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Editorial: Workshop leader should be praised, not vilified

In this era of political correctness, the fear of stepping on any group's toes prompts us to sometimes step on the Constitution's toes and interfere with private business enterprises.

When UA students and other Arizona American Indian Movement (AIM) supporters criticized a former UA professor when he charged money for holding a Native American Healing workshop, they were criticizing him for doing something that was completely within his rights.

Lewis Mehl-Madrona, a former UA professor who holds a doctorate in medicine from Stanford, is skilled in some Native American healing rituals and decided to hold a workshop last weekend that teaches and demonstrates Native American healing.

What got AIM steamed is that he is charging $250 a pop for practices they view as sacred. The group believed it was disrespectful of Mehl-Madrona to capitalize off their customs.

While the price may be a little steep, it is undoubtedly lawful and fair for him to charge for the seminar. Mehl-Madrona was only charging money for the workshop, not for the sacred purification ceremony known as a "sweat lodge" that was to take place afterwards. The sweat lodge was canceled due to threats of violence.

While AIM does have a right to be concerned about whether or not Mehl-Madrona performs the ceremony accurately, and were correct in voicing their protests, they do not have the right to ask him to shut down his business. Certainly they do not have the right to threaten violence.

Apparently, Mehl-Madrona received anonymous death threats ordering him to break up the sweat lodge ceremony.

"I understand their point of view. I think they're wrong," Mehl-Madrona said. "We weren't trying to charge for the ceremony."

Of course, Mehl-Madrona is obligated to be respectful and accurate in his teaching of Native American customs. If he truly wants to prove that he is skilled in these customs, it is his responsibility to do justice to them. AIM ought to be more concerned about whether or not Mehl-Madrona is making a fair attempt at interpreting their culture instead of the fact that he is charging money for it.

Some AIM members were insulted that the former UA professor was even attempting to practice their customs, calling it "cultural death."

"I have no idea what gives him the right to practice our medicine," said Tina Talkington, a UA law student. Talkington also claimed that a "true" spiritual leader would not have to charge money in order to teach the custom.

But simply charging money for providing a service is not a crime. Charging money for learning an ancient ritual is not uncommon. Would AIM protest museums that charge money for visitors to learn about and appreciate Native American cultural exhibits? Mehl-Madrona's workshop is no different.

The fact that Mehl-Madrona is interested in and open to the customs of a different culture is commendable in itself. His choosing to charge money for the ceremony is his right as a businessman.