by M. L. Larzelere

Created on: February 21, 2010   Last Updated: February 25, 2010

When it comes to looking good in the eyes of our foreign neighbors, we seem to have the script down pat. We have no trouble finding the aid necessary to make our image look golden. I, for one feel this act of generosity is commendable. However, that being said, I believe we deceive ourselves when we claim to be the omnipotent care givers of the world, when right here in our own backyard we have tragedies that go unnoticed.

I do not begrudge Haiti receiving all the aid it has gotten. Haiti has received aid the world over. While the cry for the earthquake victims of Haiti certainly deserves quick and immediate action, the cries for the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation went unnoticed. The suffering from a massive ice storm deserves no less immediate reaction.

I first heard about the ice storm that ravaged the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation watching Keith Olbermann on MSNBC. He made a plea that we at least send shoes to the Reservation. Shoes is what the citizens of the reservations asked for.

The Associative Press wrote on February 1, 2009, nearly two weeks after the storm that the reservation was without water and electricity. Admittedly, I do not watch the news channels every night, but I do scan the news on my blackberry and on my computer, and I saw nothing about the ice storm that buried the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.

Not until Keith Olbermann made his plea did the mainstream media take notice and send somebody to report on the situation.

Who should lead this politically correct endeavor? the United States Government. Who should be the spokesperson for the government? The President of the United States. Who should help in the cause for giving aid to these tragic victims?

We the people of the United States should give money, time, food, clothing, and or other items to ease the pain these people suffer in emergencies. In many ways, the United States Government caused this tragic weather related incident the Sioux have endured.

Therefore, it is only right and most certainly justifiable, that our government come to aid of any Native American whether due to whether, climate or any other natural phenomenon.

Last, I would like to make a plea to Helium. Now, I see a banner on Helium asking for donations to help the Haiti victims. Once again, I have no qualms with helping victims of tragic situations.

However, I do believe we need to help those tragic victims in our own back yard. I believe after treating Native Americans as second and third class citizens, citizens who live every bit as poorly as many of the third world people live.

We need to start treating them with more respect, more kindness, more action that alleviates the pain and suffering they have endured. Will Helium have a banner that asks for donations for the victims of the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation? 

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