Post by blackcrowheart on Mar 28, 2007 20:47:48 GMT -5
Why fight American Indian mascots?
By SHIRA SCHOENBERG
Dartmouth College sophomore Ibrahim Elshamy, 19, is lobbying the
Manchester School Board to abolish Central High School's American Indian
mascot and Memorial High School's Crusader. Although Elshamy supported
the mascot when he was Central High's class president in 2005, he now
calls the symbols hurtful to American Indians. Why do you feel so
strongly about the mascots? If something hurts somebody, I try to
alleviate that hurt. I've been reading about these national issues, and
the more I read, I realize that both mascots hurt a lot of people. I see
no reason to keep them. What have you done so far? My first
involvement was chatting with a friend who made me think about my stance
on issues. I started researching online and in print, and in early
December started a website, hatemascot.com, to act as a facilitator for
discussion and information. This Monday was the first time I took a
public stance and spoke before the school board. What do you hope to
accomplish? I hope the school board can review its stance on these
hurtful symbols. If they really respect the feelings of other people,
they'll change them. What response have you received? Overwhelming
negativity. Most people are ingrained to accept these symbols. I don't
blame them. I was a strong supporter of the American Indian. Most people
feel a strong attack on the history and heritage of their school, and
it's difficult to try to persuade them that symbol and pride are two
separate things.
Will you be
involved with similar discussions at Dartmouth? No. At Dartmouth,
there's a large native community, and they're doing a great job
facilitating discussion on their own. I have a lot on my plate with
Manchester. But it's the same issue. It's a symbol that's hurtful to a
certain group of people. Another group doesn't seem to care. Their
concern is pride and history. SHIRA SCHOENBERG
By SHIRA SCHOENBERG
Dartmouth College sophomore Ibrahim Elshamy, 19, is lobbying the
Manchester School Board to abolish Central High School's American Indian
mascot and Memorial High School's Crusader. Although Elshamy supported
the mascot when he was Central High's class president in 2005, he now
calls the symbols hurtful to American Indians. Why do you feel so
strongly about the mascots? If something hurts somebody, I try to
alleviate that hurt. I've been reading about these national issues, and
the more I read, I realize that both mascots hurt a lot of people. I see
no reason to keep them. What have you done so far? My first
involvement was chatting with a friend who made me think about my stance
on issues. I started researching online and in print, and in early
December started a website, hatemascot.com, to act as a facilitator for
discussion and information. This Monday was the first time I took a
public stance and spoke before the school board. What do you hope to
accomplish? I hope the school board can review its stance on these
hurtful symbols. If they really respect the feelings of other people,
they'll change them. What response have you received? Overwhelming
negativity. Most people are ingrained to accept these symbols. I don't
blame them. I was a strong supporter of the American Indian. Most people
feel a strong attack on the history and heritage of their school, and
it's difficult to try to persuade them that symbol and pride are two
separate things.
Will you be
involved with similar discussions at Dartmouth? No. At Dartmouth,
there's a large native community, and they're doing a great job
facilitating discussion on their own. I have a lot on my plate with
Manchester. But it's the same issue. It's a symbol that's hurtful to a
certain group of people. Another group doesn't seem to care. Their
concern is pride and history. SHIRA SCHOENBERG