There’s a news story making the rounds involving the cheerleaders at Ripon High School in California. The girls were suspended after performing a football game routine where they flashed the crowd, presenting the team’s name printed on their panties. The story is receiving lots of broadcast time, and you may view the silly spectacle via YouTube by clicking on the essay title above.
Seemingly ignored in all the hoopla is the team’s name: INDIANS.
Don’t mean to overreact, but isn’t this exactly why people continue to protest the racist practice of naming sports teams after Native Americans? It’s pretty hard to imagine a more disrespectful and insensitive exhibition than the Ripon squad’s performance.
If their bouncy asses had spelled out JEWS #1, the young women be facing accusations of anti-Semitism. Displaying HOMOSEXUALS #1 would have ignited outrage like the Isaiah Washington fiasco. NEGROES #1 warrants an immediate visit from the Rev. Al Sharpton. Hell, even JESUS #1 would lead to a Supreme Court ruling.
But it’s hunky-dory to demean a segment that has literally been the butt of jokes ever since White men discovered The New World.
Should we seriously question the issue—or simply write off the Ripon gals as being stereotypical cheerleaders?
1 comment:
umm, that might give new meaning to the act of 'turning the other cheek'. seriously though, has our tolerance of ignorance grown such that our reaction is inaction?
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