Culture


WHITE HATS

Never look at history. It can confuse a person with the facts. Life is prettier without history. We wear white hats, they wear black. We’re good, they’re bad. Simple. Let it go. I thought long and hard before assembling this article. There is a fine line between constructive and counterproductive criticism, and I lack certainty about its location. But given the ongoing mass murders being committed in Gaza with American support, and the absolute and unethical failure of western print and broadcast media to present anything resembling the truth, whether in Gaza, or ...

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Israel and Palestine – My Two Cents

The utter absurdity of the current situation in Israel/Palestine could have been predicted for the last 75 years. Did anyone really believe that you could move into a man’s house and “give” him the hall closet to live in and he would accept it? Yes, I understand that the Jews had suffered horribly under Hitler’s attempt to eradicate them. And long before that, the history of their horrific treatment deserves understanding and condemnation. But why did anyone think that what existed in Palestine could be rearranged like chess pieces and no one would care? Je...

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UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

It was to be the “American Century.” Ordained by the Universe and God Himself. America, the “exceptional nation,” was destined to rule the world. At long last, Mackinder’s Heartland, Ukraine, would be brought into the American orbit. Russia would fall, be broken into pieces, its resources opened for plunder. China would be next – Taiwan the sacrificial puppet. It was to be the “American Century.” It would also be the greatest moment of imperial hubris in human history. Rather than allowing Ukraine and Western Europe to live peacefully, with mutually ...

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WALK WITH OUR ANCESTORS

Respecting - Honoring - Acknowledging – Remembering   Certain persons of Menominee Indian Heritage, the Coalition to Save the Menominee River, private area landowners and others, joined in a Peaceful Awareness Walk amongst the Ancestors of the Menominee people. The location was Sixty Islands on the Menominee River west of Stephenson, Michigan.   The day began at sunrise with a water ceremony. The sunrise teachings help to deepen connections with the earth and strengthen the work of all. The ceremony was followed by opening words from area ...

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THE LONG MEMORY

In 1958 the musical film “South Pacific” hit the big screen. Elders remember well the beautiful movie based on the work of author James Mitchner that left us with such lovely music as “Some Enchanted Evening.”  The film was set on a South Pacific island and though the major theme was about the World War II conflict between the US and Japan, the film was really about people trying to understand one another. One of the sub-plots in “South Pacific” was about a young American naval officer who had fallen in love with a young Polynesian woman, and how he ...

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Crandon Mine Purchase Anniversary Celebration Held Last Saturday

By Tina L. Van Zile, Environmental Director   Last Saturday was the 20th Anniversary Celebration for the historic Crandon Mine Purchase. Events were held at the Mole Lake Casino and Lodge Conference Center and the Forest County Potawatomi Community Center. We started the day off with an opening drum song from the Sokaogon Singers, and their second song brought in the Sokaogon Chippewa Veterans Color Guard. Chairman Robert Van Zile, Jr. and Chairman James A. Crawford each welcomed everyone to the glorious day. Then Chairman Van Zile offered a prayer for ...

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DON’T DEFUND THE MARATHON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

On Wednesday, November 8, at 6 PM, the Wausau UU Social Justice will be having Beth Rosenberg Martin speak about the current state of things at the Marathon County Public Library and what we can do to become involved. We need full funding and common-sense people on our County Board to deliver this for starters. The public is welcome. Please visit the Facebook page Don’t Defund the Marathon County Public Library and sign the petition also.

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NO HISTORY ALLOWED

“Stories of the Nakba still harrow us and live in us, giving us hope of return. Palestinian Nakba survivors have not forgotten their homeland 73 years on.” “Our village resisted the Jewish militias with what little we had. But the well-armed Zionist gangs were singling out unarmed civilians and butchering them in hundreds.”  -  Omar Abedelal, 82, was only 9 years old when he, along with his family members and neighbors, was displaced from his village, Burayr.   Every year on May 15th, millions of Palestinians around the world commemorate the Nakba, the ...

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Funding Public Libraries Crucial to Diverse, Free Society

I am writing this letter in support of, not only maintaining, but increasing, the 2024 budget for the Marathon County Public Library. It seems strange that the budget of such a valued community resource should be threatened. We live in a complicated age where diversity of people and ideas should be celebrated, not condemned. The public library system makes all kinds of books and ideas available to everyone. Public libraries are one of the safe places where people of all backgrounds, economic class, race, gender and ideology can gather and quietly go about their ...

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HO CHUNK POW WOW

We are so fortunate to have an event that promotes culture in our area. This was a celebration of Indigenous People's Day. Our Rights of Nature group had a table at the event to help educate on the dangers of sulfide mining. There has never been a sulfide mine that does not pollute. Here in Marathon County, we are grateful for the help of the Ho Chunk who provided a resolution against mining to the Marathon County Board in 2022. A grand day of celebrating, feasting, and dancing.

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