Going to UND right now is exhausting. Homecoming week, midterms approaching and of course, in the middle of an ugly brawl with the NCAA. Is the Sioux logo hostile and abusive? IS IT? IS IT? WHAT DO YOU THINK!!! --- That was me doing my best interpretation of the "hostile and abusive" atmosphere at UND.
The Dakota Student is full of letters to the editor and columns dealing with this subject. Some well-written, but most are not. Both sides are engaged in a pretty down and dirty fight. Now, I understand what happens when you have a passionate belief in something that someone else is trying to tear down. Your first response is the snide comment or character attack. I've been known to hit below the belt when it comes to George W. And I like to point out that although Rush Limbaugh says that feminism was designed to, "allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society"-- I believe radio was designed so that evil, fat men could have somewhere to rant.
I'm just saying, as far as the Sioux logo debates goes, I am way, way, too exhausted to keep up with things.
Do I oppose it?That's tough. I like being a Sioux, it's a unique and fun name and in my mind it’s a nod to the part of the country I live in.
Do I have a problem with it changing?No. By all means change it- if it is offending people and causing them pain I have no problem adopting a different team name.
I'm not ashamed to say I'm "politically correct." What is wrong about striving for correctness when dealing with a minority group that has been historically marginalized and persecuted? Can we listen to people when they say, "Stop. These actions are hurting me and my people. I feel demeaned."? That is simply an issue of human compassion.
Now the NCAA has turned down our appeal. UND is of course, not going gentle into the night. We are re-appealing and may eventually end up in court. Over a team nickname. *sigh*
In an English class our professor had us debate this point: "Is the opposition to the Sioux logo and issue of political correctness?" I debated for the negative side and a Native American woman debated in agreement!! Talk about interesting. She and I eventually found that we agreed more than we differed.
Her point was, her people have more to worry about than a logo. On her reservation the likelihood of a child dying is 3 times higher than it would be anywhere else. The rates of drug and alcohol abuse are very high, as are suicide rates. There are no jobs and no homes. Not only that, she has been treated badly on more than one occasion by UND students taunting her for either being Native, or making some sort of reference to "you must have had a full ride because you're an Indian." She fears backlash from a name change could hurt UND's Native population even worse.
DISCOURAGING
I am so naive. I think there's a solution. A way to make it right on both ends. But I realized, there never will be. A Studio One reporter went out on a shoot and interviewed one man on the issue. He said, "I know how we can solve the controversy. Shoot all the god damn Indians. Then who would care?"It is this mindless hatred and ignorance that stops my fightin' liberal heart dead in its tracks. It's hearing things like Rush Limbaugh say that "women who protest sexual harassment are just upset because it never happens to them." Or people like former Education Secretary William Bennett for his remarks on his radio show, Morning in America, when he said....
"But I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down."
How can I hear these things and justify bighting my tongue so as not to appear too liberal or loudmouth? I can't. It's my moral obligation. I applaud mothers like Cindy Sheehan, fighting to end the war, even if it means being arrested and having her name dragged through the mud. She's exercising an American right.
I cannot be quiet. I hope that doesn't mean you write me off. I really am quite fun and can be persuaded to lighten up now and then. It's possible I'm still enamored with the power of this blog and using it as my outlet. But it's the least I can do if I can't make it to Washington D.C. to stand against the war, or if I can't go on radio against people like Limbaugh and Bennet. Maybe I'm not protesting the Sioux logo, but it's only because I haven't found the right way to show support. My dream is to end an issue that is bringing so much pain to a campus and a community. Either way, if people know nothing else... know that I care.
"We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people." MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., 1963
