Mr. Lilligren's post (below) reminds me of one of MLK's lines, which I'm not remembering exactly: 'I have a dream, that someday my children will be not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.' It appears that even in 2001 we're still sliding into the old habits of wanting to label people, put them into a neat, squared-off cubbyhole, so that we don't have to really see them, listen to them, know them as a whole person. Interest groups screen candidates, which is appropriate -- that way those of us without the time to intensively study the candidates get some of our work done for us, if we trust the screeners. I wonder, though, what it says about our decision-making processes if one group's recommendation is the primary factor in choosing whom to support? Now to the specific: I've heard some talk that since the 6th ward was Brian Coyle's, it should, by rights, be a "gay" seat. I'm curious: how prevalent is this? While I don't think it would be right for the council to always be filled by (assumed) 'straight' individuals -- just as if it was always white, or black, or Native American we'd conclude a structural problem -- it doesn't make sense to have a "hereditary" seat. Comments? Arthur LaRue 6-6/Cedar-Riv --original message--- In response to Carol Becker's comment that no "gay men persons of color" are running for City Council: For the record, I am an enrolled member of the White Earth Indian Reservation (Ojibwe). This heritage comes through my father, Chuck Lilligren. He had a long career in the public eye and used his position to be a vocal supporter of Native American rights. My grandmother, Helen Beaulieu Lilligren, was from the generation forced to assimilate into Euro-american culture. As a very young child she, like so many others, was removed from her home on the reservation and taken to "English School". There she was forced to learn English and to despise her Native ways. Then she was returned to the res. to flaunt her new language, promote her new "superior" culture, and unwittingly advance an anti-Indian agenda. My father is part of a movement to preserve and restore Ojibwe customs and language. He recently told me a story of a very young Native American boy whose parents learned Ojibwe and spoke it to him from the cradle. It is very possible that he is the first native Ojibwe speaker raised in Minnesota in almost a century. I don't know this boy, or even his name. In my heart I call him "Hope". Though my varied ethnic backgroud and sexual orientation are important parts of my charater, I want people to vote for me because of my record of activism, my abilities, and qualifications for the office. Mi'igwech, Robert Lilligren 8th Ward Candidate Phillips West _______________________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
