I Have These Ideas...

     I have these ideas that people disagree with. That's okay because I probably disagree with you too. So let's agree to disagree. If you agree, hey, now you don't feel like your so alone with your feelings.

     We need to get rid of American Indian mascots, logos, and tokens. There are many good reasons why we need to get rid of them, not just one. Even if someone doesn't like children, why would anyone want to hurt them? As mean as children can be to each other out of immaturity it's so much worse if an adult is being mean to a child. It is ten times worse if the meanness is coming from an authority figure or school.

A Personal Reason:

     When I was about fourteen, I got a spirit ribbon for my high school football game night. Our team was playing another team called the "Indians". My ribbon was silky blue and on it was a large kettle with a fire underneath. In the kettle was a cartoon Indian man with a single drooping wet feather. Above him it said "Stew The Indians". It is because this image sent a hurtful message to me then I know these images can hurt other American Indian children. With high suicide, rape, and poverty rates among American Indians/Alaska Natives/Hawaiian Natives, I think these kids have enough to deal with and don't need any occasional assault to their self image.

     I feel like we keep saying the same things, "I am a human." "I am not a mascot." "I am human." I have come to the conclusion that the court of public opinion, of which we are not a unified 1%, will never choose to do the right thing. So, we have to take this to the courts. If you are child in public school right now you can contact the Office of Civil Rights here http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html

     We have to take it to the White House, I have a petition to sign here http://wh.gov/gmM 

     We must never stop trying to get rid of these mascots, logos, tokens, & etc. Because American Indian kids need to be told they can be heros not mascots!