Tribal Government Mixing Church and State

It comes as no surprise that Principal Chief Michell Hicks has sided with the religious right in Cherokee. It's too easy an alliance to form, one bathed in self-righteousness, one that tends to deflect attention from issues like ethical questions over the Hicks Administration's leadership and the utter failures of his policies, like housing, drug elimination, economic development and increasing tourism to Cherokee. It also was no surprise from the chief who had family members proclaim that "Michell Hicks was ordained by God" to be chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

The big fracas has been over the Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprises desire to sell alcohol in the casino and its push to hold a referendum for registered voters to make that determination. Tribal Council passed the proposal by a narrow margin, and the chief vetoed it. The debate when this issue hit the floor included a proclamation from Pastor Denny Crowe of Old Antioch Baptist Church that if the decision went in favor of alcohol, that our children would burn in hell. 

Church and state are separate for a reason, a good reason. Look at Afghanistan under the Taliban, look at Saudi Arabia, Iran. These are countries led by religious-based fascism, and the citizens of those countries suffer for it, especially if their beliefs don't conform.

God gave man free will. Some times man may make decisions that may displease God, but that's how He set it up. It's the reason we have wars, murder. God doesn't bear the responsibility for these atrocities, man does. Holding a referendum is not an affront to God.

Many of those opposing allowing alcohol on a Biblical basis cite the need to protect the Cherokee people, but many of those same opponents condemn Cherokee tradition, even participating in Pow Wows. They're the ones proclaiming that Cherokee people can't handle alcohol, although some research would likely show that ethnicity doesn't have as much to do with alcoholism as does socioeconomic status. Alcoholism, along with drug addiction, tend to be higher in groups where there's a high level of poverty. 

Furthermore, it'd be nice to see those so set on condemning any attempt at legalizing alcohol to stop turning a blind eye to other problems in Cherokee, like Teen pregnancy, domestic violence and corruption in tribal government. In fact Richie Sneed, was the only preacher to address corruption in tribal government. The others remain silent.

To sum it up, the tribe needs to be allowed to vote on whether to allow alcohol sales in the casino, and the religious right, Chief Hicks and the council members who sided with this special interest need to step back and let the people make  up their own minds.