What is racism? Is western society at a point where an accusation of racism is a cover-up for societal problems? First of all, I for one, consider Reserves to be part of the whole of the society in which I live. There are many problems on Reserves today. These, however, are more than mirrored in the lives of those who do not live on Reserves. So, if one is to speak about societal problems, all the beings in a given society are included. Quite often, people on Reserves have a higher concentration of any given societal malady due to conditions that could be bettered with a concentrated effort from all members of the society as a whole. In my opinion, we must stop pointing fingers of accusation at one another, recognize the problems which we all face and try to alleviate those problems.

Please note that I included all beings of a given society in an adumbrated definition of a society. I do mean all beings. Mohandas Gandhi indicated that the well being of a nation could be measured by how well it treats the animal members of that nation. And I, for one, fully agree with his assessment. On the whole, our fellow animal beings in Canada are not fairing all that well. Because any given aboriginal "nation" within the confines of the Nation as a whole becomes a microcosmic expression of the Nation as a whole, we are tempted to see that microcosm standing on its own with all the accusations that that might entail. It is simply not the case. Were we to consider all the animal members of our society, we would certainly conclude that the lives of the animals that live in our society are being ignored almost entirely. Literally millions are suffering and being murdered. For this reason alone, we, as humans, must put aside our constructed separations and work and live together for the rights and well-being of all the members of our society. It is even true that societies around the planet find themselves in the same predicament.

In the post which seems to be the point of contention here, this is stated quite clearly. "The human social problems are discussed endlessly and openly without accusations of racism...But, if one speaks of the endemic and execrable animal abuse and neglect, one is immediately accused of racism."

That statement is a clarion call that the conditions under which the animals live are an indicator of how the human animals live and both must be alleviated. It is true in any aboriginal nation. It is true in any non-aboriginal nation. It is true in any nation.

The accusation of racism is an accusation that covers up the real problem or set of problems. The only way to rid ourselves of the sardonic irony of racism is to work together for the happiness and well-being of all beings that live on this planet. I hope you know what will happen, if we do not,