In the Spirit of Crazy Horse by Peter Matthiessen
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Book Reviews of In the Spirit of Crazy Horse
Book Review: The Iron Horsing Continues
Summary: 5 Stars
Those interested in the history of Native Americans will know that relatively few books cover the travails and challenges faced by Indians in the present day. This classic by Matthiessen is one of the best investigations in recent memory of how Indians still face a variety of hardships and harassment caused both by modern social problems and the legacy of their cultural annihilation. Matthiessen's topic here is the brief notoriety of the American Indian Movement (AIM) in the early-to-mid 1970s, culminating in the much-discussed case against Leonard Peltier for the murder of two government agents.
Here Matthiessen covers not just the story of Peltier and AIM, but also the historical influences that culminated in the bloody 1975 confrontation in South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation. Matthiessen did an immense amount of research and delivered a highly compelling account of Peltier and the shootout, revealing that the situation was far more complex than is commonly believed (or reported in the mainstream press). The reader will find that Matthiessen does not necessarily find solid proof of Peltier's innocence. However, there is overwhelming evidence that Peltier definitely did not receive a fair trial, and a litany of Constitutional violations was committed by the illegitimate tribal government and its goons (the main source of animosity with AIM), federal agents, state and federal politicians, judges and lawyers, and prison officials.
The complex relationships among these parties, the unhappy history of the Pine Ridge Indians, and modern social problems were all at play in a situation far more complex than a simple shootout between an Indian militant and some agents. Government watchdogs will also be sickeningly familiar with the propaganda and misinformation exercised by the feds as Peltier was railroaded into prison, especially in view of the government's weak case against him. At the very least, Peltier's sentence was excessive and several government employees got off the hook for the horrors of that fateful day in 1975. And in the end, this powerful book proves that the railroading of Indians who resist the advance of American hegemony did not come to an end back in the 1800s. [~doomsdayer520~]
Book Review: FREE LEONARD PELTIER - or at least give him a new trial
Summary: 5 Stars
Why?
Well, you have to read this book, but here's a synopsis that nobody but the most diehard 1970s FBI defender can try to deny.
Matthiessen documents years of FBI spying on the American Indian Movement, including "turning" insiders, coupled with intimidation tactics and more. Often the FBI in South Dakota was working, if not hand in hand, at least on parallel tracks in this thuggery with folks such as a corrupt Pine Ridge Indian Reservation leadership, then-Attorney General and now disgraced former Congressman Bill Janklow, BIA cops and more.
While Matthiesen looks at bits and pieces of AIM's history elsewhere, he focuses on Pine Ridge and its Sioux, as this area, through things such as a temporary takeover of Mount Rushmore, was a center of AIM activity.
In trials related to the events in and around Pine Ridge, FBI agents repeatedly intimidated witnesses into changing testimony, coached witnesses, sprung last-minute surprise witnesses at trials (which is against the law, if you didn't know), suborned perjury and otherwise made a mockery of justice.
Things reached a climax June 26, 1975 when two FBI agents approached the Jumping Bull property on the Pine Ridge Reservation, ostensibly looking for Jimmy Eagle on a weapons charge. According to all Indian accounts, the two agents began opening fire on the property.
Both were eventually shot in a return of fire. They were later killed at close range.
After three other AIM leaders at the site were all acquitted of murder charges in the FBI agents' deaths, the FBI appeared determined to hang the case on Peltier by any legal or illegal means possible.
Aided by a viciously biased judge giving one-sided bench rulings, the government did exactly that.
Read how things reached this point, what AIM's grievances were, how the FBI infiltrated them, and more.
But, above all, read the story of Leonard Peltier both before and after his conviction.
Is Leonard Peltier a political prisoner? Read this book and decide for yourself.
Book Review: A beautifully written and thorough account
Summary: 5 Stars
I picked up this book after enjoying Mathiessen's book "The Snow Leopard" and was instantly hooked. Mathiessen's abilities as a writer and a storyteller make this huge book a fascinating page-turner. The book will draw you into the incident at Oglala, and will raise your consciousness about issues affecting American Indians, especially the Lakota Indians. After reading this book, I feel I'm a changed person.
I know Mathiessen has been accused of being biased towards the Indian cause, but I think actually, he takes great pains to try and present the other side, and perhaps his efforts backfire at times -- in trying to remain neutral, the story at times can seem to lack cohesion. But as a fellow truth-seeker, I appreciate the effort to present the other side. Mathiessen breathes life into court transcripts and FBI reports, and otherwise mundane events.
I'll close with a quote from the book, in which he describes a scene and considers the FBI agents perhaps understandable rationale in destroying a private home:
"The noisy assault on upon the cabins disclosed that the defenders had made a near miraculous escape through the small army of agents and police that surrounded the compound and camp area; there was nobody left here at all. The large force of sweating, nervous men in their new battle fatigues, with their sniper and chemical warfare teams, their APC's and air support, felt frustrated and foolish; after all that shooting had subsided, all the smoke and gas had blown away, there was only this solitary Indian, killed much earlier in the day, lying beside the small green cabin on the bluff. Outraged by what looked like a cold-blooded murder of their comrades, and sickened by the two dead bodies with their shattered faces, already swelling after four hours in the sun and thick heat, the frustrated men took out their wrath on the ruined cabins."
It is this prose, this storytelling that will draw the reader in.
Book Review: Compelling yet sad.
Summary: 5 Stars
Although he admits his sympathies are with the Indians, the author has produced a remarkably thorough and sound case against the FBI's reign of terror against the American Indian Movement. But has the exposure in this book or other outrageous incidents throughout history made much difference when it comes to the acts of the white man? Sadly, no. In reality, nothing can ever make it right again. Will Leonard Peltier eventually be free? I doubt there is a white man or black man, for that matter, who has the courage to do so. I fear that only in death will that happen. Make no mistake, though, Peltier is no hero...and no martyr...but just another high-profile symbol of the injustices against Indians in this white man country. Although tremendously enlightening I couldn't help but wonder as I finished this book why Peter (or someone) has not done an update...although I understand little can or has been done to change things. I also couldn't help but fantasize about what the US government could do now as a token towards the Native American. Maybe unite as many tribes as possible and GIVE the Indians Yellowstone, Rainier, Yosemite,Zion National Parks...as well as the Mark Twain National Forest for their separate nation or states. As you might have guessed, I believe that Matthiessen has done a masterful job. Let Spirit live on...Book Review: Read This Book!!!(...)
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a marvelously well researched book. In respsonse to some of the bad reviews I have read I have to say that yes, Matthiessen does not try to hide the fact that he sides with the Indians. Yes the book is biased in the favor of the Indians. So what. When you examine the FBI and the US Government's history of maltreatment of all minorities, especially native peoples, why should an author feel obligated to paint the establishment in a flattering light. He is simply exposing the ugly truth of the dark underbelly of our "democracy".This is hard for some people to handle, thus the poor reviews. Ask yourself this, in the midst of phenomenal violence why does the FBI never investigate dozens of unsolved murders, instead devoting lots of man-hours to tracking down Jimmy Eagle for the theft of a pair of cowboy boots???You be the judge.
This is an amazing read. Thankfully, the FBI, Special Agent David Price and Governor William Janklow all lost in thier legal attempts to keep this information from us. So celebrate freedom of press and curl up with this book!!! Freedom for Leonard