To the Editor:
Wiscasset High School has come up with a wonderful way to teach our children about intolerance. By insisting on continuing to use the Redskin “mascot” name for their sports teams, they have clearly taught us all some lessons.
A town “survey” was conducted to determine the thoughts of voters and the responses were articulate and clear…”Don’t change tradition,” “Who is offended? Someone from 4 hrs away?” “Not their problem, our school and our community, go away” and this one really stood out “People that want to change it, should be shot.”
A planned exchange trip between the school children was even cancelled after School committee members objected and committee member, Eugene Stover, stated that he was not in favor “of sending our kids to hear their rhetoric and I’m not in favor of them coming here.”
Pleasant Point cancelled the trip to Wiscasset to prevent their children from being exposed to racial intolerance.
Though the issue is not about “tradition,” I would ask whose tradition it is about and is it all right to exploit a race of people that are clearly offended by this representation? Does it matter how far away someone lives or is it all right if there are no more Native people in Wiscasset? Finally, advocating violence when a disagreement occurs is really a lesson in itself.
Yes, I think this discussion will be a great teaching moment although the children will be learning more than you think. Those lessons may not be what closed minds want to see.
Elizabeth Kellett, Walpole
