Re: complaint about recent dialogue

Vasudev Murthy (murthy@ssd.dl.nec.com)
Sat, 8 Feb 1992 17:15:13 CST


> Subject: complaint about recent dialogue
> Original-Sender: gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us (Gary S. Trujillo)
>
> Without necessarily saying what you feel about Jim's article, either in
> its form or its content, if you would like to pass on to me on your sense
> of my task and how well I have carried it out and how you feel you would
> like me to handle these kinds of matters, I'd really appreciate your help.

I, for one, feel that Gary has done an outstanding job thus far. I trust
his judgement on these matters. Now, if there was some kind of group of
moderators, that might ease the pressure on him personally. In the
meantime, I feel this forum is great and generally free of rancour which
is a reflection on his deft moderation. I have learnt a lot. Naturally,
mileage may vary.

[ I would be willing to share the task of moderation with others. In fact,
I am eager to have more time to focus on some special projects that I
have mentioned from time to time over the past couple of years, including
linking Native schools and social/legal service agencies with one another,
and working on establishing a Native press network, with the help of Jose'
Barreiro (editor of _Northeast_Indian_Quarterly_) and with the Native
American Journalists Association. If anyone out there is interested in
helping either with the moderation task or with any of these projects,
please get in touch with me. --Gary (gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us) ]

> For my own part, I tend to think that the discussion we've been having
> lately is valuable and important, in that it helps us to look at the
> element of tension between the traditional methods of academic inquiry
> and the feelings of at least some contemporary indigenous people, and it
> permits us to get a better understanding of the various forms of possible
> abuse of popular interest in Native peoples and cultures.

I can learn about an Indigenous People X only from the limited resources
I have access to, which will include Anthropologists and their work. We
have to shoulder our individual burdens of ignorance and insensitivity
(which do change composition over a lifetime) and carry it to the grave
(or the cremation pyre). As long as the intent is not malicious, how can
we fault people who want to learn?

Sincerely,
Vasudev

--
Vasudev Murthy          Any opinions expressed are strictly
murthy@ssd.dl.nec.com   my own  and have nothing to do with
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