Sacred sites - Letters - Editorial

Sierra, March-April, 2003

Hats off to the Sierra Club for taking up the cause of protecting Native lands ("Sacred Landscapes," November/December 2002). We spend millions to meddle in the affairs of the rest of the world, from the Middle East to China, always admonishing other countries for their lack of religious freedom, respect for minorities, or democracy, when our own house is not in order. The destruction of the Afghan Buddhas was met with reprimands from our officials, while ancient religious sites in our own country are being turned into quarries. I would gladly have my tax dollars spent to buy back the contested lands from private holdings, restore it to the rightful owners, and be done with it.

Michael A. Siano
Austin, Texas

Sierra's November/December 2002 article "The Salt Woman and the Coal Mine" brought the following picture to mind: How would George W. Bush or Gale Norton react if bulldozers were lined up in front of their places of worship? Would there not be politicians, religious leaders, and citizens causing such an uproar that the desecration would never happen? Does the fact that there are fewer believers in the Native American faith make this interference any more acceptable?

Patricia Sciandra
Clarence, New York