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An Identity Crisis Why is it that statists who so readily embrace democracy and its tyrannical aspects can unabashedly abandon their principles when the "majority" runs in opposition to one of their pet projects? One of my illustrious elected officials in California, assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, provides an excellent example of this, but also takes it a step farther. In doing so, she also gives a great deal of support to Root Striker Paul Hein's excellent recent column. Ms. Goldberg wants to ensure that all of us are not offended by the public school system's mascots in this state. Therefore, she has written a bill, AB 2115, that would place a ban on all American Indian mascots currently used by some 60 schools in the Golden State. While the opposition to Indian mascots has been an issue for a few for some time, the actual numbers of those who take offense are in the minority! Strike The Root linked to a story in the Washington Times regarding Goldberg's bill a couple of days ago. It mentions that a recent poll conducted by Sports Illustrated reveals that 81 percent of Indians asked were in favor of the continued use of applicable high school and college mascots, and the figure was even higher at 83 percent for professional teams. What it fails to reveal is Goldberg's true goal, which the Los Angeles Times printed a day or so later. In the L.A. Times story, Goldberg is quoted as saying, "My own personal view is that there are too many animals, symbols and colors that won't offend anybody. I would always err on the side of caution." Jackie, with the wisdom bestowed on her, has determined we are in grave danger of potentially being offended. I am so glad the rest of California can now see what I have witnessed regarding the ridiculous political beliefs of this individual. Jackie Goldberg used to be a Los Angeles councilwoman before doing a Norman Lear and movin' on up. What this bill would do, however, is give the power to both the State Board of Education and the California Postsecondary Education Commission to ban any mascot of a government funded institution "they deem derogatory or discriminatory against a race, ethnicity, nationality or tribal group." That's correct, potentially you could see the death of the Spartans, Highlanders, Vikings and Saxons, etc. The aforementioned state entities are, according to Goldberg, "sensitive to a multicultural and multiethnic society. If they felt a team name rose to the level of degradation, I would imagine they would add them to the list." I am waiting for the first person to complain about the Tartars. Arguments about how hypocritical it is that the minority (the offended) get to dictate policy to the majority aside, the really sad fact about this bill is the expense that will be borne by the taxpayers of California, all for a few people with self esteem issues. The state of California ranks near the bottom of educational achievement, yet it is more important to address mascots that may possibly offend someone. Why does this not surprise me when the government has sunk $200 million to build a public school (Belmont High School in Los Angeles) which will probably total an additional $100 million by the time the project is completed? I have a line of Irish blood in my family tree, and while I despise the cartoonish leprechaun who idiotically gyrates after touchdowns scored by the University of Notre Dame's football team, I have never communicated my displeasure to the school or pointed out to their board of directors that he performs none of the native dances. My identity has nothing to do with a mascot, therefore I am not offended by it. Therein lies the distinction. I can dislike something because it is stupid to me, like some may find Chief Wahoo of the Cleveland Indians, but I am not using the coercion of government to make others succumb to my whims. I have always wondered why these "activists" expend so much time and energy attacking mascots. If they truly cared for the plight of American Indians, they would be helping to start businesses and provide them with an opportunity to earn a paycheck and better their circumstances, rather than wasting time pursuing a quixotic quest. My suggestion to you activists that Goldberg panders to is this: Get a spine and join the rest of us. Stop placing your identity in the Atlanta Braves, Golden State Warriors or the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Develop some self esteem and find your own self image, rather than allowing your feelings to get hurt over some supposed stereotype in an image that is some team's logo. One team's logo I would love to change is the National Hockey League's Ottawa Senators, to reflect the bloated, pork-loving, pigs that name has come to represent, but the politicians would probably pass a law to ban it.
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