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Thanks to merchants for assistance to church

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Letters to the Editor

Published: October 13, 2009

The congregation of Westview United Methodist Church would like to take this opportunity to thank the following businesses. These local merchants recently donated to our church fundraiser that allowed us to curtail our cost greatly. These businesses also aided in our being able to minister to the families of our community.

We appreciate their generous and caring hearts.

Fresh Air Galaxy, Long View

Lowes Foods, Claremont, Mountain View, Viewmont

Food Lion, Long View

WalMart, Hickory, Granite Falls

Carla Jeffries
for Westview United Methodist Church
Hickory

Points to consider about Columbus, Columbus Day

For Columbus Day, instead of venting my anger over America's genocide of Native Americans and the continuing campaign against us, I made a of list of truths and questions that might bring about an honest understanding of the truth, reasons to not honor a slave trader and Indian killer like Christopher Columbus.

1. Hailed as "The Great Navigator," Columbus arrived in the Caribbean and believed he had landed in India, roughly on the other side of the planet. I expect a failure like that would cost him his job in 2009.

2. Columbus never set foot on what is now known as America, so why do we honor him with one of our eight federal holidays?

3. Why do educators credit him with "discovering" America when this land was already inhabited by some 500 nations of Native Americans?

Why do Americans go along with this myth when they know it is not true?

If I walked into your home, would you say that I discovered it?

4. 1492 was the year the Taino Natives discovered Columbus.

5. As a testament to our presence in this land, more than half of the 50 states have Native American names as well as Carolina localities like Catawba, Cheraw, Waxhaw, Ahoskie, Wakulla, Orrum, Pamlico, Croatan, Ocracoke, Alleghany, Santee, Arapahoe and Pasquotank, to name a few.

6. Why are children not taught in schools of Christopher Columbus's crimes against humanity and being stripped of his titles when King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain convicted him of his atrocities? If the Natives he exterminated are remembered at all in the footnotes of history books, it is only as "naked savages" or the like, not by their proper tribal name which might lend a sense of humanity to them.

7. On Columbus's second voyage to the Caribbean, the Spaniards tricked 80 Taino leaders into a hut and burned them alive. To omit this ugly truth in the history books is called "lying by omission."

8. With every passing year, there are more protests over this day of recognition. This can be seen in country-wide protests by Native Americans, African-Americans and Latin-Americans.

The Taino people of the Caribbean and those who now live in America, whose ancestors paid such a huge price for the misfortune of being "discovered," have been erroneously declared extinct and therefore denied legal recognition by the government.

Why do Native Americans still not have a federal holiday?

If you are Native American or one of our friends, please urge your congressmen and women to support House Bill 167.

Duane Brayboy
Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina
Hickory