North Dakota Human Rights Coalition
Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights
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North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights |
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~NDHRC PAUR Report~ April 4, 2003
Programs ~ Announcements ~ Updates ~ Resources
Hello members and friends of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition! Sorry for the delay! This week’s report includes current and previous week’s information.
PLEASE NOTE: We have made some minor changes in the report transmission process. Please email AndreaDeegan@NDHRC.org if you receive two copies of this report.
In this week’s PAUR Report:
1) Human Rights Network Conference, April 26, 2003, Bismarck 2) Welcome NDHRC’s New Assistant Director 3) Amnesty International Meeting, April 19, 2003, Fargo 4) “The Laramie Project,” April 8-12, 2003, Grand Forks (UND) 5) Fargo Forum Articles on New Adoption Measures 6) Grand Forks Herald Opinion Article by Lloyd Omdahl and Responses: “Time for a billionaire” 7) Letter to the Editor, Fargo Forum “Three issues killed by Republicans” 8) Letter to the Editor, Fargo Forum “Republicans do end run around process” 9) House Bill Passed for New Holiday in October - First Nations Day 10) Bismarck Tribune Opinion Article to Lloyd Omdahl’s column by Omer Durfee “Column gets Irish up” 11) Bismarck Tribune Article, “Human services budget a sore spot” 12) Fargo Forum Article, “Disability challenge for churches” 13) (Reminder) Sisters of the Presentation at Sacred Heart Convent Presents “Peace Studies” (Various Locations in ND and MN)
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1.) North Dakota Human Rights Network Conference
The 1st Annual Human Rights Network Conference on Saturday, April 26 at the Doublewood Inn in Bismarck (10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), sponsored by the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition.
The conference includes information to enhance your “skill set” and time for conversation and comparison of the challenges and opportunities that exist in our communities and at the state level in North Dakota.
Information on the conference and a registration form are available on our website at http://www.ndhrc.org/conference.htm. Please feel free to forward this to all who might be interested.
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2.) Welcome NDHRC’s New Assistant Director
We welcome Andrea Warren-Deegan to the Assistant Director position with the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition. Please note the information at the end of this Report for contact information for Andrea.
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3.) Amnesty International Meeting, 4/19/03, Fargo
The next meeting will be Saturday, April 19, 2:00 – 3:00 pm, at Reggie Windham’s home at 621 9th St. South, Fargo. Normally the group meets at the Nativity Catholic Church Fireside Room the third Saturday of every month from 2:00 – 3:00 pm, however the church is having Easter services all weekend.
For more information contact:
Reggie Windham
“Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” – the Amnesty International motto.
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4.) “The Laramie Project,” 4/8/03-4/12/03
UND Dr. Mary Cutler is directing "The Laramie Project," based on the life and death of Matthew Shepard. This is a powerful gay-affirmative play and that alone would make it a noteworthy local event. It runs April 8-12, 7:30 pm at Burtness Theater. For more information contact the Theater at (701) 777-2587.
In addition to the play, Chastity Bono will be speaking at UND on Saturday, April 12, time and place to be finalized.
There will also be a "Town Meeting" at 6:30 on Wednesday, April 9, regarding the ideas and concerns of LGBT people in North Dakota. The special guest at the meeting will be Heather Sawyer, Senior Staff Attorney at Legal Lambda and UND faculty will be present
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5.) Fargo Forum Articles on New Adoption Measures
Other views:
Religious liberty ensured by new adoption measure
This commentary addresses some of the claims about the Adoption Agency Freedom to Serve bill (SB 2188) and its supporters made in the column from Robert Uebel (March 27.)
SB 2188 does not, in any way, change who can adopt or who can provide adoption services in North Dakota. The bill does not, therefore, discriminate against anyone. It only ensures that an adoption agency can opt out of processing adoptions that violate the agency’s religious or moral policies. In fact, the bill explicitly states that the decision to opt out does not affect a person’s ability to adopt. It is simply bad logic to say that a religious agency’s decision to opt out means that the bill discriminates.
<snip>
View the full article here
Other views:
Religious freedom is not freedom to discriminate
Senate Bill 2188, relating to the licensing of child-placement agencies, has been touted as a "freedom to serve" bill by its proponents. In fact, this bill would allow faith-based child-placement agencies to discriminate with impunity and the consent of the state of North Dakota. The article in the March 21 Forum points out supporters' claims that this bill merely codifies existing policies. Quite frankly, those policies already put families who do not fit the traditional model at a tremendous disadvantage.
<snip>
View full article here
Bill to let adoption agencies refuse to serve some
OK’d
BISMARCK -- Agencies in North Dakota will have explicit rights to refuse adoptions that conflict with their religious or moral beliefs under a bill passed in the House Monday.
The bill carrier, Rep. Sally Sandvig, D-Fargo, said some of the half-dozen adoption agencies in the state do not want to do adoptions for “certain groups of people,” including single people or gay or lesbian couples.
Senate Bill 2188 was approved on a 72-18 vote. It now returns to the Senate for concurrence with House amendments. The Senate earlier passed it by 45-2.
<snip>
View full article here
Please note: You must be registered with the Fargo Forum in order to view articles. To register click here
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6.) Grand Forks Article and Responses to Omdahl’s “Time for a billionaire”
Time for a Native billionaire
Grand
Forks Herald – 3/31/03
There are Native Americans who have as much stamina, imagination and genius as blacks. They, too, could excel in business, government and sports - or any other endeavor in society. As each year passes, they are depriving themselves, their tribes, the state and the nation of their talent.
<snip>
View the full article here
Natives already are billionaires -- in spirit By Dorreen Yellow Bird Grand Forks Herald – 4/1/03
Lloyd Omdahl, as my mother would say, certainly put his foot in his mouth this time. I am talking about Omdahls' Herald column, "Time for a Native billionaire".
Omdahl says Native people should "shake off the shackles of paranoia" and "victimization" - stop whining, in other words. Don't focus on the grievances of the past. Join all the other minority races who are looking ahead. Stop depriving yourselves, the tribe, state and nation of your talents. Where are the Native American billionaires? Omdahl asks.
Where Omdahl and I differ is in our views of whether billions of dollars should be a measure of how one contributes to society. Oprah Winfrey and, I would guess, people such as billionaire Ralph Engelstad are his role models. My heroes are Native American men and women who contribute significantly to society by giving of themselves every day, year after year. The money they earn isn't accumulated, but goes easily into the community - for them, "investment" means "helping each other."
<snip>
View the full article here
Native American achievers span the national horizon MAILBAG Grand Forks Herald – 4/3/03
HANOVER, N.H. - I read the recent column by Lloyd Omdahl, which gave his opinion that Native Americans are not successful in American society.
Has Omdahl heard of Notah Begay, Navajo professional golfer? Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo.? Dr. Spero Manson, member of the Turtle Mountain tribe, prolific researcher, and a member of the prestigious Institute of Medicine? Louise Erdrich, author of many bestselling books? Jim Larimore, Cheyenne and dean of Dartmouth College? John Herrington, astronaut and the first American Indian in space?
<snip>
View the full article here
Omdahl should reassess
measures of success Grand Forks Herald – 4/3/03
After teaching my "Remedies" class at the UND law school Monday, I returned to my office to read the Grand Forks Herald editorial page. You can imagine my relief when, upon reading Lloyd Omdahl's column, "Time for a Native billionaire" , I was reassured that there are Native Americans who have as much stamina, imagination and genius as blacks.
I had to check the date of the newspaper to make sure it said 2003 and not 1953.
I mean no disrespect to Omdahl. I am sure he is a nice man who means no intentional harm to the Indian community. However, his instructions to reservation leaders that they "let go of their youth" and "encourage them to rise to new levels of achievement" is misplaced, uninformed and at best, paternalistic.
<snip>
View full article here
Speak less, listen more MAILBAG Grand Fork Herald – 4/3/03
GRAND FORKS - Monday's Herald carried Lloyd Omdahl's column, "Time for a Native billionaire" , during UND's Time-Out week.
Just two days earlier, Herald Columnist Dorreen Yellow Bird wrote this of UND's Time-Out week, also in the Herald: "It is time to listen to the old and new songs of Native people. It is time to hear what they have to say".
There is a real contrast between these two pieces. Yellow Bird speaks of listening. Omdahl chose to give advice.
I hope that our lines will not be drawn up even more defensively. As a person said to me recently, as he generously gave me a ride from St. Michael, N.D. (which is near Fort Totten, N.D.) to Grand Forks, that "we learn much more by listening than by speaking."
Omdahl column defined 'ethnocentrism' MAILBAG Grand Fork Herald – 4/6/03
GRAND FORKS - I am from the Spirit Lake and Three Affiliated Tribes here in North Dakota. I work as a researcher and am a Ph.D. graduate student at UND. My bachelor's and master's degrees are in sociology, so my perspective comes both from being an American Indian raised on the reservation and a professional at an educational institution for the past three years.
In a recent class, we discussed middle- to upper-class white men's perspectives on culture. Narratives from readings of current journal articles and texts, plus our discussion, brought forth the consensus that white men from the middle and upper classes had a difficult time understanding other cultures, because they never had to adapt; they are the majority culture.
<snip>
View the full article here
Column ignored native achievements MAILBAG Grand Forks Herald – 4/6/03
ST. PAUL - I just read Lloyd Omdahl's March 31 column, and I was extremely offended by his ignorance.
Omdahl is totally uninformed as to the history of American Indian people and their struggle for self-determination. Despite our incredible history of oppression, we have American Indian people who have succeeded in every facet of mainstream society.
We have American Indian lawyers, physicians, ballerinas, elected officials, Olympic athletes, actors, singers, authors, artists - and the list goes on.
<snip>
View the full article here
'Immigrant values' aren't
native Grand Forks Herald – 4/6/03
MANDERSON, S.D. - Whereas I happen to agree with Herald columnist Lloyd Omdahl's idea that Native American children ought to be encouraged to aspire to excellence and taught to realize their worth as human beings, I believe Omdahl suffers from a lack of knowledge, which he so profoundly expresses in his column.
Omdahl apparently does not realize that the Native American experience with being "American" is not like any other ethnic group's in this country. The process of becoming "American" for the tribes has been one of agony. Those people who chose or were forced to come here gave up or lost who they were as peoples. In order to become "American," they gave up their identities and connections or had them taken from them.
<snip>
View full article here
Natives shun 'white male standards'
GRAND FORKS - Although on the surface, Lloyd Omdahl - noted North Dakota politician, legal professional, and columnist - may have admirable reasons for wanting a Native American billionaire, his column in March 31 Herald has some problematic features.
First of all, as a Native American, I find this article offensive. It smacks of an ignorance on a level that the rest of America would hang their mouths open at, wondering where this fella came from.
<snip>
View full article here
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7.) Letter to the Editor, Fargo Forum “Three issues killed by the Republicans”
Sen. Carolyn
Nelson letter: three issues killed by the Republicans
Thank you for the informative editorial, "Legislature chalks up 3 failures," printed Sunday, Feb. 16.
The Forum supported three specific issues. All were killed last week by the Republicans. The bills would have established a human rights commission (SB 2306), a division for population growth (HB 1199) and more accountability for economic development efforts (SB 2406 and HB 1417).
<snip>
View the full article here
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8.) Letter to the Editor, Fargo Forum “Republicans do end run around process”
Barry Nelson
letter: Republicans do end run around process
Democracy took a hit from the Republican majority in the North Dakota State Senate. I am not talking democracy as in political party; I am talking democracy as in participative government.
SB 2306 was defeated. This bill was the fifth attempt in ten years to establish a Human Rights Commission in the state of North Dakota. Despite the fact that 40 organizations, including the Fargo Human Relations Commission and the Fargo City Commission, supported the legislation; despite the fact that everyone who testified the week before supported the bill (and no one spoke out against it); despite the fact that the Human Rights Commission was one of five recommendations to come out of the "Saving North Dakota" discussion; despite people describing and documenting every form of discrimination here in North Dakota, SB 2306 went down in defeat along party lines, with every Republican senator voting against it.
<snip>
View the full article here
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9.) House Bill Passed for New Holiday in October - First Nations Day
North Dakota will have a new holiday under a bill passed in the House on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 2410 says the governor shall annually recognize the indigenous peoples of North Dakota and their contributions to the state and to the United States by issuing a proclamation each year designating the Friday before the second Monday in October as First Nations Day. The Senate already passed the bill.
Because of a minor amendment in the House, the Senate will have to concur and pass it again before it goes to the governor.
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10.) Bismarck Tribune Opinion Article to Lloyd Omdahl’s column by Omer Durfee “Column get Irish up”
Column gets Irish up By Omer Durfee, Williston Bismarck Tribune – 4/8/03
I've been
told that Lloyd Omdahl is somewhat of an icon in North Dakota politics. I would
like to add another label: bigot.
View full article here
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11.) Bismarck Tribune Article “Human services budget a sore spot”
Human Services budget a sore spot By Deena Winter Bismarck
Tribune – 4/8/03
<snip>
View full article here
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12.) Fargo Forum Article “Disability challenge for churches”
Disabilities
challenge for churches
Pete Kleckner never goes anywhere without his dog Snickers, who hears what the 40-year-old student can’t.
Kleckner wears two hearing aids because a severe congenital hearing loss muffles his hearing to about 60 percent of normal.
So last month, when Kleckner walked through the doors of Fargo Baptist Church to attend a Sunday night service, the Akita-German shepherd cross followed.
But what happened next illustrates the challenges churches face to accommodate people with disabilities and the misunderstandings that can occur.
View full article here
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13.) (Reminder) Sisters of the Presentation at Sacred Heart Convent Presents “Peace Studies”(Various Locations in ND and MN)
Sr. Yvonne Nelson has begun a Peace Studies program at the Sacred Heart Convent. Lectures will take place at the Presentation Center through May 30.
View Schedule of lectures here.
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***Member Reminder*** Please keep us in mind for your group or church social action/social justice meetings! We’d be happy to provide a presentation at a meeting or provide newsletter articles for your organizations.
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Do you have a Program, Announcement, Update or Resource that you would like shared on our weekly PAUR report? If so, please send an email to AndreaDeegan@NDHRC.org and we will do our best to accommodate you.
If you are not a member of NDHRC yet, what are you waiting for? Sign up now! On-line or by mail, it's all set at: http://www.ndhrc.org/membership.htm
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North Dakota Human Rights Coalition P.O. Box 1961 Fargo, North Dakota 58107-1961 Phone: (701) 239-9323 Fax: (701) 478-4452 Email: humanrights@ndhrc.org
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