Monday, October 08, 2007

Stanley Crouch: "Chief of Scouts"


This is Mr. Stanley Crouch:

I just finished reading his recent "Opinion" article titled "Wake Up and Smell the Thuggery".

It brought to my mind the movie, "Geronimo", starring Wes Studi in the title role. In this movie, the U.S. Army was depicted as going to war with the Apache People for conquest of their lands, and enlisted the help of some poor, misguided Apaches, as "scouts" and "trackers", to help the army invaders track down and "neutralize" the so-called "hostile" Indians.

There was one scout, in particular, who was of the same tribe as Geronimo; who, bless his heart, really thought he was acting in the best interest of his people by helping the invaders and oppressors of his people.

Long story short, this scout, "Chato", was very proud of his position in the white man's army, and thought that by helping the white man, he would secure some benefit for himself and for his family. That is, until they actually caught up with Geronimo.

Upon Geronimo's surrender, the white man had no more use for Chato and the other scouts, and so arrested them -- despite their loyal service to the invaders -- and exiled them to distant reservations along with Geronimo and the rest of the "hostiles".

It was at this moment when Chato realized he had been deceived by his "employers", and was actually being used "against" his people, while being made to believe he was "helping" his people.

In the last scene, Chato had to face the disgust of his brethren, whom he betrayed, and who no longer trusted him for his demonstration of disloyalty in siding with the enemies of his people.

Why am I recalling this? Well, if it isn't obvious by now, it is to set the context for a question or two I'd like to ask regarding Mr. Crouch.

For whom does he really speak? Does he speak for [the interests of] Black People? Or does he speak for [the interests of] White People?

What does he think his white "employers" will do with him, when they have no more need for his services?

As his people become more aware and more dissatisfied with the socio-political climate in this country, and he continues to speak from the platform of the enemies and oppressors of his people, how will he face them when his "employers" cut him loose, and leave him to face the people whose interests he has betrayed?

His apparent disdain for the Nation of Islam and the Hon. Louis Farrakhan is of little consequence, in truth; as he has not the power to stop him from what God has Appointed him to do; so I am not really concerned about that. But I am concerned about him (Mr. Crouch), and the people he infects with his bias.

This article was just more confirmation for me that "intellect" and "responsibility" don't necessarily go hand-in-hand.
Shame.
RM

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