The Dakota Access Pipeline isnt just about the environment. Its about religion.

[rug]

IVirginia Redstar of Colville, Wash., a member of the Colville Native American tribe, during a ritual at a camp where people have gathered to protest the Dakota Access oil pipeline in Cannon Ball, N.D. (David Goldman/AP)

By Sarah Pulliam Bailey
December 5 at 7:00 AM

Activists fighting to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota welcomed new developments after the Army said Sunday that it will not approve an easement. Protesters saw the announcement as a key victory for Native American tribes and others who have flocked in recent months to protest the oil pipeline, which tribal leaders say threatens lands and artifacts they consider to be sacred.

Energy Transfer Partners, the pipeline’s developer, says it will create thousands of construction jobs and millions in tax revenue, and Donald Trump has vowed to support pipelines like this one. To the pipeline’s opponents, however, the pipeline runs within a half-mile of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, and the tribe’s leaders argue that it threatens the drinking water for local Native Americans.

The latest wave of activism surrounding the pipeline has brought a diverse range of groups together, including representatives from religious communities such as the United Methodist Church and the Nation of Islam, who have visited the camps or spoken out against the pipeline project. Many activists have framed the issue as an environmental issue, but some observers highlight the importance of Native Americans and how they understand their religion and the land.

Religion to many Native tribes is very land-based, said Stephen Pevar, an attorney for the ACLU who has specialized in Indian and tribal rights cases. Many Americans move several times throughout their lifetimes, making it difficult for some to understand how crucial land is to Native spirituality, he said. Native Americans have a bond to the land and nearly every tribe has its own sacred lands.



Protesters form a circle for the morning prayer. (David Goldman/AP)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/12/05/the-dakota-access-pipeline-isnt-just-about-the-environment-its-about-religion/?utm_term=.e3b1b97fefed

[Lordquinton]

1. So what are your feelings about the sainthood of Junpero Serra?

since you're posting oppression of Native peoples and their religion.

[rug]

2. What are your feelings about Native religions?

Do you despise them as much as you do western religions?

[Lordquinton]

3. Serra was responsible for the genocide of native people, culture, and religion

and your church made him a saint. Do you share your church's views on this matter?

[hrmjustin]

4. What do you think of native religions?

[Lordquinton]

15. I think the Catholic church has a long way to go to make up for the genocide they purpertrated

to the native religions, culture and people.

But instead they made one of the oppressors a saint, so that tells me exactly how the church feels about them.

[hrmjustin]

18. That was not my question. What do you think of the native religions?

[Bretton Garcia]

19. I think they are almost as bad as all the rest

But their reverence for nature almost redeems them at times.

[Angry Dragon]

6. answering a question with a question shows poor form

[rug]

7. So is avoiding a subject.

[Angry Dragon]

8. answer the question put to you then ask your question

[rug]

9. No. That's not how it works.

Make a relevant comment if an answer is expected.

Instead, he attempts to move the subject to one more comfortable, and one that may allow him to promote his standing anti-Catholic bias. I don't play that game and neither should anyone with a shred of integrity.

Tell you what. Attempt the connection between Junipero Serra and the OP. If you can actually make one, I'll answer it.

[Angry Dragon]

10. So called pagan religions are more honest than white man religions

perhaps we need to go back to witch burning and the Inquisition


the catholic church has many sins to answer to and they refuse to do so


Why does the church need so many saints??

[rug]

11. Geez, I was hoping you could do better.

Why does the church need so many saints??

A monumental fail.

[Angry Dragon]

12. I wish your church could do better ................. A monumental fail.

You care to answer the question??

[rug]

13. QED.

Why don't you get together with him and let your anti-Catholicism blossom all over DU?

I won't mind.

Just don't try to squeeze that bigoted bullshit into an unrelated thread.

[Angry Dragon]

14. I agree with the OP.

[Lordquinton]

16. You're avoiding the subject rug,

Why do you support an institution that carried out genocide against the native peoples of, well many places actually.

[rug]

17. See 9, quinton.

For now, I'll simply avoid you.

[nil desperandum]

5. For some of us

it's just about keeping the water supply safe....I was there with my cousin just before Thanksgiving she's long been involved in issues like this and she's more attuned to the religion aspect than I am...

I was glad to see the current reprieve from the Army Corps of Engineers.

I suspect long term this is hardly over at this time.

On topic, superstitious mumbo jumbo is the same regardless of who is practicing it. However I don't have to agree with you on every topic to work with you on areas of common concern. I just tend to keep my opinions to myself about the religion, mostly because telling folks when they ask that I think their religion is nothing more than a silly fantasy seldom ingratiates one to a larger audience.

But poisoning the water is a real life issue with real life consequences regardless of whether or not we agree about the same god(s) or no god(s)...