Marshall and community
The Cape Cod Times has an interesting article titled “Disgraced leader remains active in Mashpee tribe”. The article is an update on Glenn Marshall and the Tribe one year after he stepped down as tribal chairman due to his rape conviction and lies over his military and police service. There are several things that bother me about this article.
That Marshall is still involved with the tribe doesn’t bother me that much. What concerns me is this “Gathering of Communities” event. It’s clear that as far as the Wampanoag and Middleboro leadership are concerned, the Middleboro “community” only consists of people who support the casino. This exclusinary pro-casino prom is the sort of divisive activity that led to much of the animosity of last summer.
The other thing about this article that raised my hackles is the fact that Amelia Bingham is still shunned while Glenn Marshall is playing wallflower at the pro-casino cotillion. Looks like the Mashpee have the same policy going on – you’re either pro-casino or shunned.
This sort of artificial division is the kind of thing that keeps Middleboro from moving forward. When we continue to stick to our own circles, we are maintaining the status quo. It reminds me of a recently formed local community group whose officers are entirely pro-casino activists.
The battle lines formed by the casino issue are alive and well with no end in sight.
I’m glad you raised these issues. It is disturbing that a tribal celebration excluded the majority of Middleboro and was not publicised. I feel that if this had been a legitamate tribal ceremony, it should have been publicly announced and everyone invited. If it turns out that it was merely a photo opportunity to be used on Native Voices, the recent cable program, hosted by Gayle Andrews, about whom much has been written, and Paul Mills, it will be most disappointing.
This process defines that sovereign nation version of democracy-don’t question the investors’ money, just go along.
Does anyone wonder who paid for the fare at the Elks?
I liked the deathless quote by Chairman Bond:”Middleboro Selectman Adam Bond, who stood by Marshall in the days following his resignation and flatly refused to “kick a man while he’s down,” said time has proven the casino deal in Middleboro is bigger than the people involved in negotiating it.”The developers have always been the single most important–the money people drive negotiations. Tribal members become somewhat irrelevant. [emphasis mine--Fiferstone] I don’t believe (Marshall) was making decisions for Wolman and Kerzner,” Bond said of the tribe’s secretive casino investors, Len Wolman and Sol Kerzner. “People have been able to gain perspective. Was that a good thing for the project or the tribe? Absolutely not. It damaged credibility. It damaged appearance.”There’s nothing like telling it like it is, is there?I hope Chairman Bond (and the irrelevant members of the tribe and the soon to be irrelevant politicians in Middleboro) will remember this comment in future days, weeks, months, and years.
As I thought Glen Marshall is still running the show. Shame on us.
I can’t believe that Amelia Bingham has not been unshunned yet.
It’s truly disgraceful.
Careful Jacquie – supporting an Indian(Amelia) is going to confuse the pro-casino types that want to paint us all as racists.
Of course both you and I have been vocally supporting her for over a year now and it hasn’t confused them yet – so I guess we’re safe.
TB
OMG.
OMG.
OMG.
Perspective???
Other people just call it by another name:
Judgement.
Go see one persons ‘perspective’ from last July.
What will it take for Amelia to be unshunned?
(I think that’s a good headline for the press.)
Amelia needs more publicity about her shunning. The tribal council will only make a move if they feel pressured publicly.
Let’s have a “community” party with a selected few so we can show the world that we love them for selling our investors that land so cheap. And the funny thing is… some of them actually believe the Mashpee tribe has historical ties to Middleboro. No LIT Glen, NO CASINO! You picked the wrong place, you should have tried for a slot parlor in Mashpee.
Ask Amelia Bingham what she did with the money she stole from the Mashpee Indian Museum when she was the curator.
If she was shunned for stealing the money, I’d be concerned about it.
What she was shunned for was asking some valid questions about the Tribe’s agreements with casino investors.
Regardless of what your personal baggage with Amelia is – the shunning was wrong and should be lifted.
I’ll accept no more comments that are not germain to the post.
BB,
I just need to reply to ebenezer attaquin:
Amelia is an 80 something year old tribal member with the courage to take on the likes of Glenn Marshall for the best interest and welfare of the tribe. She had nothing personal to gain by asking about the tribal finances…and then under the direction of a convicted rapist and liar, she is SHUNNED.
Now a nameless coward throws out accusations to start more rumors about her. Hasn’t she endured enough?