I was so pleased to read the recent article about Arlington’s decision to include a land acknowledgment to the Stillaguamish people at select city events (“Arlington formally recognizes homeland of Stillaguamish people,” The Herald, Nov. 25).
I especially want to thank Councilmember Mike Hopson for initiating the process. On the flip side, I was saddened to hear the push-back from Councilmember Marilyn Oertle who opposed the land acknowledgment being read in conjunction with the Pledge of Allegiance, saying that the allegiance is “for us.” Sadly, this is the root of a deep societal problem. Who is the “us” to which she refers; as if the Stillaguamish are not “us”? The Stillaguamish are American citizens and the Stillaguamish are human beings, making us all “us.” I hope that by saying the land acknowledgment out loud as part of our practice, we can learn that we are all in this country and on this earth together, “with liberty and justice for all.”
Shaun Hubbard
Seattle, San Juan Island
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