Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

The sheer arrogance and insensitivity of the present descendants of European settlers and immigrants toward the original inhabitants of this conquered land never cease to amaze me. I am of mixed European stock and like the Native Americans, my ancestors were also persecuted, murdered, disposessed and ridiculed.

Yet high schools and colleges have the decency not to name their sports teams the "Pollacks" or the "Gyps" or "Hebes" or "potatoe eaters." Likewise, our society generally recognizes racial stereotyping of African-American citizens as unacceptable (at least in overt and blatant forms).

Why is this double standard being applied to Native Americans? Could it be because Native Americans are so few in numbers and so disadvantaged in our economy that they have been unable to mount a campaign in their defense on the scale of the civil rights movement?

What will it take to jar the withered conscience of the dominant white society?

Why is there so much resistance to simply changing the antiquated names of a few sports teams? This should be done out of simple politeness if not for the moral reasons that seem to evade the understanding of the forgetful and privileged white majority, who in some cases, apparently values my ancestors' game of golf more than manifesting good will and respect among our living neighbors.

Evan Davis,

Columbus, Ohio