Thursday, February 4, 2010

Mean Things

Note: it’s not worth it to be a culture vulture. Back in October, James Aurthur Ray, a self-help “expert” (he appeared in the video The Secret) led a faux sweat lodge ceremony that killed 3 people. He was charged yesterday with manslaughter. According to reports, the lodge was covered with plastic (toxic when heated!), and Ray would not let some people out of the lodge when they requested. He also charged participants thousands of dollars for the retreat of which the lodge was a part. Anyone who has been to a Native-led sweat lodge ceremony knows this: the lodge is covered with blankets if hides are unavailable. If you need out, all you have to do is ask. And in a Native sweat lodge you are never charged at the door.

On the topic of racism and tragedy, here is Diné (Navajo) band Blackfire performing a nice cover of Woody Guthrie.

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