NP Rank:
The Bulldozing of Homes not only Happens in Palestine by Israel but on American Soil By U.S Government
I came across This very sad story. A heartbreaking one indeed. It is one of Danielle Shenandoah a Traditional Oneida Woman and Mother who has paid a heavy price for speaking out against having a casino in her territory.
She is not Palestinian but like Palestinians she is indigenous to the land, that land is what is called America Today. One can only look at the indigenous people of North America to see what happens after being colonized and
having your land taken. If Genocide don't get you, then systems created
and left by the people who colonized will try. One of the attempts is
making their leaders become puppets for Governments like United States, and Canada and Israel to name a few.
They
become slaves to the Corporate Whores and sometimes manage to become
one. In the case of Danielle, it seems the people in charge have
forsaken personal values and traditions selling it for the almighty
buck. This is the theme behind the Almighty American Dream.
They
have become what was once they despised, they have forsaken themselves
and sacrificed their values at the corporate alter of greed and became
corporate whores.
Traditional people do not support casinos for
economic development because of the devastating consequences it has on
the lives of the people. Schenandoah is one of those people who had
courage and principle to stand up against her Nation and Government,
but now is paying the price.
For being very vocal against the casino Schenandoah has been ostracized and punished. Sources say that Danielle is one of several traditional Oneida who was disenrolled.
Since then this single mother and her 3 children have had their home
bulldozed with the blessing of the United States government, and has
had a constant struggle for years to remain together. They receive no
insurance, assistance, or other help from the Oneida nation. (see www.oneidasfordemocracy.org for the full struggle of the Oneida traditionals.)
To
make things worse, at the end of this past August 2007, Danielles 14
year-old daughter Clarisse was in a serious car accident. She has
suffered several extensive injuries including a shattered pelvis,
punctured lung, ruptured spleen, split pallet, and broken facial bones
with jaw just to name a few.
This accident has been a serious setback to the Schenandoah’s
progress. Things had started to improve for the family last October
when Danielle was able to buy a used trailer and rent land on the
Onondaga Reservation. She found a job and enrolled her children in
school where they excelled. They did not have much, but they were
finally together in their own home. Then came the accident.
Since there is no medical insurance or financial resources, Danielle must now stay home to care for Clarisse.
As a result, she is no longer able to work. With no income, they are
now in danger of losing everything they fought so hard to get… their
home, and most importantly, their life together. She has already been
threatened to lose her children and if not for the generosity of some
family (who are in the same situation with being disenrolled) they would have been removed from her home.
This
single mother and her 3 children need your help to stay together and to
cover the growing medical bills. Currently their car is in disrepair
and it is getting harder to get Clarisse
to the doctors for her many follow up visits and physical therapy
appointments. They also have other mounting bills, they are a couple
months behind on their land rent, their phone has been shut off, and
getting food and clothing for growing children, is a constant worry.
I
am appealing to those people out there who live the good mind. Please,
if you are at all able to, consider speaking out against this. Write to
Media, Let everyone one know about this story.
Click Here to Visit the site and get details has they happen.
http://windowintopalestine.blogspot.com/2007/10/bulldozing-of-homes-not-only-happens-in.html




Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (2)
at 19:39 on October 23rd, 2007
forothers, I think your story has potential but needs some improvement. I've got a few suggestions, and if you give them a try, I'd be happy to remove this flag.
I wasnt sure what was newsworthy in this story. News should always be about posting current stuff - new things you've discovered.
Please review What Makes News News. It can really help ify ou follow the old "W5" news formula -- making sure you have answered the questions: Who? What? Where? When? And Why? (You might want to check out our J-Tips for more help.)
This really needs to be filed under "Opinions," and I'm not quite sure about NowPublic's policy on posting to seek donations.
As conversant as I am with this particular very long-term story, and the backstory to it, I'd still like to see it properly slotted into opinions and have staff weigh in on the issue of seeking donations.
at 18:31 on November 25th, 2008
I would like to thank "forothers" for caring enough to write this article about Danielle Schenandoah and the ongoing plight of the Oneida Traditional Indians of the Oneida Indian Nation, NY. Further, I don't think forothers' article should be flagged nor considered opinion. If anyone used opinion, it was you, PEP ("As conversant as I am with this particular very long-term story, and the backstory to it, I'd still like to see it properly slotted into opinions and have staff weigh in on the issue of seeking donations." It appears that you would like to squash this story of ongoing injustice and "slot" it into opinions for some ulterior motive? Because you know the "backside"; what you've been told? Where is YOUR report on this issue since you seem to know so much about it? Did you ever write the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, (HOW), WHY? of this story, be it your opinion or fact? Do you lack facts to write the story? I can help you with facts. The fact that is clear here is that you beat down a real journalist; One who speaks the truth.
Finally, linking a blogspot, which was created for Danielle to sell her beadwork and support her family is hardly asking for donations.
I encourage forothers to keep on writing. Forothers, your name says it all. I wish there were a thousand more writers like you! 162 views? Not bad for a "flagged" piece.
Sincerely,
Kathie Buchanan, B.S.Ed., INMWC