OMG -----Original Message----- From: Joyce G. Reece [mailto:bjreece@bellsouth.net] Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 9:22 PM To: CHEROKEE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [Cherokee Circle] MESSAGE FROM LEONARD PELTIER I'm sorry if this is the dumb question of the evening but who is Leonard Peltier?.....He's obviously got his stuff straight! Joyce Gaston Reece ----- Original Message ----- From: "Blue Panther" <blue_panther@otelco.net> To: <CHEROKEE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 7:34 PM Subject: [Cherokee Circle] MESSAGE FROM LEONARD PELTIER > > > > MESSAGE FROM LEONARD PELTIER: > > > Greetings My Relatives: > > > I say relatives for we are all related in some way. Each year I make > statements commemorating the Oglala incident or the anniversary of my > imprisonment. Sometimes sitting here in my cell, looking through my > glasses, they no longer take the blur away like they once did. I > think about the lifetimes I've spent behind these walls. Sometimes > for a prisoner, it's like you've died to your friends and family. The > only difference is that you can talk to them on occasion and sometimes > see them. I have spent my life trying to make a difference in the > world, for the better. Sometimes someone notices in some way and says > thank you for something I was involved with. However my greatest joy > comes from someone saying that something I said or was involved with > inspired them to be better > than they were or seek for themselves to make the world a better place. I > remember in my youth that I had a hard time expressing deep feelings but > after years of losing friends and relatives who were very close to me, I > have come to cherish the opportunity to speak to you even though it be by > letter or some other way. > > > This is the second statement I've written today. My first was quite > political in nature but after thinking about it I realized most of you > get to read the same papers, watch the same news channels that I do. > When you're 30 you can hardly imagine dying. When you're 61 you know > it's entirely possible and could come anytime. Having said that I > want to say a few things from my heart to your heart. > > > Seek the creator in all the things you do. Cherish your time with one > another. Develop your personal self discipline, which is the key to > all success. Develop a sense of happiness within you that none can > take away. Develop who you are and remain true to your higher self and > your integrity will be an inspiration to others. Show your strengths > when necessary, even if it is in being gentle or humble. Speak of > others in private the same way > you would in their presence. Do your best to find the good in all people > and stand and speak up against wrong doing. Respect the earth where you > stand. Many parts of Mother Earth are also held captive behind concrete > and > steel. Do your best to recognize inspiration from the Creator and avoid > listening to your own, especially when you are tempted in contradiction of > your higher values. Never be too proud to say you were wrong or too > fearful > to stand up for what you know is right. Don't expect to not get hurt by > life, just because you've done your best to do what's right. Especially - > don't lose your sense of humor, even when the laughter is at your own > expense. > > > Life is a learning place. Existence is forever. Challenges are only > challenges because life has given you an opportunity to grow in an > area of your fear or weakness. Perhaps I've talked too much, eh? I > want to thank all of you for remembering me. Most of all I want to > thank all of you who have chosen to make a difference for the > betterment of this world. > > > I know we don't all have the same capabilities or resources and I know > from > experience and history that there will always be those who would commit > injustice against others. I know this is the way of things in the past > and > it will continue in the future. But I also know that if has touched our > hearts to do so, we must each, in our own way, in our own time, be part of > the cure against the sicknesses of greed, wealth mongering and nature > destruction that faces all mankind. We can't individually stop it or even > collectively, however, we can sure slow it up and, pray to the Creator > that > his intervention will prevail. > > > Seriously, know that I love you and that you will be in my prayers. > Thirty > years ago on February 6th, or March 6th, I would hardly have been able to > express these feelings. I thank you for your patience, your time, your > support, and your loyalty and for allowing me to share this existence with > you. As someone once said, we are all climbing the same mountain, just > from > different sides. > > > In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, > > > Mitakuye oyasin! > > Leonard Peltier > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > ---------- > > > > ==== CHEROKEE Mailing List ==== > <<>OPEN forum to all Cherokee topics - except Genealogy<>> > <>Culture-History-Language-Folk lore and Truths<> > Good Manners & Language is required to be on the list ALL > the links you will need to sub and unsub or contact listowner below > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Ethnic-Native/CHEROKEE.html > > ============================== > Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for > ancestors, but entire generations. 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