Stance on mascot is narrow-minded
To the editor:
If there was any question about the narrow-mindedness of certain Rochester residents and School Board trustees regarding Spaulding High's institutionalized use of a stereotypic Indian sports team token, then Arnold Bennett's recent letter to this publication has removed all doubt.
Judging from his disjointed rant, it seems even the hypothetical thought of being used as a "White Raider" mascot has gotten Bennett's knickers in a twist. Why, then, is he unwilling to understand that the reality of being portrayed as Red Raiders by a public school might not be appreciated by many American Indian people who are the subject of such outdated, stereotypic characterizations? Could it be that Bennett believes his ethnicity entitles him to use a historically disenfranchised cultural group—against expressed wishes to the contrary—as his proprietary sports team icon? Apparently so.
That the Rochester cheerleader could do no better than to spew platitudes, launch a personal attack and distort beyond recognition observations previously offered by this commentator comes as no surprise. For the exploitation of Indian mascots by publicly funded schools like Spaulding is as relatively indefensible, deplorable, and divisive as a wasteful, adventurous war of opportunity based upon false information.
It is likewise to be expected that Bennett's knee-jerk reaction would make a direct accusation of racism, a charge that had never previously been raised by this writer. That, along with other odd, irrelevant remarks, says more about Bennett and the community he apparently represents than these words might possibly hope to achieve.
Nevertheless, considering how shallow and devoid of true substance the lives must be of those who need attach such weighty meaning to something as unremarkably commonplace as a high school Indian sports team mascot, Bennett and those of his ilk are more to be pitied than loathed.
And yet, hope remains.
Given the unrelenting tide of immigration which Bennett argues is an irresistible and universal phenomenon, perhaps as the sun sets on the dominant Euro-American culture, he may one day still find himself and his family being elevated to the lofty stature of high school mascots.
Robert Eurich
American Indian Sports Team Mascots
