"Amit Sen," 3/31/2005

(Chief opinion: NoComment)

This is a wonderful site and I wanted to thank you for promoting this discussion, both pro and con. The issue of using Native heritage and symbols for athletic mascots is remarkably simple -- if people are willing to be honest about it.

- No one would accept a "White" Mascot that involved banging crucifixes, bibles, or other sacred objects. Such a practice would be hurtful, ignorant, and callous - and people would openly recognize it as such. The use of Native sacred objects (tomahawks, feathers, head-dresses, etc) is absolutely no different.

- For God's sake, this is not OUR culture. This is someone else's culture. If they say it's offensive, let's be honest enough to admit that they are the ones who should know which depictions are harmful and which are not. When people malign OUR culture, who is it that should have the right to determine what constitutes offensiveness? We should. Same issue here.

- Simplicity. No One (Jewish, Hindu, Christian, Muslim) wants their faith turned into a humorous sideshow during an athletic event. If we value our own right to not have our sacred traditions trivialized, then let's honor those of others.

Thanks again for the wonderful site.

"Amit Sen," via the web.