Leonard Peltier's birthday message
Following are excerpts from a Sept. 12 letter by Native
political prisoner Leonard Peltier on the occasion of his 60th
birthday.
Sisters, brothers, friends and supporters,
The concern you've shown me and to get together on my
birthday touches my heart more than you could ever know. I know
many of you probably were not born or were small children when
this struggle began.
Many times people expect me to say something profound or
enlightening, but I am just an ordinary man caught up in an
unordinary battle, doing the best I can. All too often people
get involved in something expecting it to be over quickly like
a TV series, but the struggle against the powers that would
enslave can be a lifetime endeavor.
There are books on top of books telling of what should be.
I'm referring to religious material that I've come across
lately. There are those who pit one against the other in the
name of the creator, but these are just inspirations of men. If
we look around, we can see the things that the creator has
given us. I am not a religious person, but a spiritual
person.
We see the abuse the world powers heap upon the common
people and our Mother Earth. We must ever be vigilant of the
deceivers who exploit the earth and us for they are in charge
of the media. When you read something or hear something weigh
it against the right or wrong of contributing to life or death
as the creator has given us.
Many times, people called us revolutionaries. I like that,
although it often seems used in a negative sense, by the
deceivers. Revolution refers to something traveling in a
circle. All the creator's work seems to be in a circle--the
Earth, the Moon, the seasons, or a man's life.
As Native people of this land, we started in freedom and
were receptive to others who came here for the same. This
portion of our Mother Earth was clean and nature was in
balance. I wish to see things revolve back to a situation like
that again. If, in my life, I am a part of that process ... If
my imprisonment in any way has brought a view to the public of
how we should stand together, how we need to protect our
freedoms and regain what we have lost ... then I feel honored.
There is no reason why technology can't ultimately be used to
protect our Mother Earth.
Let us be revolutionaries in such a way that we enhance the
circle of life. Let us be revolutionaries that our children,
generation after generation, shall enjoy freedom and a healthy
clean Mother Earth. Let our lives be based in the circle, not
some straight line that has a dead end.
There are speakers and doers. If you can speak, then speak.
If you can carry out the work, do so. If you can do both, so
much the better.
Again, I want to say I am deeply honored to be among you in
spirit even though I am not there physically. The years roll by
faster than you would realize. Life isn't all that long so be
good to one another, be true to yourself, seek harmony with the
creator and know that I appreciate you.
Mitakuye Oyasin.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,
a famous Native doer...
Your friend always,
Leonard Peltier
#89637-132
USP-Leavenworth
PO Box 1000
Leavenworth, KS 66048-1000
Reprinted from the Oct. 7, 2004, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyright under a Creative
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