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opinion:
our view
Is
Pete next on the block?
In a move that seems silly to us, American Indian groups are
pushing the California legislature to ban Indian-themed mascots
from state public schools. The groups are bitter that schools
portray the mascots as cartoonish and stereotypical.
Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles, is sponsoring
a bill on behalf of the American Indian groups that would
ban all mascots that connotate not only American Indian images
but any team names that are deemed derogatory to any racial
or ethnic groups.
Does Cal State Long Beach have to fear losing our own beloved
Prospector Pete due to the offense some disgruntled gold miners
may feel? Will the San Diego Padres change their mascot due
to the escalating Catholic priest scandal? It is a possibility.
Mascots at high schools and colleges are in no way meant to
be derogatory or offensive. They are meant to be an uniting
focus of school spirit and a way of instilling fear into opponents.
Well, maybe they don't instill that much fear but we imagine
the Apaches is more frightening then the Rabid Fighting Pandas
would be.
Political correctness in this country has gotten out of hand.
No matter what, someone is going to be offended by everything.
Some crazy marine biologist is probably offended by UC Santa
Cruz's Banana Slug mascot -- though he probably won't voice
his opinion to the legislature.
An American Indian mascot should be viewed with pride for
the stoic and powerful ideals attributed to the original settlers
of North America. We know that not all Americans Indians were
warrior people, but again the "Fighting Farmers"
just doesn't have that zing.
We should all be trying to embrace all cultures and ethnicities
in America as only one common culture -- American. The separation
of racial groups and ethnicity's out of fear of insensitivity
only succeeds in keeping people apart.
We hope for a time when nobody will be offended by what a
silly mascot is or isn't and can instead concentrate on the
games and the kids playing them. School mascots are such a
minor problem in the greater scheme of things. Hasn't anyone
got anything better to do?
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