Michael S. Green: It's time to retire Colusa 'Redskins' mascot

Let's skip the introduction and get right to the point: "Redskins" is an offensive term, period, end of sentence. A new mascot is needed for Colusa High School, the sooner the better.

We're talking about common sense here, not political correctness. Imagine you were choosing the mascot for a new high school, say River Valley in Yuba City. If "Redskins" (or "Palefaces") were chosen instead of "Falcons," the public outcry and resulting news coverage would be intense, predictable and entirely justified. Finding a mascot that's not racially themed would then become the top priority.

It should be a priority for Colusa, as well, even though the high school's mascot was chosen decades ago. State lawmakers have tried three times since 2002 to ban "redskins" mascots, so it's not like the school district didn't get the memo. As one of those bills put it, "The use of racially derogatory or discriminatory school or athletic team names ... is antithetical to the California school mission of providing an equal education to all." That's a reasonable statement, even if's unreasonable for the Legislature to try to force the issue locally.

Times have changed, after all, and so has the society that once viewed "redskins" as a term of supposed respect. Racial slurs and stereotypes do nothing to promote equality, and their use encourages hatred and violence. We can't stop people from using such terms, but we can insist they not be enshrined at our public institutions.

Why now? The better question is, what's taken so long?

Granted, the Colusa Unified School District faces something of a thankless task, trying to build consensus in a community that loves its high school and its traditions. But let's not confuse tradition with nostalgia or stubbornness, nor use it to justify the unjustifiable. Here we have a real-world lesson, not just for students but also their parents, in how social change can be a positive experience.

To do that requires a willingness to stick to the main issue. For starters, it's not about the money. There's never enough money, so put aside for now the $60,000 and change it may cost for new school signs and uniforms. The name's the thing, not how much it costs.

Nor is it about taking polls or surveys to see whether the community at large supports keeping the name. Even if the majority does, and even if that majority includes Native Americans, what does that prove? Nothing, except that the minority who do take offense will continue to suffer in silence. Unless all students and parents can take pride in their school mascot – regardless of skin color or ethnic heritage – there's really no point in having one.

No, the issue here is as simple as it gets: "Redskins" is an offensive term, period, end of sentence. If you accept that premise, then you'll encourage the Colusa Unified school board to change the Colusa High mascot and support them through what could well be a difficult, noisy and contentious process.

As for those who don't think that "redskins" is insulting to Native Americans, a refresher course in American history is highly recommended. Google "redskin" and "scalps" as your first assignment.

Voices Editor Michael S. Green can be reached at 749-4724 or mgreen@appealdemocrat.com.