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| Cool Clips | Our Policy: The opinions and viewpoints expressed by these letters/emails do not represent those of the Camp Crier publisher. Forward your comments to editor@campcrier.net Our goal with the opinion page at Camp Crier is to create a forum for ideas. As Comanche people we face many challenges. Our future hangs in the balance. We need the best ideas to come forward. What’s important is that ALL ideas are weighed by their merits, not by who said it or where it came from. We’d like to hear your opinion on education, health care, constitutional review, lawsuits; issues that currently face the tribe. Unfortunately, some of the letters we receive are not in keeping with our goal. Camp Crier wishes to clarify our policies for publishing your opinions. As the page is titled we are asking for your opinion. It’s OK to disagree with someone, it’s NOT OK to call him or her a cheat and a liar because you disagree. You may feel that officials should have acted one way or another; that is your opinion. Stating they were “bribed” to do so is not. You may feel a candidate is a SOB and that is your opinion. To say I ”know” he lies, cheats or steals is not. We will be happy to publish your opinion. We will refuse to publish opinion stated as fact or to publish letters that seek to defame character, smear reputations, or threaten a person in any way.
November 24, 2009
Editor: Just today, I received a call from an Indian parent whose son almost died of acute alcoholism. Fortunately, he was found in time and went through a period of "sobering up" while in the local hospital. Another young man who had a long history of alcohol expired very recently. Both are cases of troubled individuals who needed help in one case while the other tried to free himself of this disease but failed. This brings to mind my Comanche people who today, suffer from alcoholism and drugs. This is especially true at this time of the year- - -Christmas and New Years. Parties offer no solution to the situation since alcohol will be the main menu. Are
we becoming victims of the time we live in? Yes. Comanches are victims
and we are losing human lives. What is being done to provide relief? The
tribe does have a substance abuse program but what are they doing to address
this problem? A good research project for someone who cares and reports
visual evidence of work currently being done. April
2006, I went before the General Council and in March 2009, Business Committee
listened to my pleas but only to be "slapped" in the face due
to political reasons. I proposed a day treatment and counseling-follow
up program but to no avail. Monies were approved by the people. The tribe
only needed a viable treatment program. I did not succeed but the spirit
continues because alcohol and drugs are crucial to the well being of our
people. My desire of wanting to help remains in my heart. The
question should be asked among our people. Will my relative be a victim
next because he/she drinks? Where can I go to get help? What are the affects
of alcoholism? The list grows each day so long as our relative who needs
help, do not receive it. The
governing body, Comanche Business Committee, needs to quickly act. The
constitution states "to promote through united efforts, the general
well-being of our tribe". Therefore, it is mandated that our elected
officials take this responsibility seriously. Alcoholism and drugs have
no regard to tribal members as to social status, elected position, male-female,
old or young. It is bad medicine and has no place in our lives. Elton Yellowfish |
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