pb, tulsa (8/22/2007 5:56:20 AM)

What did they think the government was joking? I say pull the funding and then let them decide. If they like all on their own and can support themselves with casino money then let them. Otherwise they need to stick to the treaty terms. They are no different than or better than any other group, country, that we have treaties with.

Marvin James Summerfield, (8/22/2007 6:22:31 AM)

The federal government better audit the use of federal funds sent to Tahlequah so they can determine whether or not Chad Smith is lying to them about helping the poorest Cherokees in need. Tribal members call Tahlequah for water and sewer services and they are told there is a five year waiting list for services..? Smith has been a terrible chief for 8 years and his adminitration has been a joke since he got into office..and the events unfolding before his eyes are due to his actions..the loss of millions of dollars that could have helped our poorest members went up in smoke due to bad business decisions by Chad Smith..he is simpy reaping what he has sowed..Cherokee Full-blood.

John Cornsilk, Tajhlequah (8/22/2007 7:35:44 AM)

According to Smith: He said the measure, if approved, would "eradicate the legal existence of the tribe."

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What a CROCK of absolute PURE BS!! you must be a Tribe before you can be eradicated, the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is not the Cherokee Tribe/Nation...

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They are simply a group of white people with a little Cherokee blood, usurping the sovereign rights of the Cherokee People, go here and read this folks: www cornsilks com/Dario1&2 html just put in the .'s and it is a link...

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It is the Cherokee People that are the Tribe/Nation, and they are beginning to stand up and demand their Cherokee government back, SEE IT HERE www jalagi org Stand up Cherokee People and proclaim this thing called a Chief is as he speaks a forked tongue snake, in Cherokee legend the head of the great white snake of the seventh generation of the Cherokee people, that must be lopped of!

SL, Tulsa (8/22/2007 8:16:03 AM)

It is time for a federal audit in all departments and a complete Congressional Investigation due to the amount of federal dollars flooding into the Cherokee Tribe.The past elections have been in question and should be audited also.

Smith has been in office 8 years and produced no known successful business ventures for the Cherokees. 19.2% of the Cherokees live BELOW the poverty level. These include Full Bloods without education and water or sewer facilities.

It is time the Casino money is audited monthly as Casinos were designed to support services to the people. Most of the jobs to be lost are at approximately $7.00 per hour. People are tired of the same old stories from the Cherokee Nation about how well we are in Oklahoma. Most projects from roads, to clinics are funded by Federal Grants. NOT the GENERAL FUND of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Give Credit where Credit is due!

Congresswoman Watson is on the right Road as the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma can not be ABOVE THE LAW!

proud, dewey (8/22/2007 8:23:09 AM)

For 8 yrs chad has lied to every group to support him. He is a master of confussing the issues. Now we have brad carson that he appointed and we all know Brad CraSON IS A LOSSER AND cHAD APPOINTED HIM NOT US. Chad is not a real indain because we stand up with what we say he hides behind women. You folks with car tags and saved the money but yet dont vote and learn about the crime being done when you cant save hundrens you will start listing. I would think the creek and osage are very happy right now cause when the gov. comes in and shuts down catose their buss. will pick up abunch.

LV, Tulsa (8/22/2007 8:51:10 AM)

300 million a year???? Just putting all that for one year would bring megabucks from the interest alone. No wonder they don't want any additional members. It seems like there is always a "stink" going on in Talequah. So much fighting and arguing, and name-calling. Gee, you think they could all live in very nice housing for that kind of money. Who is accountable for all that money? They should have the best health care system too!

VERDIE TRIPLETT, FORT COFFEE,OKLAHOMA (8/22/2007 9:33:45 AM)

The illegal chiefs of the five tribes are afraid of congress.Congress is the only body they are afraid of because they can't control and manipulate the way they do the courts.Look at what Chad Smith did with the cherokee high court.When that court ruled in Lucy Allen's favor allowing the freedmen to be reinstated as citizens of their nation,chad smith changed the configuration of that court to a five member court hand picked by him.Now he has the nerve to say let the courts handle this issue.The courts did in the Lucy Allen's case and he disrespected that courts decision.

AW, Park Hill Cherokee Nation (8/22/2007 9:44:57 AM)

Originally posted by nanyehi

Cherokee Nation Fact Sheet

(918) 453-7476 Fax (918) 458-6181

E-mail: mike-miller@cherokee.org

August 21, 2007

The Watson bill (H.R. 2824) would severely impact the poorest of the poor of Cherokee citizens.

If Congress eliminates the Cherokees' federal funding, the impact will be severe. Overall, the Nation would lose more than $270 million in federal funding it has estimated for its 2008 budget, and about 6,500 jobs in Oklahoma. More than 170,000 Cherokee citizens live in Oklahoma.

• The Nation would lose more than $108 million in federal funding for health care it has estimated for its 2008 budget.

The Nation currently provides health care to 126,000 patients,

including 241 Freedmen descendants, and it is the only source of health care for more than 44,000 American Indians from dozens of tribes. In 2006, Cherokee Nation clinics had more than 318,000 ambulatory care visits.

• Without federal funding, many of these patients have no option for treatment at all. In some communities, the Cherokee Nation clinic is the only medical facility. Others may have to drive an hour or more over poor roads to receive treatment at already overburdened rural health-care facilities.

• Without federal funding, many will have no way to pay the bills after seeing a doctor.

• Eliminating federal funding will create a health care crisis leaving many rural health-care providers with an impossible choice: treat thousands of patients who cannot pay or turn away patients requiring medical attention.

• Nearly $26 million in federal education and child care funding estimated for the 2008 budget would be cut.

These programs include federal child care and programs and education services.

• 842 children in Head Start and Early Head Start programs would be affected.

• Sequoyah High School, a boarding school with an enrollment of nearly 400 Indian students from all over the country would be forced to close.

• More than 20,000 Indian students who receive assistance in their public schools through the JOM Program, which helps pay for school supplies, tutoring services, and graduation caps and gowns, would lose that support.

• More than $29 million would disappear from human services, including those that feed the elderly, the handicapped and lower-income Indians from dozens of tribes.

• The Cherokee Nation feeds more than 35,000 households (or 90,000

individuals) every year through their federally funded food distribution program, and delivers more than 40,000 meals a year to elderly citizens. Without this funding, the state system will be flooded, and many would lose access to this vital source of food.

• More than $30 million would be lost from federal housing and community assistance for the 2008 budget.

• This means 7,398 Cherokee families would lose their federal housing

assistance, including elderly citizens in apartment complexes, thousands who receive rental assistance, over a thousand persons in low-income apartments, and hundreds more who are in the process of receiving mortgage assistance.

• In rural areas, there are few housing options for low-income Indians, and the loss of this funding would force thousands into substandard housing or, even worse, make them homeless.

If you really want to know...

O-si-yo, Twila P (Nannypoot), saw you get hauled away at the Tulsa Meeting in which Representative Watson held her first town hall meeting, yesterday. You sure did show your arce for all the world to see, didja? I guess some people, "overnighters" just don't know how to act or show respect, huh? Well, a broad audience got to see what real Cherokees have to put up with, when the CNO leadership condones this type of misbehavior, you know grade school tantrums, tirades, crocodile tears, etc. What a poor spectacl

AW, Park Hill Cherokee Nation (8/22/2007 9:46:25 AM)

O-si-yo, Twila P (Nannypoot), saw you get hauled away at the Tulsa Meeting in which Representative Watson held her first town hall meeting, yesterday. You sure did show your arce for all the world to see, didja? I guess some people, "overnighters" just don't know how to act or show respect, huh? Well, a broad audience got to see what real Cherokees have to put up with, when the CNO leadership condones this type of misbehavior, you know grade school tantrums, tirades, crocodile tears, etc. What a poor spectacle You and your comrads, ie. the two Mikes, Cara, Gayle R. allowed the world to see.

All of the above fact sheet points you laid out were brought to the attention of Chad's slate "Team Cherokee" on the campaign trail during the Spring of 2007, (not to mention, during his previous eight year reign). But all his cronies, or slate, turned a deaf ear or said this could never happen "because of the all-powerful Cherokee Nation." He knew what happened with the Semiole Tribe in Oklahoma. This all could've been settled in two brief ways; 1) the principal chief could have sat down with the freedmen to discuss and negotiate the issue (he didn't want to), or; 2) the principal chief could have supported the decision of the JAT's court (Cherokee Nation Court)decision that determined the Freedmen are Cherokee Citizens, but the principal chief chose a different solution which was to gather petitions (which were suspect at best) to bring about a speedy termination of Freedmen citizens through its March 3rd, 2007 Special Election which cost the Nation approx. $350,000, then the administration added an additional amendment($150,000) to the ballot so voters had to vote twice, not to mention the run-off election in July (for absentee voters it was $10 a shot for each vote),or the $500,000 plus request to fight the Freedmen in federal court and spent $750,000 on campaign propoganda for his slate against equally qualified independent Cherokee candidates, who are also citizens of the Cherokee Nation. In other words, Twila P. (Nannypoot), look at the CNO costs that were spent to try and keep the Freedmen out and his cronies in. Perhaps this money could've been better spent on many of the line items on the fact sheet, do you think?

The real question is why was this so important for an administration to rid itself from the Freedmen in his last season of office (8 years)? We can only wonder yet make smart guesses. The Administration's spokesperson spins an interesting tale when only 10,000 (approx)citizens voted. Not all of the CNO, 270,000 citizens voted. And only now, puts a fact sheet together, that the Administration was never worried about before. Especially, when the CNO casinos have never put a dime toward, Healthcare, Housing nor Educational Scholarships, while at the same time bringing in the big bucks. They are currently expanding the Catoosa Casino in Tulsa by $100 million. I don't see this figure on the fact sheet or how much bonus money the management in Catoosa (CNE) and across the 7 casinos get each Xmas holiday ($150.00)and we never hear what the top salaries are in management? Could we say, $200,000 to $300,00 nor do we see fact sheets on how much the Tribe has lost in its business ventures lately, GEG ($6 million), Connex ($4 million) under CNB? Perhaps the spokesperson could get us a fact sheet on these figures and how much the casinos bring in, quarterly? Citizens, the government and other tribes would be very surprised. In otherwords, the CNO has money to play with but NOT for its citizens. Need I go on?

In one of the principal chief's state of the Nation addresses to the Cherokee Nation citizens was "Don't ask for handouts...in otherwords, pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, while at the same time the administration was asking for increases in budgets from the government for healthcare, housing and educational scholarships, as the CNO numbers continued to expand by the headcount of their year to year recruitment of Cherokee citizens(overniters). But NOT the Freedmen.

It bo

AW, Park Hill Cherokee Nation (8/22/2007 9:48:34 AM)

It boils down to this. I appreciate Ms. Watson's town meetings. I think that she got a "snapshot" of what real Cherokee people have to contend with from day to day, ie. negative,immature,abrasive, and racist attitudes from the CNO leadership. At least she allowed all to speak whether pro or con, which is something the CNO does not allow during its regular monthly council meetings. If this administration won't put their own money from their productive casinoes back into the Tribe, whose fault is that? The same person who has brought this critical situation upon us---the Principal Chief (PC) of the CNO and no one else. And/or perhaps those that stand-up for him. If the PC can't manage his gross income from the casinos back to the Tribe and if he breaks the Treaty of 1866 which honors Freedmen and their rightful citizenship, promotes racism within the Tribe, puts out the red carpet for Cherokee Citizens that are only a miniscule degrees of Cherokee and caucasian blood or adopted white citizens, adopted Shawnee and adopted Delaware and turns citizen against citizen, then honey he needs to go (and his little dog Todo,too!)

In my opinion, the buck stops with the Principal Chief. If he can't do it, then put someone in who can (perhaps Congress will). The fault lies with the PC who put us in this dilemma. We can either work with Watson at this point to bring about a solution or move over! What will it be?

"Some of those who claim they are American Indian and boast a miniscule blood quantum say federal recognition isn't important, even as they take advantage of their federally protected status. Some even turn around and began to teach American Indian people about being American Indian--after they have studied American Indian history, of course. They are few. They are the Churchills."--Dorreen Yellow Bird, 2005

Cedrick Von Copperpenny, (8/22/2007 12:14:16 PM)

To all, what do you wish to accomplish by promoting Watson to revoke the CNO's federal recognition? So you don't like Chad Smith...big deal! Did you vote for a new Chief? Did you vote to protect the Freedmen? I bet in realily do didn't.

Cedrick Von Copperpenny, (8/22/2007 12:18:28 PM)

PS...I also read that some of you wishes Watson will straiten things out better than Smith. OH REALLY? You think Watson has YOUR best interest in mind or her own?

KAT, Tulsa (8/22/2007 1:29:54 PM)

Hello AW, I would first like to say that I too, like many of Cherokees, was led to believe the Freedmen didn't possess indian blood and were the enemy trying to take from the Cherokee nation. How stupid I was! After doing my OWN research, and studying the history, the Trail of Tears trek to Indian Territory, and most importantly, the Treaty of 1866, I am so embrarrased that I at one time chose to believe Chad Smith's supporters who sought to remove them. The Freedmen are indeed Cherokee Citizens. Always have been along with the Delaware and Shawnee. We should be ashamed of ourselves for targeting a race of people due to the color of their skin. BE HONEST, THAT'S WHAT IT IS REALLY ALL ABOUT. I also attended the town hall meeting in Muskogee. I am sad to say that those Cherokee councilors and supporters present speaking on behalf of Chad Smith were pitiful. I was embarrased beyond measure. You were right when you said at least the world sees what type attitudes and mindsets the "real" Cherokee people and the Freedmen have had to deal with over the years. This thing has blown up in their faces and the train is barreling down the tracks. There is no stopping it now. A sad, sad, circumstance that did not have to be that way.

Carl T, Owasso (8/22/2007 3:07:23 PM)

Over the past few days I heard testimony that I know and hold to include false statements about the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee Nation is the most diverse tribe in the country and there are citizens of African American descent. Understand that Freedmen are descendents of former slaves owned by Cherokees of which only about 2 percent of the population held. If any of these Freedmen can trace back to an Indian ancestor on the by-blood Dawes roll, they can in-fact be citizens of the Cherokee Nation.

Carl T, Owasso (8/22/2007 3:08:06 PM)

People who say that Freedmen have been citizens of the Cherokee Nation for more than 40 years are wrong. Freedmen have only been citizens of the Nation for a little more than a year. When the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court held that the constitution did not directly eliminate the non-Indians. That is when some Cherokee citizens started an initiative petition asking for a special election, of which there were enough signatures and upheld by the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court. Then the PEOPLE voted....

Carl T, Owasso (8/22/2007 3:08:44 PM)

Verdie: you say that the Chief disrespected the courts in the Supreme Court’s Lucy Allen Case. How do you hold the Chief disrespected the courts, when it was Cherokee citizens who started the initiative petition and then the Cherokee people voted on the amendment. Secondly, I heard you say more than twice that Cherokees get free car tags. You are wrong…. If you are right that maybe you could help me get the money I have spent on car tags since the Cherokee Nation created the Cherokee Nation Tax Commission. I will let you tell me what year that was since you are so in tune to the Cherokee Nation operations. Thirdly, in one session you stated that it was not about benefits, but then you insinuate that the Cherokee people double dip in services, using Cherokee services and federal state services. Man wish I would of thought of that, since I am pretty sure there are checks and balances on that from the State, Federal, and Cherokee Nation sides. Apparently, you and Congresswomen Watson have more in common then I thought, both are flip flops and not really sure of the facts.

Carl T, Owasso (8/22/2007 3:09:43 PM)

It was reported that Watson said that the Cherokee Nation could support their services through gaming revenues. It is apparent your wonderful Congresswomen does not even know what is in here own bill H.R. 2824. Which follow: “The Cherokee Nation’s authority to conduct gaming regulated under the Indian Gamin Regulatory Act and to administer any funds from such gaming are suspended until such time that the Cherokee Nation is in compliance with all treaty and other obligations with the United States, as determined by a final certification under section 2 (d).” So, obviously the great Congresswomen is shooting from the hip and was not prepared to answer questions about the issue.

But when the Congresswomen responded to the issue, she merely went back to it is a “matter of law.” But she was quoted in an article as Congress creates policy. If it is a matter of law shouldn’t the “Great” Congresswomen allow the courts decide. The judicial system was created to leave emotion out of any legal decision. I am positive that the Congresswomen is pretty emotional see that she is a descendant of Pocahontas, but could not say what tribe she was from…go figure.

Carl T, Owasso (8/22/2007 3:21:37 PM)

Comment on the following Comment from KAT,

KAT: "I too, like many of Cherokees, was led to believe the Freedmen didn't possess indian blood and were the enemy trying to take from the Cherokee Nation"

I hope that you do not always vote before doing your homework. One day you might close a school just because you went to the polls without knowing what you are voting on. It seems that you have the Internet, so you can find alot of information about the issue including the Cherokee Nation site, news sites, historical sites and such. So, just cause you are not confident in your vote don't blame the administration or other Cherokees that voted on the issue. The Freedmen may have indian blood but they must trace back the the indian by blood rolls to be a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. I am for that. Alot people can claim to be indian without proving it, should the Cherokee Nation let them be citizens.

AW, Park Hill Cherokee Nation (8/22/2007 5:54:35 PM)

Carl you are showing how stupid you are.

Stick Ross Mountain is an unimpressive peak. It's more of a gentle hill, really, poking out from behind the Wal-Mart just west of Tahlequah, the capital of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.

But to the Cherokee, the 900-foot crest was remarkable enough to be named for a revered 19th-century member of the tribal council. Stick Ross is thought to be the illegitimate grandson of Chief John Ross, who led the tribe along the Trail of Tears. Ross the younger was a respected Native American and a skilled diplomat who acted as a liaison between tribes and local townsfolk. "He knew sign language and spoke Cherokee and Seminole. He was a trapper and a farmer and a rancher," says Stick's great-grandson, Leslie Ross, a 56-year-old retired civil servant whose greatest joy is recounting the Stick trivia he learned from his family in Muskogee. "And he was sheriff at one time, too. He was pretty renowned in Tahlequah."

Stick may have died an exemplary citizen of the Cherokee Nation, but he was born into slavery. The Cherokee kept black slaves until 1866, when an emancipation treaty freed them from bondage and granted them full tribal citizenship. Known as the Freedmen, these men and women were embraced by the Cherokee as equals, and often married the offspring of their former masters. Like Stick, they identified with local cultures, spoke tribal languages, and took part in tribal religious rites.

And yet, three-quarters of a century after the death of Cherokee legend Stick Ross, there's no room for his great-grandson in the Cherokee Nation. Leslie Ross has been denied citizenship in the tribe on the grounds that he is not truly Indian. "They said I don't have any Indian blood. They say blacks have never had a part in the Cherokee Nation," says Ross, his usually calm voice swelling with anger. "The thing is, there wouldn't be a Cherokee Nation if it weren't for my great-grandfather. Jesus, he was more Indian than the Indians!"

Ross is just one of at least 25,000 direct descendants of Freedmen who cannot join Oklahoma's largest tribes. Once paragons of racial inclusion and assimilation, the Native American sovereign nations have done an about-face and systematically pushed out people of African descent. "There's never been any stigma about intermarriage," says Stu Phillips, editor of The Seminole Producer, a local newspaper in central Oklahoma. "You've got Indians marrying whites, Indians marrying blacks. It was never a problem until they got some money."

KAT, Tulsa (8/22/2007 8:27:27 PM)

Like I said, you have some people who do not know the facts. Carl T, you are one of them. I was too at one time, but now I know better. And at least I am woman enough to admit it. And for your information, I voted to keep the freedmen in the Cherokee Nation and I am proud of it. So, go ahead and stay whipped in your justifying frenzy of denial and be careful that you don't have a heart attack in the process. The truth of the matter is that the Cherokee Nation will be brought to its knees! No if, ands, or butts, about it. This case is not going to be decided on passionate insults against, me, Congresswoman Watson or the freedmen, this case is going to be decided on the LAW as it pertains to the Treaty of 1866. PERIOD! If you would like for someone to interpret, translate, or decipher it for you, let us know. And another thing, if you are going to write on this board, get to the point and stop rambling all over the place. Sounds like you are desperately grasping at straws.

Cedrick Von Copperpenny, (8/22/2007 9:03:19 PM)

It seems sickening that there are people on this board that seem to feel jolly at the thought of the Cherokee being brought down. Very few seem to comprehend the economic impact this will have on NE Oklahoma.

Cedrick Von Copperpenny, (8/22/2007 9:06:34 PM)

PS...you think Watson plans to stop with just the Cherokee? Nope! Hey don't take my word for it. Research it and see.

Cedrick Von Copperpenny, http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.2824: (8/22/2007 9:12:44 PM)

Here I will make it easy for you...I posted the link after my name...the below refers to her future 'conquest' of other tribes:

Read HR 2824 Section 2 Paragraph C Item 3 "Other Freedmen Indians"

Kwanee, Indian Territori (8/22/2007 10:00:48 PM)

To the ones that spoke above except for Carl

Know the true facts but Carl You must be one of the Removal indiains that came down to our country yrs. after The WESTERN CHEROKEES OLD SETTLERS were hi Ark. and also here in what is now okla. I have some news for all of you Your History as a tribe never started until the Trail of tears and when the federal government got to Arkansas they dropped you off on your tribal family memebers fro 1832 to 1836 then they had the Mean indians such as the cheyanne the commanche and the apeches out so they could bring you to the Lands that the WESTERN CHEROKEE OLD SETTLERS traded there lands for in Okla. then the Fed. Gov. and John 1/8 ndn and the senator DAWES so they could come up with a good land swendel they thought up the dfunct DAWES Rolls which were incomplete 400 hundred pages of the WCOL and also the Guion Miller Which left off 200 hundred pages What happened to all thes ndn's that were already here and lived on the lands we held as our own also what happened to all the indians, Freedmen the delawares

,

the shawnees that were on all the other Rolls that were done previously such as the Siller rolls the henderson rolls. there were full blood indians on these rolls did the dawes rolls just make them go away. and you might be interested to know the FEDERAL GOV. Has usurped the So called CNO of telaquahs Soverenity 3 times.Sence the take over of the WESTERN CHEROKEE OLD SETTLER S NATION By John Ross Henry Lauren Dawes and Senator Dawes It was the same to them as it is to the today CHIEFS and there followers. a money makeing Scam. The WCOS nation is the true CNO. Wado Ogenalis for letting me get ssome of the hurt from my soul and heart for 78 years all the people that Know me Know Im for my people im 3/4 aniyawia.im also a worrior of the tell of ww2 Korea and Veitnam.Ah na gee sss dee ah nah squah ooo ne tlah he do ma de go Qvi.

KAT, Tulsa (8/22/2007 11:09:22 PM)

THIS CASE IS GOING TO BE DECIDED ON THE LAW. JUST LIKE YOUR OWN TRIBAL COURTS DECIDED LAST YEAR. THE SUPPOSED "LAW OF THE LAND" Yeah, right. I applaud the tribal judges efforts in doing the right thing. However, those of you still sucking on sour grapes about the ruling should start a ANOTHER petition (but make sure the signatures are valid this time) and send it to a Congressman or anyone in Washington or Chad's friends at the BIA who is willing to stand up for his and YOUR views on the Freedmen issue and have them draft a measure to change the Treaty. But, YOU WON'T FIND ONE. Why, because it's MORALLY AND ETHICALLY WRONG TO KICK OUT THE FREEDMEN! Nobody will touch it with a ten foot pole! Cedrick, I'm sorry, but your website isn't going to do anything to stop this bill from moving forward. If Congresswoman Watson is as vile as you say, start a petition to have her investigated, send your findings to all the media outlets, form a protest march and have her kicked out of Congress. I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding friends on this board to help you.

I will agree that a lot of people are going to suffer even more than they already have. Chad Smith knows this, but does he even care? No, because people were already suffering long before Diane Watson got involved. HELLO! Chad Smith knew all along what had to be done to get Congress out of the picture, but now he has waited too long act. And if things weren't bad enough, too many of his supporters showed their collective backsides at the town hall meetings and everyone witnessed it in shock, from the janitor, secret service, news media, our children, and many distingished guests. These people just gave Diane Watson more ammunition to present to her colleagues about the good ole' CHEROKEE NATION OF OKLAHOMA next month when this bill hits the floor. No, I don't celebrate the fact that people will suffer, but I will celebrate when this corrupt government is exposed to the world! Go ahead and continue to marinate in a state of denial if you want. I too was like you at one time, but I've seen the light.