Tai Antoine ’01 has offered us, via The Daily Dartmouth, another piece of pablum on the mascot issue. The article reveals a shocking (and race-based) narrow-mindedness. Antoine is outraged when another individual with Indian ancestry declares that she is not offended by the mascot and “would be proud to wear that shirt.” Antoine apparently cannot concede that people might have differing views on this issue. (Indeed, Antoine’s orthodoxy is in direct contradiction to what most Native Americans think.)
Interestingly, Antoine — of Indian ancestry — argues: “Why not the Dartmouth Gumbas, Dartmouth Jews, Dartmouth Pollacks, Dartmouth Fighting Irish Drunkards, Dartmouth Gestapo, Dartmouth Limeys, Dartmouth Wops, Dartmouth Camel Jockeys?” Antoine’s disrespect for Native Americans is appalling. Is the term “Dartmouth Indian” akin to these vile slurs? Does Antoine think so little of the name? Is “Indian” an insult? It certainly isn’t — but Antoine’s article is. And those who proudly wear the Indian mascot seem to have more respect for what it stands for than does the author of this silly little screed.
On the Dartmouth Indian’s long and distinguished history, click here.
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