English Discussion (2 well-developed paragraph)

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“Being politically correct dampers playoff spirit”

The Cleveland Indian’s baseball team is in the playoffs again. I have been attending class wearing my Indian’s apparel with the team symbol, Chief Wahoo, to show my support. But the political correctness crowd, keep trying to dampen my enthusiasm with their constant condemnation of that venerable, smiling caricature that has served the team so well. Over and over again, we hear how the innocent Wahoo symbol is disrespectful of American Indians. I just don’t buy that argument.

First of all, the symbol is a caricature. It is exaggerated beyond recognition. Nobody is fooled into thinking that American Indians look like Wahoo; it is a cartoon character, and it looks like it! How anybody can be offended by such a cute figure is beyond my comprehension.

Second, the Indians were named in honor of the American Indian baseball player, Louis Sockalexis, who played for the Cleveland team in the late 1890’s. According to the Cleveland Indians web page, he was the first American Indian to play Major League Baseball, and the team changed its name to the “Cleveland Indians” after a fan recommended the name in a newspaper contest. The fan explained that the name would be a testament to the game’s first American Indian player. But the PC crowd has incorrectly tried to turn in into an anti-Indian issue.

Not all American Indians agree with the negative opinions on Wahoo, either. When the anti-Wahoo forces were protesting during the All-Star game in Cleveland this summer, I ran into a number of people with American Indian ancestry who thought that the whole thing was silly. They all felt that there were far more important things to worry about than some silly team mascot and they even liked the Wahoo symbol.

Then there is the issue of the “feather” being sacred to some Indian Tribes. Does that mean that every time I cover myself with my down comforter that I am committing a sacrilegious act? Hindus believe that cows are sacred. Should we all give up wearing leather shoes so as to not offend any Hindus? Am I not supposed to eat bacon for fear of offending some of my Jewish friends? The same people out there decrying the violation of Indian religious symbols are the ones who supported Robert Maplethorpe. [see Nick’s footnote below***]

I think that the politically correct must have may too much times on their hands if they are putting so much energy in protesting the Wahoo symbol. As a society, we have gone too far in trying not to “offend” special groups. We have to watch what we say and what we do in fear of reading the “rights” of others. Rights are a two way street, and some rights are superior to others. The right to free speech supersedes the right not to be offended, just as the right to practice (not impose) a religion supersedes the right to be free of religion (read the Constitution). American Indian is now Native American (Indigenous American would be the correct term). It’s all just silly, and I won’t play the “who can be more sensitive to the minority group” game.

The problem is that we can’t live our lives in constant fear of offending someone. I refuse to modify my behavior just because I might be considered insensitive. That doesn’t mean that I am a callous, cold unfeeling person. I have good manners, and I respect the diverse cultures that make up America. But we are all Americans, and we need a common standard to live by. Not some vicarious standard that changes every time a member of a different ethnic or social group walks in the door. Remember the melting pot theory? We are supposed to meld into a common culture.

The motto “when in Rome, do as the Romans do” is a good concept. When in foreign countries, we should follow their standards (when ethically compatible). If you want to come an American, then accept the American standards, or else you are free to leave at any time. The Wahoo symbol is harmless and I intend to keep on wearing it. And I encourage the Indians management to not give in to the pressure to change their mascot, because there will be no end to other groups trying to impose their views the next time. Go Tribe!!

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***Robert Mapplethorpe was a photographer popular during the 1960s and 1970s. He photographed lots of different subjects, but he was most knows for photographs depicting the underground BDSM scene of New York City. The photographs were very homoerotic and this sparked a national debate over the public funding of controversial artworks. Note:  the author of this article misspelled his last name.