-=> Quoting Sondra Ball to Jim Casto <=-
 SB> I can understand that.  And it's true. Even though I am somewhat apt
 SB> to talk, and to try to dismiss, spiritual subjects on the boards, I
 SB> *do* pretty much ignore New Agism in the outside world.  It's
 SB> undoubtedly all around me, just as the Jehovah's Witnesses are, but I
 SB> don't sit in either circle.
 
 If I stop and think about it for a moment, I'll bet I can come up with a
 scenario along these lines...
 Post a message that is _totally_ outrageous about some JW belief (true or
 not, but written in all sincerity) in the correct forum and I will get
 much the same reaction from _those_ folks as the reaction many people who
 post outrageous messages get in _this_ echo or other cyperspace discussion
 groups. 
 
 SB> It gets even harder when half the Indians around *are* outsiders.  The
 SB> United Indians of The Delaware Valley, located in Philadelphia, works
 SB> with people from 130 different Indian groups, and almost none of them
 SB> are from the local area.  They're Lakota and Navajo and Creek
 SB> immigrants.  There are *immigrants* who get very angry at the lack of
 SB> services; but there just isn't the money to deal with all the drug
 SB> addiction and child abuse and homelessness.
 Well, that same phenomena occurs around here. The largest metropolitan area
 in Oregon (Portland and vicinity) has a large population of "immigrants". I
 guess my question is who do the "immigrants" think is supposed to provide
 (pay for) the services? The federal government? Local government? The local
 tribes? Why did they come "here"? Who told them "things" would be better
 "here"? How do they think "things" _got_ better "here"? Do they expect a
 "silver platter of services" or do they expect they are going to have to put
 forth little effort on their own?
 There are LOTS of "services" provided here in the metro Portland area for
 NAs, but they _all_ require a little (and in some cases maybe a LOT of)
 effort on the part of the individual.
 On that "other service" in one message I described what some of the tribes
 are doing in this area in the way of "services". Classes in how to start and
 operate a business, computer classes, jobs, medical services, etc. but those
 all require _some_ effort on the part of the individual.
 
 By the same token, I also have to look at what I "hear" some of those
 "immigrants" left behind. Just to give one example (and I don't have a lot
 of details, so this is just to illustrate my point)... Why would a Lakota
 leave South Dakota which has NA schools through college level and come to
 Portland and expect the citizens of Oregon to _give_ him an education?
 
 Jim
--- Blue Wave v2.12
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