Point of View

Point of View

Authoring this blog was a legal exercise for a capstone class. My hope was to present facts to formulate legal answers. I felt this method would allow viewers to formulate their own answers and develop their own conclusion on this issue.

My initial intent was to generate a dialogue among legal, indian, government, and Virginia population about the federal recognition issue facing the Virginia Indian tribes.

How do you determine who is right and who is wrong on any issue?

In our American society we dictate that there must be a winner or loser in order to win an argument. Looking at all the issues and compromise is given little consideration.

Clarification using effective communications and the establishment of dialogue to state facts on this issue I felt was a good start. But then the question is what are the rules and who determines these rules based upon what principles?

Moral rights, congressional theory, business ehtics, basic human rights, self-conception or plain common sense how are the foundational lines drawn?

1. listen to what others say in detail. Rules of engagement for listening apply here.

2. feel you are heard in the discussion. All points must be made known.

3. refrain from making interpretations about someones thinking.

4. continuation of the process is important to the progress of your issue.

5. the ulimate end goal from the human point of view is to not create resistance to hearing and being heard or trigger reactions that are counterproductive.

6. treat others the way you would like to be treated.

No more information or facts can be forth coming until the Senate Committee on Indians Affairs meets on this issue. Their web site has been down for months and tracking the bill stopped with the House of Representatives.