An opportunity exists for President Obama and others to halt the confrontation at Standing Rock before it gets out of hand.

Native Americans have been badly treated and lied to by the U.S. Treaties have been violated or simply ignored, since the first accord was consummated 250 years ago.

The Dakota Sioux have every reason not to believe the assurances that the pipeline presents no threat to their people, to their water supply or to their historic ancestral grounds.

What is really clear, though, and has been ever since confronting peaceful domestic protest became an appealing alternative to displaying genuine machismo, is that given the slightest chance or provocation, countless of our men will be found way too eager to don the communal gear and bravado of warfare and pick on unarmed American men and women.

Backed up by the kind of motorized armament that is customarily seen only in real battle, with real foes clothed from head to toe in protective gear and armed to the teeth with guns, billy clubs, concussion grenades, tear gas and high-powered firehoses, they line up under an American flag hanging limply – how else might we expect it to hang? – and chafe, waiting for the command to advance on peaceful protesters exercising their freedom to do so here in the United States of America.

Our president has the authority to stop Standing Rock from becoming Wounded Knee, and if he wants to exit office with his head held high, he should do so.

Phil Crossman

Vinalhaven