nimiipuu

I recently saw Russell in the Salt Lake Airport in October, maybe. It was right before the 2004 election. As I was hurrying through the terminal to catch my plane, I looked to my left about 6-8 feet and, zipping his bag in front of the California Pizza Kitchen was Means. We actually locked eyes for about 6 or 7 seconds, which was quite a long time, as he is a pretty intimidating gaze and presence. He must have been waiting to see if I would recognize him, as no one else in the terminal seemed to be. We kind of nodded our heads at each other. I was a little hungover, so my head wasn't working too quickly, and the second I passed by him, I remembered his name. Though if my recall would have been quicker, I'd have probably said, "Russell Means, what's up?" I'm never star-struck, really, but for a celebrity sighting, that was about as cool as it gets. I've always looked up to him.

I've got a related subject, actually, that I was going to start on First Nations, but politics are kind of irritating to some people, so I'll just ask you, in case you know. Why the HELL did Russell Means offer support to Republican John Thune in the S.D. senatorial race? He even stuck with him after his offer was refused.

What's up with influential natives these days aligning themselves with right-wingers and supporting the Republican Party recently, statring with Ben Nighthorse Campbell defecting to the Republican Party? This seems absolutely nuts to me, as the right-wing Republican agenda has not only never been supportive of or sympathetic to minorities (especially natives) but has, if anything, been hostile in the past. If I'd seen Russell after the election and known this then, I'd have stopped and politely asked him personally that day. Is there something I'm missing here?

Bingo! Plus, she's making me look bad. My family's starting to peg me as the "old spinster," and I'M not even 30!! (We tend to start young in my family. I have an aunt who is a great-grandmother but isn't even 60 yet!)