This one is too good to let pass. It is from my nephew Jim Scott, and I appreciate him taking time to send me this observation on the times in which we live. It originated with Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune and is all in the name of Political Correctness, so read on and be amused with me.
Here are some politically correctness to consider: I agree with our Native American population. I am highly insulted by the racially charged name of the Washington Redskins. One might argue that to name a professional football team after Native Americans would exalt them as fine warriors, but nay, nay. We must be careful not to offend, and in the spirit of political correctness and courtesy, we must move forward.
Let’s ditch the Kansas City Chiefs, the Atlanta Braves and the Cleveland Indians. If your shorts are in a wad because of the reference the name Redskins makes to skin color, then we need to get rid of the Cleveland Browns.
The Carolina Panthers obviously were named to keep the memory of militant Blacks from the 60’s alive. Gone. It’s offensive to us white folk.
The New York Yankees offend the Southern population. Do you see a team named for the Confederacy? No! There is no room for any reference to that tragic war that cost this country so many young men’s live.
I am also offended by the blatant references to the Catholic religion among our sports team names. Totally inappropriate to have the New Orleans Saints, the Los Angeles Angels or the San Diego Padre.
Then there are the team names that glorify criminals who raped and pillaged. We are talking about the horrible Oakland Raiders, the Minnesota Vikings, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Pittsburgh Pirates!
Now, let us address those teams that clearly send the wrong message to our children. The San Diego Chargers promote irresponsible fighting or even spending habits. Wrong message to our children.
The New York Giants and the San Francisco Giants promote obesity, a growing childhood epidemic. Wrong message to our children.
The Cincinnati Reds promote downers/barbiturates . Wrong message to our children.
The Milwaukee Brewers—well that goes without saying . . . Wrong message to our children
So, there you go. We need to support any legislation that comes out to rectify this travesty, because the government will likely become involved with this issue, as they should. Just the kind of thing the do-nothing Congress loves .
This was doubly appropriate here in Utah, for it arrived when the UofU is struggling with making peace with their Red Skins Fight Song..
There were odd names here in our valley, the Murray High students were Smelterites and the colors orange and black for the fiery red Slag poured out against the black slag dump. There were just as many sons and daughters of dairymen, farmers, but no one rebelled.
Jordan students were Beetdiggers, for that was the home of Utah’s huge Sugar Beet Industry. Schools and many stores, actually closed their doors for two weeks each spring so their employees could help in ‘thinning beets’. It was so vital that overall-clad Business men, bent over in the fields side by side with students, mothers, and Store owners.
It had to be done at a certain time of the young beet’s growth, but was back=breaking work, and many unemployed tried to take advantage of the work but didn’t last through a day.
Workers with a cut-off hoe, had to bend over to reach the ground, but could not kneel for they had to step forward with every swing of the hoe and no time or room to straighten up, either. It’s said their backs were never again normal. It was a killer. but had to be done. And. men, women and kids did it. And no one rebelled over the name, Beetdiggers, either.
There were probably other schools throughout the State with just as unique names, but these I lived close enough to get to know Beetdigger students who walked bent over all summer long.
Great. One of the best ever