Chutzpah (pronounced /ˈxʊtspə/) is the quality of audacity, for good or for bad. The word derives from the Hebrew word ḥuṣpâ (חֻצְפָּה), meaning "insolence", "audacity", and "impertinence."
I know that the news is not new, but the Mashpee are opposing Cape Wind because the wind turbines would be visible from shore where they purportedly perform a sunrise cerimony of religious significance. Apparently alluding to the application of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA), the two Mashpee Tribes are claiming that the turbines would interfere with their religious freedom.
I take no position on Cape Wind--I am not knowledgeable enough about it to comment one way or the other. On the other hand, chutzpah I do have and know well.
Essentially, the tribes want to block Cape Wind in order to protect the religious freedoms of a minority group and their religious beliefs--regardless of any benefit that Cape Wind might provide. The protection of the minority is apparently of great significance to them and is part of what they believe should be the fabric of Massachusetts.
Many individuals -- granted, the minority -- oppose gaming in Massachusetts and in Middleborough forboth religious and moral reasons. The Mashpee could care less about that minority where their casino interests are involved. They could care less that the visual landscape of Middleborough would change such that this same minority could reminded each day that the town in which they live is funded by an activity which they regard as sinful and which is direly contrary to their belief system.
The Mashpee actively disregard this religious minority and cast it aside for their own economic gain. However, the advent of a casino would be even more detrimental to this religious minority--since the social costs and local reprecussions would clearly be far more extensive than simply seeing some turbines on the horizon.
Hypocracy apparently is the rule of the day, and not knowing when to keep their mouths shut is simply a symptom of an arrogant sense of super entitlement. Perhaps if the Mashpee agree to give up any designs on having casinos in Massachusetts, then we could support their currently hypocritical opposition to the Cape Wind project.
I can honestly say that the past months of watching the decisions made by the Mashpee, in addition to some of the baseless and foolish comments coming out of the mouths of their leadership certainly has led me to the conclusion that they are currently incapable of self governance, let alone operating a resort casino (or double wide with a buffet and 300 room hotel).
Dedicated to VS and his sense of independence and honest justice
FULL O' BEANS
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Over second and third cups flow matters of high finance, high state, common gossip and low comedy. [Coffee] is a social binder, a warmer of tongues, a soberer of minds, a stimulant of wit, a foiler of sleep if you want it so. From roadside mugs to the classic demi-tasse, it is the perfect democrat. ~Author Unknown
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3 comments:
These people are something else. The more they stick around, the more they act like the BoS. Stupid is as stupid does. Don't they realize that the IGA is dead by its own terms. Carcieri killed the deal...the BoS is just to stupid to call the game on the count of rain. Declare the deal dead and move on. This is excrutiating and just makes good tribe members look bad.
Great blog. Your observation is right on target!
This entire scenario played out by both tribes smacks of some other agenda they may have. Are they getting money from the alliance. Are they getting political support from the alliance. These tribes don't do something for nothing. There must be some payoff somewhere.
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