The Mayflower II, a replica of the ship that carried the first settlers of Plymouth (aka the Pilgrims) from England to the shores of The New World, provides visitors with a sense of what it might have been like as the tiny crowded ship crossed the fearsome North Atlantic. Let’s just say the living was rustic and creature comforts were scarce. Most of us couldn’t conceive of taking such a voyage even with the prospect of acquiring free ocean-front property. A visit to the MFII gives all of us a chance to feel good about our heritage and those brave souls that arrived in the Mayflower in 1620. But as we disembark, we get a face full of cold water as we are met by members of the Immigration Patrol of something called Wampanoag Nation.
Cute idea. Set up a mock immigration process for visitors leaving the Mayflower II so as to highlight the impact that the English settlers had on the natives of their new land. Visitors are invited to complete an “immigration questionnaire” and then have it reviewed by a member of the Wampanoag Immigration Patrol As it turns out, admittance to the Nation is not a slam dunk. After review, visitors may well have their papers stamped. “Denied.” Applicant’s who might want to acquire land or convert Native people to Christianity are not welcomed. Of course, it’s all good educational fun meant to highlight the impact the settlers had on the Indians. And make no mistake about it, the impact was profound.
In light of recent events, however, the Nation might want to modify its immigration standards. The recent event in question is the frenzy over the proposed Casino to be built in the nearby hamlet of Middleboro. For example, The Nation might want to encourage immigration by those who enjoy gambling and believe that it’s just a harmless way to have fun. Anyone flashing a deck of playing cards or a pair of dice at the Patrol would get the red carpet treatment. Those who turn up their noses at gambling, or even worse, see gambling as an inherently evil activity might be sent back to their ship.
The Wamps will probably want to continue to screen out religious types who, while attempting to convert the Natives, might also take issue with the morality of gambling They are also on shaky ground when it comes to rules for alcohol use. “Plying Natives (with alcohol), prior to signing documents or performing land transactions” is a Nation no-no. However, once the Casino is up and running it will be the Natives doing the plying by providing copious amounts of alcohol to the gamblers.
It is important to examine sixteenth century colonialism and its effects on the indigenous population. At the same time, the history of the world is all too rife with examples of man’s inhumanity to man. The Irish, for example know a thing or two about being on the receiving end of English colonialism. But empowering the descendants of these “victims”, four hundred years after the fact, to create a self-enriching money-sucking juggernaut that preys on our own citizens susceptibility to a nasty vice has to be one of the greatest feats of twisted logic to ever come out of our government.
Of course, it is the visions of cash-flow dancing in the heads of all concerned that have convinced the good citizens of Middleboro, to sell out the character of their town for the prospect of property tax relief. Our elected leaders, heartsick over the visions of all those Massachusetts autos in Foxwood’s parking lots, are only too ready to latch on to a new revenue stream, rather than doing the heavy lifting of prioritizing and limiting government spending.
The proceeds from the Massachusetts Lottery are famously earmarked for education. Yet in spite of all the money generated by those scratch tickets, the educational system has failed to educate many of our citizens on the futility of profitably playing the Lottery, a nasty regressive tax on those least able to afford it.
One of the qualities that we admire about the early Plymouth settlers was their determination and work ethic. What does it say about our present collective values if we encourage, instead, the futile pursuit of instant riches through government sponsored gambling?
Cute idea. Set up a mock immigration process for visitors leaving the Mayflower II so as to highlight the impact that the English settlers had on the natives of their new land. Visitors are invited to complete an “immigration questionnaire” and then have it reviewed by a member of the Wampanoag Immigration Patrol As it turns out, admittance to the Nation is not a slam dunk. After review, visitors may well have their papers stamped. “Denied.” Applicant’s who might want to acquire land or convert Native people to Christianity are not welcomed. Of course, it’s all good educational fun meant to highlight the impact the settlers had on the Indians. And make no mistake about it, the impact was profound.
In light of recent events, however, the Nation might want to modify its immigration standards. The recent event in question is the frenzy over the proposed Casino to be built in the nearby hamlet of Middleboro. For example, The Nation might want to encourage immigration by those who enjoy gambling and believe that it’s just a harmless way to have fun. Anyone flashing a deck of playing cards or a pair of dice at the Patrol would get the red carpet treatment. Those who turn up their noses at gambling, or even worse, see gambling as an inherently evil activity might be sent back to their ship.
The Wamps will probably want to continue to screen out religious types who, while attempting to convert the Natives, might also take issue with the morality of gambling They are also on shaky ground when it comes to rules for alcohol use. “Plying Natives (with alcohol), prior to signing documents or performing land transactions” is a Nation no-no. However, once the Casino is up and running it will be the Natives doing the plying by providing copious amounts of alcohol to the gamblers.
It is important to examine sixteenth century colonialism and its effects on the indigenous population. At the same time, the history of the world is all too rife with examples of man’s inhumanity to man. The Irish, for example know a thing or two about being on the receiving end of English colonialism. But empowering the descendants of these “victims”, four hundred years after the fact, to create a self-enriching money-sucking juggernaut that preys on our own citizens susceptibility to a nasty vice has to be one of the greatest feats of twisted logic to ever come out of our government.
Of course, it is the visions of cash-flow dancing in the heads of all concerned that have convinced the good citizens of Middleboro, to sell out the character of their town for the prospect of property tax relief. Our elected leaders, heartsick over the visions of all those Massachusetts autos in Foxwood’s parking lots, are only too ready to latch on to a new revenue stream, rather than doing the heavy lifting of prioritizing and limiting government spending.
The proceeds from the Massachusetts Lottery are famously earmarked for education. Yet in spite of all the money generated by those scratch tickets, the educational system has failed to educate many of our citizens on the futility of profitably playing the Lottery, a nasty regressive tax on those least able to afford it.
One of the qualities that we admire about the early Plymouth settlers was their determination and work ethic. What does it say about our present collective values if we encourage, instead, the futile pursuit of instant riches through government sponsored gambling?
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