I love a free press. An engaged and aggressive press corps is important to keeping the public informed and keeping government and other public figures honest. In a perfect world, reporters would vigorously research important issues and provide the public with all of the relevant information they need.
In the real world, however, reporters fight daily to keep their jobs, to meet deadlines, and to satisfy their bosses (who are in the business of selling newspapers and TV advertising spots).
Thus, we end up with wall to wall coverage of the latest pretty little white girl to go missing, or the latest celebrity "trial of the century." Occasionally, members of the media also inform us about such important stories as the plight of abandoned pets due to Hurricane Katrina (never mind about the abandoned people).
Due to the constant pressures inimical to their profession, too many journalists have become intellectually lazy.
So we shouldn't be surprised when they continually screw up stories about Indian Country.
Last month the New York Times reported about the growing trend of drug trafficking in Indian Country. The report stated that traffickers "are getting rich on their own neighbors' addictions, capitalizing on gripping poverty or new-found casino wealth and on the weakness of law enforcement in Indian country."
The journalist's connection between casinos and drug trafficking is astounding in its ignorance. She cites no evidence that would connect tribal casinos to international drug trafficking. And quite plainly, there is nothing that would connect the two.
The reporter's other statement, regarding the "weakness" of law enforcement in Indian country, suggests that tribal police agencies are similar to the corrupt cops found in third world countries. She makes no mention of the fact that borderland tribes have been clamoring for years for additional law enforcement funding to stem the tide of drug traffickers who use reservation lands as a gateway to the U.S..
Conservative "states' rights" fanatics have steadfastly opposed this increased funding, especially under the auspices of "Homeland Security," because it would put tribes on equal footing with state governments.
Even more recently the Oakland Press, of southeast Michigan, editorialized that the "Indian casino industry began in Michigan some 40 years ago when a federal judge ruled that a 19th century treaty permitted tribes to ignore commercial fishing regulations."
What the...!!
Bryan Newland is a Bay Mills Indian Community Member and a student at Michigan State University College of Law in East Lansing. He is the oldest son of Gordon and Vickie Newland of Bay Mills. He has written columns and letters that have appeared in local, regional, and national publications. You can respond to his column at 517-420-0808 or tikro6@yahoo.com.
