can say. An article by Tim Giago that questioned some of the tactics of the American Indian Movement followers, and that’s what most of them are now, followers, drew some hate responses that went far beyond civil discourse. One responder’s quote was erased by Indianz.com simply because of its foul language. The writer called Tim a “POS” or piece of shit. Giago recalls when even though he had disagreements with AIM leaders they were never vulgar to each other. One Sunday morning in New York City Tim had breakfast with Vernon Bellecourt, Bill Means, Charlene Teters and other members of AIM and they had a civil discussion about their goals. Bellecourt surmised that although he had disagreements with Tim that in the long run they were all trying to do the same thing, bring justice and civil rights to the Indian people. He said, “Tim and AIM are trying to do the same thing, except we may be attacking it from different directions.” And that was the way it was back then. When Tim owned Indian Country Today he often published articles by and about Russell Means. He said, “If Russ is doing something good and if he wants space in my newspaper I will never deny him that right.” The same held true for other members of AIM. Tim has a video that he will be posting on the Native Sun News website where he is interviewing Russell Means for his television show on the Standing Rock Reservation in the early 1970s. He also interviewed Oglala Sioux Tribal President Dick Wilson back in those days. In so doing he was charged with being an AIMster by some and a goon by others. It was one of those “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situations. When one is a news reporter one doesn’t choose sides. A reporter goes to where the story leads. As time passed Tim became very good friends with Vernon Bellecourt. In fact Bellecourt was planning a trip to Libya during the reign of Gaddafi and he invited Tim to accompany him on the visit. Their plans were well underway when Bellecourt was felled by a deadly parasite he picked up in South America. He died while the plans were still being formulated. As the old timers can tell you it is alright to have political differences without resorting to hateful name calling and vulgarities. When one doesn’t have a legitimate argument they then always resort to name calling and hate. Giago said, “Disagree with me if you must, but at least take the time to learn the facts and then voice your disagreements without resorting to name calling and hate.” Giago said, “Just give me a factual argument based on knowledge not rhetoric and you might even change my mind.”
For more stories, visit the all new Native Sun News website: You don’t have to be vulgar to disagree (The Native Sun News Editorial Board can be reached at editor@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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