October 1, 2013
Radnor High School Retires Mascot As Sign Of Respect To Native Americans
The NFL should in all
good conscious not allow Washington’s football team to continue with the use of
the word “redskins” as part of the teams name.
I came across this article where
we now have high schools, administrators and parents who are fighting to maintain
a racist name of a mascot under the pretense that it is honoring and a sign of
respect for the Native American community. As a White American I am speechless
at the contemporary ignorance of some professionals regarding this issue. There is massive research on the subject and
the outcomes reflect the negative impact upon all children when using cultural
symbols as school mascots.
More importantly, have you asked a Native American tribe their
thoughts on the subject lately? The unspoken message being sent to our children
is that it is acceptable to perpetuate inaccurate misconceptions about this
culture in the educational setting as well as, continuing to support the
media’s bias depiction of “our” country’s first people. Superintendent Sanville
I am sure you are not deliberately attempting to be culturally insensitive and
of course most folks in the community might not find this issue offensive
because the fact of the matter is sir, most folks are viewing the world through
their own cultural lens therefore, it is the responsibility of others to model
appropriate behavior.
I keep reading that we are honoring the Native Americans. Is it
to makes us (white people) feel better? How do we know that they feel honored?
Or is it our belief that “they” should feel honored…and what if they don’t?
Would the Native Americans be labeled as ungrateful?
When are “we the people”
going to begin to allow all groups and cultures the right to self -determination?
