I have been waiting on the letter from Speaker of the House Naifeh, but I have yet to receive it because the Post Master here in Tracy City has returned the letter, even though they all know who I am, because it was addressed to my street address instead of my Post Office Box. However, Vickie Garland and an Official Copy of the letter, and she read the letter to me over the telephone.
I have determined to serve the people of Middle Tennessee to the best of my ability. I have read the Oath of Office in Article X of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee it reads
§ 1. Oath of office
Every person who shall be chosen or appointed to any office of trust or profit under this Constitution, or any law made in pursuance thereof, shall, before entering on the duties thereof, take an oath to support the Constitution of this State, and of the United States, and an oath of office.
§ 2. Oath of office; general assembly
Each member of the Senate and House of Representatives shall before they proceed to business take an oath or affirmation to support the Constitution of this State, and of the United States and also the following oath:
I .......... do solemnly swear (or affirm) that as a member of this General Assembly, I will, in all appointments, vote without favor, affection, partiality, or prejudice; and that I will not propose or assent to any bill, vote or resolution, which shall appear to me injurious to the people, or consent to any act or thing, whatever, that shall have a tendency to lessen or abridge their rights and privileges, as declared by the Constitution of this State.
So, based on the wording as read to me, I make this oath the people of Middle Tennessee:
I James Everett Meeks do solemnly swear (or affirm) that as a member of this Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs, I will, in all appointments, vote without favor, affection, partiality, or prejudice; and that I will not propose or assent to any bill, vote or resolution, which shall appear to me injurious to the people, or consent to any act or thing, whatever, that has a tendency to lessen or abridge their rights and privileges, as declared by the Constitution of this State.
This being stated, I respect the people of the State of Tennessee, and, though we do not always agree on every aspect, I believe I can work for the welfare of the American Indian in Tennessee. I shall endeavor at every opportunity to maintain the trust of you the people I was appointed to represent.
I have been concerned with particular situations. As an Official of the State of Tennessee I am bound to follow and respect the Constitution and the Laws of the State of Tennessee. The principal law which has caused me to ponder are the laws known as the Sunshine law and the Tennessee Open Records Act.
Since it is my understanding that the communications I maintain in fulfilling my office as the Member of the Commission of Indian Affairs representing Middle Tennessee are public record and are legislated by the two previously mentioned laws, I cannot respond to any email sent or telephone call made to me that has a purpose to review, deliberate decisions or make assessment of information in lieu of a called committee meeting or regular meeting of the Commission.
I do not believe this is or has been the standard practice of the Commission heretofore, but I, for conscience sake and because I have not received a different viewpoint from legal counsel, must maintain this position.
Therefore, I have requested clarification from Mark James so that I will be able to set my mind at ease…or vigilance.
Should you the People of Middle Tennessee have need to contact me with your concerns, thoughts, wishes, directives or whatever reason you desire to contact me, you may do so through my Commission email address: tcia@jemeeks.com, via this blog http://jemeeks.blogspot.com or via telephone to 615-885-2973.
I pray for the continued success and well-being of the American Indian in Tennessee.
Until we meet again
Do da da go hv i
De na da go hv yu
James Everett Meeks
tcia@jemeeks.com
T: 615-885-2973
F: 615-523-1479
Should we not therefore run all risks, and incur all consequences, rather than submit to further loss of our country? Such treaties may be alright for men who are too old to hunt or fight. As for me, I have my young warriors about me. We will have our lands. A-WANINSKI, I have spoken." -- Tsiyugunsini (Dragging Canoe)
"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." - Will Rogers
Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.-- General John Stark on 31 July 1809
You have been called to Freedom - Paul in his letter to the Galatians 5:13
A person put in a place of leadership can either dig in and grow, coast and slowly fall away, or let it all go in a fit of rage -- John Burge
Christianity and nothing else is the ultimate foundation of liberty, conscience, human rights, and democracy, the benchmarks of western civilization. To this day, we have no other options [to Christianity]. We continue to nourish ourselves from this source. Everything else is postmodern chatter.-- Jurgen Habermas
