It's time to retire the Red Raiders
To the editor:
I would like to respectfully address the letter of Richard Menzel regarding the issue of racism and the Red Raiders team name.
Let's remove the color issue and address the fact that there may well be Native American kids in the classroom who are not recognizably Indian. Could they easily take a stand if they were offended by the name Red Raiders, the use of an Indian head and sacred feathers on the gym floor?
Being in a majority does not necessarily make one right. Slavery and the women's vote were changed by a minority of voices, as were the opinions of Jesus Christ and Martin Luther King.
Can the majority tell minorities they have no right to be hurt? Would you kick someone and tell them they have no right to cry? I ask you in all fairness to invite another New England Native group to discuss their perspective. Contact Rick Pouliot via email and check out Gedakina's website.
In 1492 this country was occupied by millions of native people. By the turn of the 20th century their numbers reduced to 200,000 through bounties, smallpox and genocide. Imagine if the Germans had a team called the Jews, dressed in the clothes of those they had killed, in a sporting tradition that might have started right around the time of the Jewish genocide. Revolting, isn't it? It's undeniably the same thing.
While no one should experience shame based on past actions not understood, the difference between ignorance and knowledge is that knowing something makes one responsible.
Most of the issues facing Native Americans come down to racism. It may be racism for profit, it may be racism based in fear, it may be racism based on people not wanting to recognize their actions hurt children and even adults. Browse my website and see the many ways racism is inflicted on native people today.
This isn't a small community issue, but a national movement. Have your community join the almost 2,000 other schools who have done the right thing.
Retire the Red Raiders.
Christine Rose
Students and Teachers Against Racism
