Last week the local Indian Tribe announced that they intended to build a twenty story tall hotel on the hill side next to their casino. As predicted everyone is in an uproar. It would be a total monstrosity, I too would be in a complete uproar if I thought they truly had any intention of building a twenty story eye-sore.
Its negotiations 101. In six months when they come out and say they actually intend to only build a six story hotel where the hospital is. The locals will be so thrilled that the tribe is in fact not building a twenty story hotel that they won't even think to balk at the destruction of the old hospital. They won't object to the increase in traffic on the back roads, that are already in desperate need of repairs and patches.
We aren't as large of a city as some might think. Until fifteen years ago when Weyerhaeuser decided to sub-develop a huge section of land, we were a small relatively rural community with the biggest buildings in town being the School District Administration Building and the Flying Frog Curiosity Shop. People gave directions by land marks such as turn left at the red house, just down the street from the green and white house or across the street from the honey farm. Regardless of the fact that both houses have been grey now for a number of years and the honey far burnt and remained uninhabited for almost a decade old-towners still give directions by them.
I'm not naive enough to have thought I could keep my small town forever, nor am I ignorant enough not to realize these changes will happen regardless of what I or anyone else may want. The tribe doesn't need anyone's permission, that is the beauty of a self-determination and tribal sovereignty. all I have to say is I miss my small town where you knew most everyone and they all knew you.
What a wonderful example these arbiters and protectors of the land are setting for all of our future generations.
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