Kathy,

Post away hon! I do not mean to demean your opinion in anyway shape or form. If this is something that is a thorn in your side fight away. In my opinion, I just think we need to fight the source of the problem, and pick our battles.

Your original post brought to mind a situation that happened some years ago. The majority of the citizens in my husband's hometown are Native Americans. The citizens of the town lived in relative harmony. You've got the occasional bigot of course, but the majority of them lived side by without issue.

The tribe built a casino and resort. This benefitted the town providing jobs and tourist revenue. Some years later, they as they became more successful, programs were developed for the members of the tribe and their children to embrace their heritage. (Details are fuzzy about the how's and why's this was about 15 years ago) In any event, there was a group of people not from the area that came in to teach them their native languages and such.

Hubby's cousin's son, Nathan, was in Kindergarden and had braids. He and another boy named Josh, got into a scuffle and Josh pulled on Nathan's braid. This created a HUGE drama, instead of just punishing both boys for fighting, Nathan was as much at fault as Josh, this group that came in pointed out that pulling on a Native American's braid is a HUGE insult. EVERYONE was in a uproar. At one point, the group suggested pulling all of the Native American students (the majority) out of the school and build their own school.

Was the source of this problem racially motivated? No, Josh and Nathan were/are the best of friends, they just got into a fight as kids will do. Did Josh pull Nathan's braid as a sign of contempt for his race? OF COURSE NOT!!!

There was a situation of us vs. them now. This had not existed before.

As for the topic at hand, initially when you talked about the mascots, that were Native Americans, hanging out the windows with ropes around their neck, I was horrified. But then, I thought hmmm, this is not like putting a burning cross in a African American's yard, it's a mascot. What if the mascot was a turtle, would that make a difference? No, someone would be offended by that. AND I'M NOT SAYING A TURTLE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN A HUMAN!!!!