A Redman by any other name
My interview on the Peter Blute show got truncated Friday, because he was broadcasting live from Natick and the usual technical glitches intervened. The reason for the live broadcast was to cover the controversy over Natick public schools' dropping the sports nickname Redmen, which Native American groups have felt to be insulting. I suggested that the team could address Native concerns by adopting another connotation of "red" and becoming the Fighting Commies, which Peter seemed to like but consider a bit unworkable, despite the fine Cold-War-nostalgia headlines that would ensue in local sports coverage.
Peter asked what I thought of this and similar Indian-mascot sports-name controversies, and I think that's when the connection went dead. So for anyone who's interested in my answer, it's this:
As a matter of politeness, when someone asks you for a favor, you do it whenever possible. Considering that European Americans stole Native Americans' land, attempted genocide on them, gave them smallpox-infested blankets, introduced them to alcohol, destroyed their culture, and broke treaty after treaty after treaty, I think if they'd like us to change the name of a sports team, it's kind of the least we can do.
You know, common-courtesywise.
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Who is Miss Conduct?
Robin Abrahams writes the weekly "Miss Conduct" column for The Boston Globe Magazine. Robin, who has a PhD in psychology from Boston University, has worked as a theater publicist, organizational-change communications manager, editor, stand-up comedian, and professor of psychology and English. She lives in Cambridge with her husband, Marc Abrahams, founder of the Ig Nobel Prizes, which are given annually for achievements that first make people laugh and then make them think.
