Buffy Sainte-Marie

Recent allegations about Buffy Sainte-Marie and her possibly assumed Native American identity may be hard to come to grips with for people who have long admired her as a musician and social justice activist. I am going to continue to enjoy and admire her music and her life story. That does not mean that I will ignore the concerns of people who have a less positive view of the issues. I do think it is important to get beyond the rather superficial judgements that are being made at present.

Here are some links to thoughts about Buffy and the subject of identity which explore the issues beyond such judgements:

Discovering Buffy by David Rovics

Buffy Sainte-Marie: Let First Nations decide by Russ Boswell

Race and class in New Mexico by Deborah Jackson Taffa

The War Racket

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzG_4e8yGew

Alternatives

Well, I've heard enough -- more than enough -- from Trump. I don't know if it was just good luck or if there was some underlying agenda, but I found that at the same time Trump was addressing the joint session of Congress, FNX was broadcasting a replay of the 2006 documentary about Buffy Sainte-Marie.

So, I put on the earphones and turned up the volume. What an amazing life story! And, how nice it would be to have her in the country's top spot. Of course, she would never accept the job as it has been defined over the last couple centuries, but I would be perfectly happy to have her there just singing her fine songs.  Maybe Oprah will invite her to perform at the White House.