By TERRY GOLDMAN
Los Alamos

I’m no movie reviewer but I saw the Richland documentary at The Lodge and recommend it to all. The film maker spared no effort to represent the patriotism, ignorance, narrow-mindedness and self-centered features of all those involved, from those who worked at Hanford, lived and grew up in Richland, the displaced indigenous people to the Japanese visitor. It was appalling to learn how little historical knowledge as well as the lack of depth or breadth of thought and understanding was displayed by the various people recorded.

The brightest spot was the historical clip of Kennedy’s address there. And it was amusing, in a way, to learn of the “Confederated Tribes”. If the indigenous tribes across our continent had been confederated, instead of fighting between themselves like the Greek city states did, they would have stood a much better chance, all the way from the 1600’s to the 1940’s, of resisting the European colonists and all that followed. “The biggest tribe always wins” isn’t limited to democratic elections!

To end on the most positive note, the MAPR-LA luminaria display was lovely and the harpist playing (live!) in the garden was a great pleasure to hear.