Boy, bet they'd really freak out over North Side Redskins:
SOUTH BEND — The Saint Joseph's High School Indians could be getting a new mascot.
Vince LaBarbera, spokesman for the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, confirmed Tuesday that a meeting will soon take place between Mark Myers, superintendent of schools for the diocese, the principal of the high school and Brian Collier, a local Native American historian who initiated the talk.
[. . .]
To be discussed, he said, is the appropriateness of the mascot.
He said the main theme to be explored will be "Are we hurting anyone by continuing to use the Indians as a mascot?"
This seems a little overwrought to me. Names that are or even once were slurs should be examined -- I'm surprised Redskins has survived this long. But generic names such as Indians or Braves shouldn't be any more offensive than the Fighting Irish, the Cowbows or the Saints. To avoid them is to deny a large part of our history and think our children incapable of any subtlety of thought.
