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Fabricated cosmology

February 19th, 2010 Leave a comment Go to comments

Interesting Globe article about a Wampanoag tribal member who sent a letter in support of Cape Wind and called the Mashpee/Aquinna opposition a “fabricated cosmology”. Remember that the Mashpee and Aquinnah Wampanoag, who have no issue with mega-casinos, are opposing Cape Wind on the grounds that their sacred ceremonies require an unobstructed view of the sunrise – a premise that has been questioned before. An excerpt of the letter appears in the article:

Jeffrey Madison, a Martha’s Vineyard lawyer, wrote in a Feb. 9 letter to US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar that his father and grandfather were both medicine men of the tribe and “I am stating to you with complete honesty and knowledge that I never participated in, witnessed, or even heard of a sacred spot on the horizon that is relevant to any Aquinnah Wampanoag culture, history or ceremony. Nor did I see, or hear, either my father or grandfather conduct such ceremony.”
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Madison also submitted a petition to Salazar with eight signatures of other Wampanoag tribal members, saying they did not believe the wind turbines would “materially interfere with any significant cultural activity.”
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Critics of the project immediately challenged Madison’s claim because the firm he works for, Wynn & Wynn, was hired about two months ago to help strike a compromise with the tribes.

My religion – the worship of nature requires that my town of Middleboro not be marred by a towering hotel/casino. Can I get the same consideration that the Mashpee want for the their view of the Nantucket Sound?

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  1. bumpkin
    February 19th, 2010 at 12:29 | #1
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    I have to say – I love the term “fabricated cosmology”. That’s a keeper.

  2. paul singley
    February 19th, 2010 at 12:57 | #2
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    I’ll give that an AMEN! Mark!

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