WEARING TWO HATS

AS THE EDITOR OF BROKENWING EDITORIALS, I WEAR TWO HATS. I AM FIRST A TRIBAL MEMBER AND SECONDLY AN EDITOR OF A EDITORIAL BLOG. IT IS A DIFFICULT BALANCING ACT THAT I AM TRYING TO DO.

AS A TRIBAL MEMBER, I BELIEVE WE (TRIBAL MEMBERS) HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE MOHEGAN TRIBE WHICH HAS GIVEN US SO MUCH. WE HAVE A DUTY TO VOTE. I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE THERE FOR OUR FELLOW TRIBAL MEMBERS IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD. WE SHOULD GO TO THE QUARTERLY MEETINGS, MONTHLY COFFEE HOURS, THE SOMETIMES MONTHLY MEETINGS AND WHATEVER GOVERNMENT MEETINGS THAT THE TRIBAL MEMBERS CAN OBSERVE AND PARTICIPATE IN. I TRY VERY HARD TO DO THESE THINGS. I TRY TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE I WANT TO LEARN AND I WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I WANT TO LEAVE THIS EARTH WITH MOHEGANS HAVING A BETTER LIFE AND THE FUTURE GENERATIONS BEING WELL TAKEN CARE OF. I BELIEVE IT IS OUR RIGHT AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE . I THINK WE NEED TO VOLUNTEER.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT THAT IS WHAT I TRY TO DO AS A MEMBER OF THE TRIBE.

AS THE EDITOR OF BROKENWING EDITORIALS, IT IS MY JOB TO TRY TO FIND THE TRUTH AND REPORT WHAT I FEEL THE TRIBE WOULD BENEFIT FROM KNOWING.
MOST OF THE TIME I GET IT RIGHT, SOMETIMES I DO NOT. I TRY. THE WUSKUSO AND ITS' STAFF WHO ARE FINE PEOPLE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH BECAUSE IN MY OPINION, THE LIMITATIONS IMPOSED UPON IT BY THE GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LETTING THE TRIBE KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENS IN UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT, NOT THE FLUFF YOU ARE MOSTLY BEING TOLD. WE TRY TO ACT RESPONSIBLY BY NOT GIVING AWAY INSIDE INFORMATION THAT MIGHT HURT THE VERY WORKINGS OF OUR CASINOS AND OUR GOVERNMENT. THE TRIBAL MEMBERS AT THE VERY LEAST DESERVE TO KNOW THE ACTUAL FINANCIAL SITUATION OF OUR GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESSES. WE TRY TO GIVE ACCURATE FIGURES AND GET THE NUMBERS RIGHT. I FEEL THAT THE ACTUAL CONDITIONS AND THE OUTLOOK OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. THAT IS WHY I TALKED ABOUT THE BUILDING THE GOVERNMENT/COMMUNITY CENTER BUILDING, MAYBE THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO BUILD IT. WHAT ABOUT THE TOTAL DEBT OF THE GOVERNMENT AND OUR INVESTMENTS (CASINOS)? WE DO NOT WANT TO MAKE OUR GOVERNMENT LOOK BAD. SOMETIMES WHAT THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT DEEMS EMBARRASSING NEEDS TO BE SAID.

TAKE FOR EXAMPLE THE STORY OF THE SAGAMORE WHO FELL INTO THE ABYSS, THE LIGHTS OUT AT FORT HILL, THE CAMERA SYSTEM AT FORT HILL, THE RUTS IN THE WALK WAY AT SHANTOK, THE SAFETY OF THE FORD HYBRIDS, ETC. THESE STORIES ARE ABOUT SAFETY. THESE THINGS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THEM.

IF WE HAVE UNJUST LAWS, FOR EXAMPLE IN THE CONSTITUTION ARTICLE VII- VOTING SECTION 2, IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IF THE ETHICS LAW OR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAWS WERE UNJUST THEY TO WOULD NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

AS A RESPONSIBLE EDITOR, I WOULD NOT REPORT ABOUT SOMEONES HEALTH OR THINGS OF AN INTIMATE NATURE AS THIS IS NOT THE PROPER PLACE FOR THAT. IT WOULD BE DISRESPECTFUL AND INAPPROPRIATE. WE NEED TO INSPIRE OUR PEOPLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AND BRING TO THE FOREFRONT THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE. THIS IS NOT A BAD THING, BUT RATHER A VERY GOOD THING.

AS A TRIBAL MEMBER AND AN EDITOR, SOME OF WHAT I DO, ENTAILS THE SAME THINGS AND SOME ARE DIFFERENT. I AM TRYING TO DO A GOOD JOB. I AM TRYING TO ACT RESPONSIBLY.

I WEAR TWO HATS.