AGITATOR STUFF:  THE DESTROYERS RIDES [AND BURNS] ONCE AGAIN  [HUNTER BEAR, 10/29/05] -- AND MY NPR LUPUS INTERVIEW [TAPED 10/27/05] AND PLAYED NATIONALLY IN NOVEMBER] BRUCE BABBITT AND THE MORAL FALL  [UPDATED LAST ON APRIL 7 2006.]

BY HUNTER BEAR: THE DESTROYERS RIDES [AND BURNS] ONCE AGAIN [10/29/05]

"The Destroyers" involved virulent racist prejudice and violence in the
context of an extremely extensive and intensive Southwestern forest fire. "

I believe in "making myself useful" and, to that end [as well as others], I
have been doing a good deal of writing.  Much of that writing has appeared
on our now massive website, Lair of Hunterbear [which draws a few
interesting and positive comments each day], www.hunterbear.org .  Not
especially theoretical [to put it mildly indeed], I tend to write mostly
from an experiential perspective and thus much of my stuff is
autobiographical.  These writings of mine, most published over half a
century -- including much into the present -- may someday be the essential
components of a future book work of mine.  One of the most important and
well received pieces I've ever written has been the short story, THE
DESTROYERS, which appeared originally in the Left literary journal,
MAINSTREAM, in May, 1960 when I had just finished my M.A. in Sociology at
Arizona State University. [I should add that the first such degree in Soc at
ASU was the one awarded to me.]  I have always been pleased that Fidel
Castro's excellent essay, "In Praise of Learning," appeared in that
particular issue of MAINSTREAM.

THE DESTROYERS, from the outset, was well received -- and reprinted in
several parts of the Earth in various journals.  The last occasion, however,
[at least as far as I know], was in 1988.  Much later, slightly more than
three years ago, a daughter-in-law of mine [Pete's good spouse, Dawn],
graciously and accurately typed the story for inclusion on my website, both
Josie [my youngest daughter] and I proof-read it, and it's been available
via Lair of Hunterbear ever since.

And then, a couple of months ago, Joe Sims, editor of the Marxist journal,
Political Affairs, asked to publish it in PA.  I was happy to oblige -- and
also corresponded with Joel Wendland, the magazine's managing editor.  And
THE DESTROYERS has now appeared in the November 2005 print and web
editions of that publication.  You can see it on the web at
http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/2098/1/128/  The
creative and nicely done illustration is a large knife held by a malevolent
hand -- and background depictions of burning pine trees. [I do like that
illustration.]

The history of THE DESTROYERS is fascinating.  Here is some of it:

The following material is excerpted from my large website:
www.hunterbear.org
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------
2002:  My prize winning short story -- "The Destroyers" -- has now for the
very first time appeared on the Net via this website.

SPECIAL UPDATE [10/29/05]:  "The Destroyers" has just been reprinted in the
Marxist journal, POLITICAL AFFAIRS, November/December 2005!  It is on both
the PA website and in the regular print journal. See it at
http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/2098/1/128/

As long as I can remember, I've been writing things -- mostly agitational
stuff focused directly on issues and radical organizing. [ I started doing
"man's work" -- hard labor stuff -- as soon as I entered my 'teens and my
writing has always reflected this in one way or another.] While most of this
writing  has been articles, essays, editorials, leaflets and related
weapons -- and a big book, Jackson, Mississippi: An American Chronicle of
Struggle and Schism (1979 and 1987) --  there've been a few short stories.
One, "Last of the Wild Ones" -- based on my trapping experiences in the
super-rugged canyon country of Northern Arizona, was published as the lead
fictional piece [November 1957] in the huge circulation "man's magazine,"
Argosy.

But another story of mine, "The Destroyers," published initially in
Mainstream in 1960, won ever-broadening national and international renown.
It was  reprinted abroad in a variety of journals -- including those of the
Russian and the Ukranian writers' unions. And it was also picked by Martha
Foley and David Burnett as one of the very best short stories published in
the United States in 1960 and included in their very special  "Roll of
Honor" [about fifty stories]:   Martha Foley and David Burnett, The Best
American Short Stories, 1961 and the Yearbook of the American Short Story
[Boston:  Houghton Mifflin Company, 1961.]

"The Destroyers" involved virulent racist prejudice and violence in the
context of an extremely extensive and intensive Southwestern forest fire.

North Country -- an excellent annual literary magazine published at  the
University of North Dakota -- had, among its editors in 1988, one of my
sons, John, then completing his M.A. in English.  In addition to a fine
story by him and very good work by others, that edition included "The
Destroyers."  [Kass Fleisher, a good friend then and now, had a fine story
in that issue.]

The following -- in quotes -- is introductory material which I provided for
that issuance of my story:
"  "The Destroyers" came directly out of a situation which I can still see
as vividly as if it occurred last summer -- not June, 1950.  At that long
ago point, I fought my first forest fire -- the A-1 Mountain Burn -- with
axe and shovel, just west of Flagstaff, Arizona.  As that inferno wound
down, another exploded on the slopes of the San Francisco Mountains, north
of Flagstaff and only a few miles from Highway 89 which carries one up
through the western Navajo country and into Mormon Utah.  On that fire, I
was put to work in camp where all the basic events depicted in "The
Destroyers" transpired  -- short of the final, lethal conclusion.  And that
tragedy came hideously close to reality.

Years later, I wrote the story; and submitted it to Harper's Magazine in
October, 1959, eventually receiving the longest letter of rejection I'd ever
gotten:  a full-page from its chief editor, vigorously commending "The
Destroyers," but  indicating "sadly"   that "it isn't the Harper's kind of
story."  [Within a few months, the civil rights sit-ins were to occur in the
upper South.]  I next sent it to Mainstream, a small, financially-broke and
perennially witch-hunted Left-wing literary magazine, based in New York
[descendant of the old and New Masses]  whose always gracious and gently
sharp editor, Charles Humboldt, snapped it up immediately.  His persuasive
powers also commissioned me to do an extensive article on the on-going
Western copper strike, and its chief leader -- International Union of Mine,
Mill and Smelter Workers [Mine-Mill] -- with which I was closely identified.

"The Destroyers" appeared in May, 1960 [and the Mine-Mill article the
following October], all of this, it turned out, faithfully recorded by the
FBI which had, even by 1960, built a large file on me.  And the FBI
certainly pounced on the fact that the Russian Writers Union translated and
reprinted my story in  its journal in 1961.  I'm not sure if J. Edgar Hoover
and his bird-dogs were ever aware that "The Destroyers"  [in Mainstream] was
picked as one of the 50 best American short stories of the year by Martha
Foley in her 1961 Yearbook of the American Short Story.  Anyway, the two
dozen sheets relating to Mainstream contained in the  3,000 or so pages  of
my FBI file -- secured under the Freedom of Information Act -- carry no
mention of that honor.  By that time, I was off to do battle with the
destroyers in blood-dimmed Mississippi and far beyond."

I should add that, in addition to the 3,000 or so pages that I have in my
possession,  my total FBI file contains several hundred pages that the FBI
refuses to give me on various "security" grounds.

In 1998, the files of the old Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission --
the state secret police agency -- were finally opened.   And in 1999, I
received several hundred  Sovereignty Commission pages relating to me.
Among them were numerous   documents concerning Mainstream and much evidence
that at least two other agencies -- in addition to the FBI and the
Commission -- had been quite interested in my Mainstream ties:  the U.S.
Senate Internal Security Subcommittee and the Louisiana State Un-American
Activities Committee.

Charles Humboldt (1910-1964) was an excellent editor in every respect and a
damn fine human being.  During his tenure as Editor of Mainstream [ service
which, very regrettably, ended abruptly in late 1960], this top-flight
radical literary journal  consistently  secured very high calibre work and
courageously pursued a vigorous and  ecumenically Left focus.

Humboldt was a member of the Communist Party USA and his broadly Left
focus -- with a heavy emphasis on  genuinely excellent social justice
creativity -- drew to Mainstream a number of splendid radical writers and
poets and artists. A number were of the non-Communist Left.  Interestingly,
it was Fred Thompson, veteran IWW editor and key mentor of mine, who
initially brought Mainstream to my attention. Fred recognized and respected
what Charles Humboldt was attempting -- and suggested that I, at some point,
might want to submit some of my radical fiction to the journal.

And, believe me, I have always been tremendously proud that I did.  I'm
delighted that THE DESTROYERS lives on.

CLOSELY RELATED LINKS:

THE DESTROYERS  IN THE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005 PRINT AND WEB ISSUES OF POLITICAL AFFAIRS:  http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/2098/1/128/

AND FROM THE LAIR OF HUNTERBEAR ITSELF:

HUNTER GRAY  [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR]   Mi'kmaq /St. Francis
Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk
www.hunterbear.org
Protected by Na´shdo´i´ba´i´
 and Ohkwari'

I am honored -- humbled -- by the 2005 Elder Recognition Award of Wordcraft
Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. This particular, rarely issued
honor is one of several awards voted by the Caucus [board] of this
organization of writers, storytellers, film makers, and journalists.
http://www.hunterbear.org/elder_recognition_award_for_2005.htm
Regularly updated.

In our Gray Hole, the ghosts often dance in the junipers and sage, on the
game trails, in the tributary canyons with the thick red maples, and on the
high windy ridges -- and they dance from within the very essence of our own
inner being. They do this especially when the bright night moon shines down
on the clean white snow that covers the valley and its surroundings.  Then
it is as bright as day -- but in an always soft and
mysterious and remembering way.  [Hunter Bear]
 

FROM HUNTER:  MY NPR LUPUS INTERVIEW [10/27/05]

I'm placing this message on a few lists and sending it to several
individuals as well.

A few days ago I was contacted by the person [in Massachusetts] who handles
a quite interesting NPR series [many stations, not all] called Infinite Mind
[ref:  Infinitemind.com].  She has been exploring my website and wanted me
to join in a special broadcast on SLE and Native Americans. [They had also
recently done a well received piece on Native suicide.]  I was game and we
taped me early this afternoon.  [The guy who came to our house to set up the
technology and handle the taping turned out to be a very sensible and
vigorous environmentalist, Rick Eike, who has frequently debated some of the
local and state right wing broadcast folk as well as Senator Craig.  It was
good to meet Rick. Turned out we had many mutual friends and, as do I, he
likes actual wolves.]

My interviewer, the person in charge of the program, asked good questions
and I responded well [by my lights, Eldri's, and Josie's -- and Rick's.]  I
discussed my background as a social justice organizer, the fact that SLE is
my toughest fight to date and I plan to go right down to my winning wire
with it.  But I placed heaviest stress on Lupus as a civil rights issue --
i.e., it hits Natives, Blacks, Chicanos, Asians and women especially hard.
I mentioned some of the recent SLE Native tragedies and cases of which I'm
aware [I gave no names] and, of course, pushed militantly for vastly
increased Federal funding in the Lupus setting [where such funding has been
skimpy] -- as well as for health services in general.  I had very good words
for traditional Native medicine and for good "western" physicians -- and
mentioned, especially, Navajo Nation where, for the past quarter of a
century, many medicine men [who often train rigorously for about 17 years]
are working congenially with equally congenial physicians from US Indian
Health Service.  I spoke of the fact that my grandson/son, Thomas Gray
Salter, who accompanied me to virtually every Lupus meeting I have had with
many docs, is now a Med School student in the Native program at University
of Minnesota at Duluth -- and that Thomas has established a good
relationship with an Ojibwe medicine man.

How much of my piece will get into this, I of course do not know. Probably a
fair amount.  The other participants are two top national Lupus medical
authorities, Dr Lahita and Dr Wallace, and Leroy Downs -- a Pawnee from
Oklahoma and a fellow SLE sufferer.  A physician from the Native American
Lupus Project based at University of Oklahoma will be among these
discussants.

The program will begin airing next Wednesday.  It will also be available,
some way, on the Internet.  It goes formally to 260 markets and about one
million people.

Yours, H

ADDED FRIDAY OCTOBER 28  2005

Several people, expressing interest in hearing our NPR program [Infinite
Mind] on Lupus, have wondered about the date and time.  As I mentioned, the
program will begin -- begin -- airing next Wednesday.  The specific days and
times will vary.  Again, the program is called the Infinite Mind [via NPR]
and here's the link to stations that carry  IM.  Even if it isn't coming to
your home town, there may be one nearby from which you can pick it up.
Around here, in Eastern Idaho, we'll tune into Salt Lake.

http://www.lcmedia.com/stations.htm

Best, H

MORE ON OUR NPR LUPUS PROGRAM  [11/14/05]

OUR NPR PROGRAM ON LUPUS IS AIRING NATIONALLY, BEGINNING  11/O2/05.  LINK FOLLOWS:

NOTE BY HUNTER BEAR: [early Thursday morn, 11/03/05]

I don't want to belabor things with this update but this is well worth
feathering out. Although anyone can get Lupus -- if they have the genetic
potential -- the horrific disease does especially hit Native Americans,
Blacks, Chicanos, Asians and women [particularly younger women].  The
itinerary for this NPR program indicates at one point that, "we . . .
explore the disproportionate impact of lupus on Native Americans, whom it
affects at up to 10 times the rate in the general population. "

Pete, our youngest son and a sharp newspaper editor [Lee Enterprises], who
is flying here for a three day visit this weekend, sent this late last
night.  He had just heard our NPR Lupus program -- and his positive and
encouraging assessment parallels several others we have now heard [including
that of Toto Too!], herself an experienced and observant SLE veteran.  Pete
feels [and I think Toto does as well] that we can hear it on the Link
http://www.lcmedia.com/mind399.htm  I gather that when he talks about going
36 minutes into it, he is talking about my particular piece of it which
apparently starts at that point.  Recipients of this may want to hear the
entire Program.

And if Pete et al. feel that I  can hear it right here, right now -- and I
am hardly the last word in Computer Savvy, to put it very mildly -- it
probably means that anyone in the Universe can find it easily.  I am going
to try when Eldri, Maria and Josie start their day [it is presently 3:30
a.m. MT] and, if we can't swing it, Pete himself can when he gets here.

Yours, Hunter [Hunter Bear]

From Peter:  11/03/05

You don't sound sick at all. Your voice sounds strong and loud and clear.
Your story flows naturally, logically.

It's easy to find. Go to the link you sent and click 'listen now.' Your
computer ought to automatically engage the program to play it. Move the
button to about 36 minutes into the program. (If you can't figure it out,
ask Maria. And I can help you when I get there.)

The host gives you a flattering intro -- detailing many of your fights --
and describes lupus as "one of his most implacable adversaries."

And then he gets the hell out of the way to let you do your thing.

You talk for about seven or eight minutes. I don't envy their editors for
having to condense such an important story.

I'd like to hear what you think of it.

Later [Pete Salter]

NOTE BY HUNTER BEAR [11/03/05]  We've now listened to the Program via one of our own computers and it certainly went very well indeed.  Strongly recommended!

It was wonderful speaking with you as well.

The show will air beginning tomorrow on stations around the country.  As you
have surmised, the time will vary with the locale.  The Native American
piece is a segment in a larger one-hour show.

Thanks, too, for taking the time to speak with me. I am honored to have made
your acquaintance.

We'll send a CD as soon as they are available.

June [June Peoples]  My interviewer at The Infinite Mind NPR program,  11/01/05

_______________________________________________________________________

Lupus as a civil rights issue - only you Mr. Salter would equate the two. (smile)

WWW,

Mary Ann [Mary Ann Hall Winters] Note by Hunter: "WWW" is our time honored Jackson Movement slogan:  We Will Win!  10/27/05

______________________________________________________________________________

Congratulations John:

 Colia Clark [11/03/05]

_______________________________________________________________________

Hunter:
    I have listened to a portion of the NPR program on Lupus.  I
listened to a bit of the start and then skipped ahead to your portion.
I thought it was very well done; evidently you are as good a speaker as
you are a writer.
    It made me think that, as Bill Mandel keeps urging you,  it would be
a great idea for you to get some of this history of yours down, if not
on paper, then perhaps  on tape, or digitally or whatever audio medium
is best.  It would make compelling listening and you are obviously
capable of holding people's attention.  Hell, it would probably make a
great series of radio broadcasts all on its own. Something like Utah
Phillips' radio programs.
    I realise this is all contingent on time, health etc. but just felt
I wanted to suggest it.   Anyway, good job on the program.
cheers, Steve Harvey [11/05/05]

_________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for letting me know about the broadcast. Not only did I enjoy listening to the personal experiences shared by the many participants, but I found it to be quite informative. H-Your part was well done.  Again, Thank you for letting me know about his and thank you for your willingness to speak up on this issue.  [Summer   11/07/05]

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you so much for sending all the emails...I clicked on the site and
was very amazed! Thank you once again for including me in your list of
people who received this!

God give us strength!

Have A GREAT Day!
Mary   11/14/05
 

HUNTER GRAY  [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR]   Mi'kmaq /St. Francis
Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk
www.hunterbear.org
Protected by Na´shdo´i´ba´i´
 and Ohkwari'
 

STATUS REPORT [UPDATE] BY HUNTER BEAR, 10/31/05

Dear Ed [Pickersgill]: From Hunter Bear

I want to thank you very much indeed for your very thoughtful letter
regarding, among other things, my thoughts about slowly diminished posting
on our Redbadbear List -- despite the best efforts of some of us [and
certainly you and others] -- and my concern about its life expectancy.
[Since, for simply general interest, I am posting your comments and mine on
the more specialized and informally-limited-posting Sycamore Canyon List as
well, I should explain that the RBB List is a full dress and explicitly
discussional/fighting affair -- where the more posts the better!

Until relatively recent times, I had always expected, frankly, that I would
probably die violently and by someone's design.  Without letting any of this
inhibit me and my endeavors in any fashion, I took appropriate precautions.
I was not prepared, nor were my family members and friends, for my genetic
SLE -- Systemic Lupus -- and its worst version at that.  Failing to do me in
via its full scale onslaught in 2003 and the earlier part of 2004, it moved
to conduct a guerilla type operation -- sometimes open, often insidious and
thoroughly subversive.  As things stand now, with no definitive cure for
SLE, it is -- to use Carson McCullers' apt title for one of her fine
Southern books involving a slowly dying man, a "Clock Without Hands." [Ms
McCullers was a contemporary of Flannery O'Connor, another fine Southern
writer who died of SLE at 39.  Ms. O'Connor's father had died of SLE.  I
should personally add, I suppose, that my own descendants watch things with
vigilance.]

People should never -- never -- be inhibited because of my illness.  As
family members will attest, reasonable conflict is my best medicine. [And
Yes -- I will want a raucous wake!]

And whatever my long range prospects [and, as I have said before, I do not
fear and never have feared bodily death], there have been some encouraging
signs lately: Ending Prednisone as my major medicine [and replacing that
with Plaquenil], has seen the pseudo-diabetes end, my blood pressure has
returned to its normally rather low level [if, given my temperament, you can
believe that!], and my weight is rapidly returning to normal.  [A great
victory has just occurred with my being able to once again wear and fully
button my Size 36 Levis.]

Extensive blood testing -- including that involving Anti-Nuclear Antibodies
or ANA -- has produced nothing especially alarming in recent months.

And my longer foot -- the left foot -- has now definitely [and still
inexplicably as far as the docs are concerned], reached Size 17.  Since Lowa
mountain boots size-wise stop at Size 16, I will soon be getting Columbia
Frontier Peak GTX Hiking Boots -- for rough country.  These go as high as
17.

And, quite significantly, in the last couple of weeks, I have done much
walking -- accompanied by Maria, once by grand-daughter Samantha, always by
Hunter [Shelty.]  These have not been the marathon treks I daily did in the
pre-dawn darkness in those relatively halcyon days prior to July 2003 and
before the open, intensive, and deadly assault by the Mysterious Wraith.

But these have been really tough walks -- super steep climbs and treacherous
descents.  I may have endlessly strange aches and pains and various rashes
and what not -- but I can still Hit the Hills and Smell the Sage, Listen to
the Wind, Look to the Sun and Sky.

Let's keep fighting on all fronts.

As Ever, Hunter [Hunter Bear]

BRUCE BABBITT AND THE MORAL FALL  [HUNTER BEAR,  12/11/05]