Reader Commentary
Foster's Daily Democrat
Friday, May 5, 2006

Red Raider opponent responds to his critics
by Pete Sanfaçon
Framingham, Massachusetts

Recent letters to Foster's have taken issue with the fact that I no longer live in Rochester. It has been suggested that I should worry about Massachusetts or, better yet, that "it would be graceful" of me if I just kept my opinions to myself.

I thought this was America. As far as I know no one has repealed the First Amendment to the Constitution. I also pay federal taxes, a portion of which goes to fund schools like Spaulding. I am a Rochester native and I have a right to voice my opinion on the issue of racism in Rochester.

I have no Native American blood. I have, however, done considerable research on the matter of stereotypes of Native American people being used as symbols for high school sports. Everyone who supports Spaulding's race-based team name and logo should do the same research.

The logo does, indeed, look like a bright red severed head. If Dot Callaghan takes offense at my "horrible" and "disgusting" description, perhaps the logo should be changed to something less grotesque. I find it remarkable that someone who prides herself on knowing so much about Native American people has failed to recognize how offensive this made-up image is. She referred to it as a "proud profile or beautiful silhouette." How many bright red people do you know?

Who decided that Native Americans were synonymous with scoring touchdowns and skating on a hockey rink? According to the Rochester Historical Society, the Red Raider originated with Rochester High School in the 1920s. Native Americans were denied U.S. citizenship until 1924. Do you really think they were consulted about the name during this period?

I've been asked to "give it a rest." I've been accused of trying to take away the "beloved" Red Raider from all those who love and support it. I suggest that those who have vowed to fight for this name and logo write a letter to the N.H. Board of Education and ask them why they called for an end to these names and logos four years ago. While you're at it, contact the NAACP, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and the National Congress of American Indians. These organizations have all gone on record in support of eliminating all race-based team names, logos, and mascots.

Statements about every Native American getting a college tuition discount and that "the American Indian nationality is certainly doing well for itself with its casinos" simply demonstrate the lack of knowledge the general public possesses about the challenges faced by Native American people today. If the author of that letter had actually taken the time to visit collegefund.org, she would have learned a bit about college for Native Americans and just who gets money from casinos in this country. Don't be afraid to learn something. The fact remains that this school has been asked by the state board to change the name of its sports teams and they've not done so. Why?

Mrs. Callaghan asked what my experiences have been with Native Americans. Well, at the moment I'm fighting for justice for all Native Americans in my hometown where the residents seem intent on defending their racist team name and symbol in the name of school pride and tradition.

Councilman Healey's suggestion that we include some education about Native Americans at Spaulding is something I mentioned to him prior to the public hearing on April 11. There are 240 courses available at the school. Not a single course is focused on providing education about Native Americans.

My statement, "It's difficult to educate people in an hour," quoted in Foster's, is in reference to the single hour the School Board provided for their sham of a public hearing. Don't mistake their inaction as an actual decision on this matter.

It's time to do what the N.H. Board of Education asked you to do in 2002: Change the name.