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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOmaha tribe elder Nathan Phillips says he "felt like the spirit was talking through me"
The Washington Post @washingtonpost 18m18 minutes agoIn an interview with The Post, Omaha tribe elder Nathan Phillips says he felt like the spirit was talking through me as teens jeered and mocked him https://t.co/sabTvhs1zl
Link to tweet
In an interview Saturday, Phillips, 64, said he felt threatened by the teens and that they suddenly swarmed around him as and other activists were wrapping up the march and preparing to leave.
Phillips, who was singing the American Indian Movement song of unity that serves as a ceremony to send the spirits home, said he noticed tensions beginning to escalate when the teens and other apparent participants from the nearby March for Life rally began taunting the dispersing indigenous crowd...
It was getting ugly, and I was thinking: Ive got to find myself an exit out of this situation and finish my song at the Lincoln Memorial,? Phillips recalled. I started going that way, and that guy in the hat stood in my way and we were at an impasse. He just blocked my way and wouldnt allow me to retreat.
So, he kept drumming and singing, thinking about his wife, Soshana, who died from bone marrow cancer nearly four years ago, and the various threats that face indigenous communities around the world, he said.
I felt like the spirit was talking through me, Phillips said.
read more: https://t.co/sabTvhs1zl
KT2000
(20,585 posts)get this little asshole on the talk shows to explain his logic in any of this. Smirkface should face the wrath of the American public - with his parents siting next to him.
RKP5637
(67,111 posts)deurbano
(2,895 posts)(But I prefer your prediction!)
lovemydogs
(575 posts)The hate for anyone not white.
This is a good man and should have been treated with respect. I am so tired and so dispirited by the hate in this country.
I cannot say how much it really bothers me
narnian60
(3,510 posts)AnotherMother4Peace
(4,250 posts)Jeffersons Ghost
(15,235 posts)Skidmore
(37,364 posts)equals adults participating in this assault.
Qutzupalotl
(14,319 posts)Not to mention a native in his historical land singing to the scion of an immigrant.
flygal
(3,231 posts)I can not believe we are here. Taunting a Vietnam veteran, wearing a hat saluting a draft dodger and vocal critic of vets.... I'm just stunned at the hypocrisy allowed to go on all because of Fox news and talk radio.
Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(33,379 posts)From the article:
Phillips, an Omaha tribe elder who fought in the Vietnam War and now lives in Michigan, has long been active in the indigenous rights movement.
A co-founder of the Native Youth Alliance cultural and education group, he shows up to Arlington National Cemetery every Veterans Day with a peace pipe to pay tribute to Native Americans who served in the U.S. military.
My job has always been taking care of the fire, to keep the prayers going, Phillips said.
George II
(67,782 posts)Red Mountain
(1,735 posts)and luckily I wasn't there. I would have completely screwed it up for him.
I find it hard to even watch.
Abundantly clear who is the better person, though.
rwsanders
(2,606 posts)malaise
(269,093 posts)These are monsters - vile pathetic monsters.
Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)orangecrush
(19,581 posts)and most bullies eventually get an object lesson.
janx
(24,128 posts)People are commenting about religion on social media, and I understand that, but this must be a very sorry excuse for a high school if these young adults don't have any more respect than that for an Omaha elder and Vietnam vet.
Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)Stonepounder
(4,033 posts)I would encourage the Pope to remove the 'Catholic' from its name! There is NO WAY this kid and his buddies have learned anything about Christianity!
janx
(24,128 posts)American history. I don't care if your kid attends a parochial school, but where is the education?
Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)My siblings and I attended parochial school and this kind of behavior would have NEVER been tolerated on any level for any reason. That these smirking smug little shits have learned NOTHING of respect for their elders, not to mention history, makes me wonder what in the Hell they are being taught at a Catholic school.
janx
(24,128 posts)And these kids and young adults are going to learn very shortly just how much--as will their parents and high school.
GusBob
(7,286 posts)The little shits were tormenting a few Muslim Americans
And then Mr Phillips stepped in
Demovictory9
(32,465 posts)janx
(24,128 posts)Demovictory9
(32,465 posts)GusBob
(7,286 posts)The maggots were mobbing a small group of Muslims
Mr Phillips stepped in to intervene
ismnotwasm
(41,995 posts)With their MAGA hats and their March for Life bullshit. And no few of those kidss parents are probably STILL proud of them for being hateful little bigots. Theyre gonna learn now though.
These kidsso fucking ugly. For every mistake I ever made as a parent, every trouble any of my kids had growing up, or have now, they werent bigots, thank God they arent bigots now.
whathehell
(29,067 posts)The very fact of the man being old enough to be his grandfather should have kept that disgusting smirk off his face.
roamer65
(36,745 posts)Id love to be the one doing it.
whathehell
(29,067 posts)but that, unfortunately, would be wrong.
Goodheart
(5,334 posts)nocoincidences
(2,223 posts)Pachamama
(16,887 posts)mysteryowl
(7,390 posts)Thank you Nathan for your courage and perseverance. The nation is listening. May change come from this, in multiple ways.
nolabear
(41,987 posts)and advocated for teaching them to help rather than just hating them.