It's absolutely shameful that Rep. Grijalva would try to use

Hear the fiery words of Paul Gosar, who declared: “It’s absolutely shameful that Rep. Grijalva would try to use tribes as political pawns to implement the misguided agenda of extremist environmental groups.” In this utterance, we hear the cry of a man who believes that sacred communities are being manipulated, their voices twisted not for their own good, but to serve causes beyond their choosing. It is a warning against turning human beings into tools, against reducing ancient peoples into mere pieces in a game of power.

The origin of this saying lies in the conflicts of modern America, where questions of land, environment, and sovereignty collide. Native tribes, who carry the memory of centuries of struggle, often stand at the center of disputes over land use, mining, and conservation. Some leaders, like Rep. Grijalva, have worked closely with environmental groups to protect sacred lands from industrial encroachment. Yet Gosar accuses them of wielding tribal voices not as genuine partners, but as pawns in a wider battle for political gain. His words burn with indignation at what he sees as dishonor toward people who deserve respect and autonomy.

History gives us many examples of peoples used as instruments by greater powers. Recall the story of the ancient Greek city-states, when mighty Athens and Sparta sought to enlist smaller allies in their wars. These lesser cities were often promised protection or freedom, but instead found themselves dragged into conflicts that were not truly their own. So too with Native tribes, who through centuries have been promised sovereignty, only to be used and betrayed whenever greater powers found it convenient. Gosar’s lament is that even in our own day, this ancient pattern endures.

Yet one must also hear the complexity in his charge. For environmental groups, though sometimes labeled “extremist,” have often stood as defenders of rivers, forests, and sacred lands that tribes themselves revere. To dismiss them outright is also to risk ignoring their contributions to protecting creation. The danger lies not in alliance itself, but in manipulation—when the will of the tribe is overshadowed by the louder voice of outsiders, when their name is invoked but their true desires are silenced. This is the heart of Gosar’s accusation: not merely that alliances exist, but that they are made without full honor or respect.

The deeper meaning of this saying is that justice requires that people—especially the vulnerable and historically oppressed—be treated as subjects, not as objects. Tribes are not chess pieces to be moved across the board of policy. They are nations with their own voices, their own traditions, their own authority. To use them as tools, whether by politicians or corporations, is to repeat the sins of history. To honor them as partners is to build a future rooted in dignity.

The lesson, O listener, is clear: beware of those who enlist noble causes without truly honoring the people they claim to defend. Ask always—whose voice is truly being heard? Whose interest is truly being served? For if tribes, workers, or any vulnerable community are reduced to symbols in a battle between powerful factions, then injustice has already taken root. True advocacy listens first, empowers first, and honors the sovereignty of those it claims to serve.

And what shall we do in our own lives? We must learn to discern between partnership and paternalism. Support the struggles of indigenous peoples, but do not speak over them. Stand with those who fight for the environment, but ensure that those most affected lead the way. Hold leaders accountable when they use others as pawns for their own agendas, whether political or economic. In our conversations, in our actions, let us refuse to reduce human beings to tokens, for each community carries its own sacred voice.

So remember the teaching of Paul Gosar: to use tribes as political pawns is indeed shameful, for it strips dignity from those who have already borne centuries of indignity. Let us instead walk the path of respect, where alliances are built not on manipulation but on mutual honor, and where communities are not tools but partners. For in this way alone can justice endure, and the wounds of history begin at last to heal.