Interstate 40 NewMexico TRAVEL ALERT

[CAG]

Just for information with all of this, the Navajo Nation covers three states, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. Some might argue four as some of the land is in Colorado but the majority of the Nation is in Arizona. Arizona has 22 "recognized" Nations (tribes) probably more than any other state. Dealing with that many different jurisdictions when it comes to laws can be complicated. Add to that the fact that the FBI becomes the major agency in major crimes.

Indian lands are sovereign which means that they have their own set of "rules" and can enforce them as they see fit. If you carry a gun onto Indian land and are arrested no U.S. court will save you. You will l be tried under Indian law. It is a different world.

Gallup's reaction is understandable under the circumstances. Crying your rights under the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights is weak in this case.

[Hollander Mutthaulers]

Originally Posted by CAG

Traitor is a pretty strong word and not one that really fits this thread. The thread had to do with traffic in and around Gallup. If you are not aware of the issue with the Navajo Nation and the virus you should educate yourself and stick to that issue and not wander off to whom is trampling on who's rights. You do not have the same rights on the Navajo Nation.

The Navajo Nation has now passed the entire state of Arizona for deaths and infected per capata. The Nation has 175K residents. Arizona's population is over 5 million. Gallup is surrounded by the Navajo Nation and a major commercial center for the natives on the Nation. Many are employed at businesses in Gallup. What happens on the Nation has a major effect on the city of Gallup.

Bottom line to this is this is not life under Covid 19 as in the rest of the country. The Navajo's can make what-ever rules they want. They are not governed by the US. Gallup needs to do whatever it can to protect it's citizens.

This is not a debate of rights in New York City or Kentucky or God forbid California. It is a different world here.

Thanks for your explanations. They are lucid and I hope helpful.
However, you left out Michigan, the state that makes California look sane.

[whackynurse]

I enjoy reading posts, sharing of RV information, travel information. Now I am very surprised and a bit disgusted that what started out as a sharing of travel information turned into sharing of political beliefs. I am sorry that your sharing of travel information took your information on traveling through the Gallop area generated such a response. I hope the mediator will keep this to what this site was meant to be for. RV, Camping, Traveling.

[Forelyndogs]

I agree whackynurse (love that userid). This became an issue and did need an explanation because the original post implied that I-40 itself was closed and one would need to take an alternate route. A quick look at a map would reveal that for all practical purposes, there is none without going way out of one's way. That needed to be explained and it was. It would have better if the individuals who got political simply asked for clarification of what is or is not closed and saved their politics for a more appropriate forum.

[cekkk]

I am mostly ignorant regarding our Indian population in this country. That is to say, I've not walked in their shoes. But 40 years 50 years ago I did do some work that involved the Congressional committee that oversaw the bureau of Indian affairs and other Indian matters. I saw some of the problems that I came to atribute to a question of political power. The many tribes in the many Indian nations all have their own little governments. Kind of like a super HOA board. As a subjective observation they have not done well for their people. Most reservations are plagued by a high crime rate, diabetes, tuberculosis, alcoholism, unemployment, lack of educational opportunities and limited medical care by the Indian Health Service. (Wonder if that name has been replaced with a more politically correct wording) This results, in most cases, in a miserable lifestyle as seen from the outside.
Again, I don't know what the individual Indian or Indian family thinks about their plight, It may be wonderful to them, but I sincerely doubt this has any remnants of the lifestyle they lived three hundred years ago.
But the fact is they have their own lands, their own governments and their own laws. and when we enter their lands we are subject to those laws, and it does little good to talk about the rights we have in this country off of their lands, just as it would do no good to demand our rights if we are arrested in a foreign country.
So as I see it politics here is irrelevant, and the only important thing here is that travelers be aware of the situation at Gallup, as it is a long ways between gas stations in this area of the country. So it's a good idea to fill your tank in Holbrook if eastbound or in Albuquerque or one of the Indian casinos on the way west.

[Forelyndogs]

You will find gas stations East of Holbrook, though I suspect the prices may not be as good. Coming from Albuquerque you can stop in Grants which is not that far from Gallup. Buying gas in Holbrook or Albuquerque will give you the most choices and better prices, but it is good to know that if your desperate, there are options between Holbrook and Albuquerque. As a side note, I cannot tell how pleased I was to find that the auto spell checker knew how spell Albuquerque.

[cekkk]

Originally Posted by Forelyndogs

As a side note, I cannot tell how pleased I was to find that the auto spell checker knew how spell Albuquerque.

Years ago I needed to write Albuquerque several times over a few weeks. I found pronouncing it Al byou, long u, help to remember that syllable and the rest was easy. Never forgot it. Not suggesting it would work for anybody but me.

[brwarrior]

Originally Posted by Hollander Mutthaulers

Thanks for your explanations. They are lucid and I hope helpful.
However, you left out Michigan, the state that makes California look sane.

As a life long Californian I take humbrage to this. If there is anything that Calfiornia excels at, it is making everyone else look sane.

Now back to my backup plan to my 3,000 mile summer trip to Glacier NP.

[CAG]

Originally Posted by cekkk

Years ago I needed to write Albuquerque several times over a few weeks. I found pronouncing it Al byou, long u, help to remember that syllable and the rest was easy. Never forgot it. Not suggesting it would work for anybody but me.

My parents lived there for years, my grandparents are buried there. I have no trouble spelling it